This week in reading we are focusing on character analysis. My students have been having a hard time telling me details about the characters so we decided to focus on traits and feelings of characters. We first defined what each meant. One of my students was dead on with definitions while most of the others had no clue what the difference was. It was great. He sometimes struggles with confidence so we celebrated this knowledge to the fullest. He was very proud after that!
Anyway, then we came up with some examples. The kids had some great ideas for character traits and feelings. I think the fact that the school focuses on virtues really helped in this area.
Then we practiced together identifying these things through our read aloud. I am currently reading Shiloh which has some dramatic events in it to really help with this. We were at the part where Marty confronts Judd and lots of emotions are shared by each character.
During their independent reading time, I asked the kids to grab 2 different colored flags and mark the traits and feelings that they found in the books they were reading. I was quite surprised how many of them struggled identifying these things on their own. Good thing it is still early to keep reinforcing these ideas.
After the reading time was up we gathered back to the carpet to share our ideas and what we found in our stories. The students then each added a trait or a feeling to our chart. Here is the finished chart. I was quite pleased with this lesson and think the rest of the week will really make this concept stick.
Happy Hump Day!!
