The Power of the Texas 2x2's

Every year, TLA comes out with several reading lists.  I am most familiar with the Texas Bluebonnet list which is recommended for grades 3rd-6th and the Lone Star list is recommended for grades 6th-8th. Although I am aware of other lists, I was able to learn more about the 2x2 reading list.  What I love the most about the books on the list, is that there is an activity to go along with each title! 

The activities that go along with the books are great resources when working with younger grades.

I recently read Packs – Strength in Numbers by Hannah Salyer to first graders!  It was a perfect opportunity to talk to them about how we learn true and factual information when we read nonfiction!  

I like to write down EVERYTHING for a lesson!  Here is how it went...

Meet in the hallway, have teachers pass out cards as students put the book on the cart, ask teachers to scan books in...

INTRODUCE:

Introduce book title and author.  This story is nonfiction but if you notice, these are not real photographs.  Notice that there is no illustrator and that is because Hannah Salyer also drew the illustrations.  So, even though we see drawings on the pages, it is still true and factual information. We also know that when we read nonfiction, we are learning something new.  At the end of the story, I’m going to ask you about something you learned.

READ:

• “You are probably going to recognize some of these animals, raise your hand when you see one you know...visually identify animals at the beginning

ASK:

• What can we do to be better together… (ask three people)

• What are some animals you would want to learn more about?

POINT OUT: End page - Gives more information on what we can do to help these animals. 

SAY: On this page, the author also put in a key so that you can identify the animals in the story.

REVIEW: Where have we searched for books?  What kind of books did we find?  STORIES, EVERYBODY BOOKS, PICTURES & WORDS

I can search ALL of EVERYBODY and NONFICTION today to choose a story.

I can identify small moments in a story.

SHOP: All of Everybody and nonfiction books, give tour and shelf marker

Read on Carpet/flexible seating (tables for MG)