Writing a Fiction Story with the Littles

How many times do you have students get confused when reading a realistic story and think that it's nonfiction?  So often students think that for a book to be fiction it must have totally made up characters, silly settings or unrealistic things happening.

I created a lesson to help my Kindergarten and 1st grade students see that a real life situation can be made up.  The story can seem real, but if we wrote it about something that didn't really happen, it's fiction!

First we refer to book characters we've read together, talking about how we know it is a fiction.  Their responses include... ducks can't be president, cats don't drive tractors, etc.

Then we move into becoming authors as a class.  I present to them the story plan and basic story elements.  I have preselected character choices, setting choices and problem choices.  I find this allows for the focus to be on writing and not opening them up to so many possibilities.

After the story plan is complete, we move to the computer that is projected with a Keynote template already in place.  Again, I pre-created a 4 page slide show with a title/author page, beginning, middle and end pages.  There are already text boxes with questions like "Who is the main character? What is the problem?"  There are already preselected pictures to match what I had on the plan.

We write the story, very guided.  Then I record the story, turning it into an audio book.  After we discuss how we know it is fiction.  We wrote it!  We made it up even though it could really happen.

Think of the possibilities of how this lesson can then be taken into the classroom... more lessons, literacy centers!

Purchase this lesson here: Write a Story Lesson Plan and Printables

Voting on Favorite Book Character

With elections across the nation, I love to simulate meaningful voting with Kindergarteners in the library.  By this time of the year my Kindergarteners have been introduced to several favorite book characters.  So, after poling the teachers about which book characters all the kinder classes know, I create my ballot.

 Then, on kinder library lesson day, I set up the voting area with a voting booth, ballot box and books on display.

I read to them Duck for President by Doreen Cronin, to introduce them to yet another fun book character... and elections humor.

After the read aloud, students have the opportunity to take part in voting for their favorite book character... from the ballot. (Although write-in's would be fun!)  While students are taking their turn and then going to check out books, I spend time talking to them about the whole process of voting... right to a secret ballot, quiet in the voting area, etc.

Fun is had by all!  This year's winner... Pete the Cat!

Managing a Successful Bookfair

Are your book fairs crazy?  Do you have enough help?  Do you get lots of students at once and then times when there's no one?

Here are just of few of my favorite tips to managing a successful book fair:

1.  Volunteers:  Before you even get started you must get volunteers signed up.  I started this step way back at the beginning of the school year.  When my PTA put out their annual "Volunteers Needed" flyer, I asked for them to add a line for library.  Then under library there were subheadings such as helping weekly in the library, helping with reading celebrations and helping with book fairs.  Then a few weeks before the book fair, I sent out a signup genius (www.signupgenius.com) for those that were willing to work.

2.  Organizing times:  The next was creating a schedule for when each grade level could come "shop".  In past book fairs my library has just been opened all day.  At the beginning of the day the lines to check out were an hour long.  Students were missing class, teachers were getting upset and I was going crazy!  So this year I created time slots for each grade level and we stuck to those times all week long.  Success!  Teachers loved how their day was not interrupted by students asking all day to head to the book fair and I was not overwhelmed with lots of students at one time.

 

3.  Boosting sales:  My favorite way to boost sales is with a classroom wish list.  My parents are wonderful about purchasing books for classroom libraries.  This year my principal added her 2 cents by picking books and creating a display.  Her books sold out!

Good luck at your next book fair!