Peer

Back by popular demand: Use this new story to review the SGM components in a group or to sharpen student awareness of narrative structure.

1. Read the story below to the child. (download printed version).
2. Review the SGM^® components on the SGM^® Teacher Marker.
3. Have the students draw or stamp the icons above the correct SGM^® component. Note that the story is a complete episode, the first paragraph having the character, setting, initiating event, feeling and plan stated; the second paragraph containing all the planned attempts to carry out the plan; and the last paragraph having the direct consequence (tie-up) and resolution (feeling about how the story ended). We have found it helpful to go paragraph by paragraph. (See completed version)
4. Using the Teacher Marker, model retelling the story to the children.
5. After the activity is completed, have the student(s) work with a partner, Turn and Talk, and use his/her SGM^® Student Marker to retell the story.

Are you looking for a story to review the SGM^® components in a group or to sharpen student awareness of narrative structure?

1. Read the story below to the child (download printed version).
2. Review the SGM^® components on your Teacher Marker.
3. Have the students draw or stamp the icons above the correct SGM component.
4. Have the students draw or stamp the icons above the correct SGM^® component (see completed version)
5. After the activity is completed, have the student work with a partner, Turn and Talk, and use his/her SGM^® Student Marker to retell the story...

We are often asked which books/materials to use with the SGM^® and ThemeMaker^® maps. Although there are many suggestions given in our manuals, the answer is: any selection that you are using will work! The strength of the SGM/ThemeMaker lies in the fact that it is a flexible approach that adds needed scaffolding to make text, whether narrative or expository, assessable to all students.

A recent post, Exploring Expository Text Using the SGM Descriptive Map (August 12, 2015), focused on transitioning from the Narrative Character Map to the Expository Character Descriptive Map.

It’s an Armadillo! written by Bianca Lavies was the text chosen for that first post. Today, we present an extension of this Descriptive Map activity with the topic of cheetahs, which we have presented whole group in grades 2-4. You may modify to meet your needs...

Creating foldables is one way to make reinforcing the SGM icons an enjoyable experience. Using a flipbook and our Icon STAMPede Stamp Activity Set is a versatile way to engage students. There are a variety of flip book ideas online which may be adapted to this activity and the stamps make it easy for students themselves to create their own booklets during centers.

The Basic Flip Book/STAMPede activity…

1. Decide which icons you would like students to work on… this will vary by what you want to reinforce with your students
2. Place as many sheets of paper as needed, one on top of the other...

Several lessons on characters and settings have been presented in past blog entries. Increasingly, children are asked to take informational selections and summarize what they have learned. There is a great need to help students find ways to organize and express expository texts. We have found it helpful to take the time to transition from the use of the Character Map—that the children are already familiar with—to the Descriptive Expository Map. Begin by showing your students the Character Map and the Descriptive Map.

Are you looking for a quick lesson to reinforce the SGM or Braidy Character Map? Have students each fill out a character map or work with a partner to fill out the map in an interview format: • How old are you? • What best describes how you look? • What are you like as a person? • Are you friendly? • Are you curious? • What do you like (to eat, to do, etc.)? • What don’t you like?...