Students continue to share their "meaningful thoughts" at the beginning of class. For many, this routine has become automatic, and they know that readers are also thinkers. Some students are working on extending their thoughts outward, from characters or events in the book to larger, more universal ideas or themes.
We also read a biography called Mama Miti: The Roots of Peace. While reading, students noticed the decisions that the author told us about, and thought about why those decisions were made. That helped them recognize the larger message of the book and of Mama Miti's life. We did a Readers' Theater, which allowed students to practice using their voices to reflect understanding of the text.
During IR+ days, students updated their reading list, reflected on current goals, explored new books, and did some quiet reading while focusing on one particular way of thinking.
