Anchor Stations

Figure 19 (F) Making Connections - this TEK in the primary grades asks the students make connections to their own experiences, ideas in other texts, and to the larger community - in 4th grade it begins to focus more on thematic links between literary and informational texts with similiar ideas 
In this station, students would be encouraged to consciously make connections as they read using one of these charts.  One chart includes drawing a picture to illlustrate a connection.  The other is for more proficient readers who can maintain running record of several connections made while reading a text. ( as soon as I figure out how to upload a PDF file, the chart will really be here :) 
The idea came from Beth Newington's site (my favorite)  http://hill.troy.k12.mi.us/staff/bnewingham/myweb3/


13 (D) Use Multiple Text Features to gain overview of the contents of the text and to locate information
In this station, students can go on a text feature scavanger hunt.    The Comprehension Toolkit -Primary has a black line master asking the student to draw the feature and then tell its purpose in that text.  There is a similiar form in this Scholastic article about teaching Non-fiction Reading Resources http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/top_teaching/2011/03/my-march-top-ten-list-nonfiction-reading-resources


11 (A) read independantly for a sustained period and paraphrase what the reading was about, maintaining meaning and logical order (generate a reading log or journal, participate in book talks)
It is difficult to set the students free to read without having some sort of accountability for what is being read.  This site has a few great ideas on getting students to to use a reader's notebook and how to manage their independent reading. 
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/top_teaching/2009/11/readers-notebook



3(A) read aloud grade level appropriate text with fluency (rate, accuracy, expression, and appropriate phrasing) and comprehension
There are many types of activities that fall under the "Fluency" umbrella. 

• Word study - Here are a few new blogs / sites that have premade word study games.  It would be great to add the reading component to them.  For example, read a poem that includes a repeated word pattern and then complete a word study activity reinforcing it.
• http://extraspecialteaching.blogspot.com/   
• http://adrianbruce.com  
• http://havefunteaching.com/activities/center-activities/phonics-centers/   This one is for primary students, I am adding it because every now and then we have a student who is in need of a few basic word study activities

3rd 9 Weeks @ a Glance

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
4(A) common prefixes	x
4(B) context clues	x
4(C) antonyms, synonyms, homographs,homophones	x
Fig.19(D)  inference	x		x		x		x	x	x
2(B) ask relevant questions, locate facts, support with evidence		x	x
15(B) locate information from graphic features of text		x
Fig.19(E)  summarize		x		x			x
13(A) facts & details to support main idea -exp			x	x
13(B) draw conclusions and support with evidence - expository			x	x
13 (C) cause & effect in expository			x
13(D) Text Features			x
8(A) sequence and sum a plot’s main events						x	x
8(B) character interaction						x	x
12(strand) author’s purpose						x
Figure 19 (F) Making Connections						x	x
9(strand) structure and  elements of fiction							x
5(A) paraphrase themes and details of fables, legends, myths or stories							x
16(strand) analyze how words graphics and sounds impact meaning								x
6(A) characteristics of poetry									x

The highlighted TEKS are supporting standards.