Today in class, we reviewed a model reading response based on our read-aloud text, The One and Only Ivan. As a class, we analyzed the elements that contribute to a strong response: a summary that outlines the main events of the book in sequential order; a response that includes character feelings, traits, and/or motivations; and a response that includes details from the text to support thinking. After reviewing the response together, we attached the model response to the inside-back cover of each student's Reading/Spelling Notebook for future reference. (The model response is also copied and pasted below.)
Over the next few days, please review your child's reading responses and comments with him/her and review the model response in the back of the Reading/Spelling Notebook. We appreciate your support in helping us to push students' thinking more deeply about their independent texts!
------
Model Reading Response
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine
Applegate is a book about a silverback gorilla named Ivan who lives in the Exit
8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade and is owned by a human named Mack. Ivan can understand humans, but they cannot understand
him. Ivan lives in his domain in the mall with Stella, an elephant who was
taken from her family to live in the mall, and Bob, a dog. Later on in the
story, Ruby, another elephant, joins the circus. Ruby asks Ivan about his
childhood. Ivan tells her that when he was a baby, his family called him “Mud”
because he was always drawing with mud in the forest. Later, Mack trains Ruby
to do tricks, but Ruby starts to fight him because he is mistreating her. Trying
to soothe Ruby from what she went through with Mack, Ivan decides to tell Ruby
more about his past, such as when humans killed his parents. Then, Ivan decides
to secretly start painting at night.
Dear Diary,
I am very upset with Mack. The other day
he brought me into the ring. He looped my feet with rope so that I could not
run away and heavy chains hung from my neck. All he wanted me to do was learn
the tricks, but I was exhausted. I thought he would see how tired I was by
looking at me, but either he did not care or he did not notice. Still, he kept
yelling at me and wouldn’t leave me alone. He tried to pull at me, but I
refused to move. He took out a claw-stick and I think he wanted to hurt me with
it. He was getting angrier and angrier at me for not listening, but at the same
time, I was angrier and angrier by the minute. I was dead-tired. I did not want
to listen to him. Shouldn’t he treat me with love and respect if he wants me to
do something for him? Without me even realizing what I did, I used my trunk and
slapped him as hard as I could. He dropped the claw-stick and fell down
on the ground and curled into a ball and howled a scary sound. I did it!!! I
was so proud of myself for standing up and protecting myself. However, I am now
a little worried. What if Mack is really angry at me? Will he retaliate? Will
he do something worse to me?
Love,
Ruby
No comments:
Post a Comment