WINNEMUCCA - Now the final installment of English/Language Arts Common Core Standards for Parents. Since you have followed along and implemented strategies, you have a firm understanding of the CCS expectations for student learning and supporting your child's academic growth. One impressive aspect of the CCS for language is that these can be applied for any age, at any grade level; it is the complexity of the text or writing goal that varies.
Good readers recognize and good writers utilize literal and figurative language. Literal is essential in non-fiction reading and writing - you cannot joke around or provoke humor on serious subjects based on fact. Fiction, however, is far more entertaining with a dash of simile and splash of metaphor. An overweight sow is not nearly as fun as a sow whose wobble resembles a sumo wrestler set to attack. Wide as the universe, broad as a barn, flabby like a manatee create pictures as they add understanding.
Similes are usually the easiest to introduce to children because they are identifiable with the words "like" or "as": Tom was as explosively loud as dynamite as he offered his over-blown excuses; she was like a fish out of water as she floundered along the shore. The only problem is when kids think that I "like" ice cream is a simile when like here is used as a verb. Metaphors require more thought but can begin with a simile with words then rearranged and like or as eliminated. "Tom's over-blown excuses were dynamite lit to explode."
Caution - too many metaphors or similes confuse the reader or they may be inapplicable. Sally was as noisy as a tiger really does not provide enough information to understand just how noisy or not noisy Sally is.
Travels with Gini this month included a classroom in Grass Valley. I have been in the room often enough that students greet me by name and gladly share their ideas when I request. Students were working on finding a pattern. They had a paper with numbers across the top:
3 6 9 12 15 18
Their job was to relate these numbers to a pattern. Students set to with enthusiasm, even those who were unsure but eager to please. The most common answer was "counting by 3s". Other answers included: the numbers on the left have 1 digit while the numbers on the other side have 2 digits and they go in order from least great to greatest. I read answers and said, "Tell me more" and students explained their reasoning. Next I asked them to find another pattern. Pretty soon those students had 2 patterns and then some continued with 3, 4, and 5.
The first part of this lesson, Find a Pattern, requires upper level thinking; finding multiple patterns (with an explanation) requires brainpower and the willingness to take a chance and uncover something new.
One student's answer left me perplexed. He had written "the numbers are in abc order". At first glance, of course, this is wrong - don't confuse numbers with letters. However, when I asked for clarification he shared that "just like the letters of the alphabet have a special order, so do numbers, in this case 3 is smaller than 6 which is smaller than 9..." I wrote the word "chronological" on his paper and explained that numbers in order are chronological. I bet when I return he'll be ready to implement his new vocabulary correctly.
A kindergartner had two addition problems 3 + 3 = 6 and 6 + 6 = 12. When asked for a pattern she responded, "they are both addition". I probed. She continued with both have plus signs then both have equal signs and both have answers, and finally both use digits and both are problems. I asked if the overall pattern changes "Of course, the second one has a 2 digit number." Our one-on-one conversation provided the opportunity to expand her thinking and my knowledge.
On a serious note, bullying is a problem everywhere. A teacher shared the visual she uses with her students. Take a piece of paper and wad it up as tight and wrinkly as you can get it. Now smooth the paper as close to its original condition as possible. What do you see? She then explains that these wrinkles are like mean words and deeds. They can be smoothed and reshaped but they never disappear. What a terrific visual, hands-on lesson on an enormously valuable topic.[[In-content Ad]]
