Allison Knopf

EDR 320
Literacy Strategy
1. Character Blogs

2. Anticipatory Set: Display on the screen author David L Harrisons blog page. It can be accessed
with this link: http://davidlharrison.wordpress.com/page/2/ . (Any childrens author blog works
for this anticipatory set). Ask students to make observations by looking at the pictures and
lightly skimming the writing. Ask: What do you see? What kind of information is being displayed
here? Is this a formal or informal site? How is it being used? What is its purpose? Students
should see pictures and informal writing. The site is mainly a communication space between
author and reader. Dave Harrison updates the blog frequently and allows the reader to see his
life a little. He also uses it to share poetry, pictures and videos.

3. Description of Procedures: Students will be creating a blog written from the perspective of one
of the characters in their SSR books. This does not necessarily need to be a main character.
Students will look at the identity, personality and point of view of a character. This literary
strategy helps students to think from the perspective of a character.
a. Procedures:
i. Guide students to a school approved blog site. For this particular lesson, we will
be using google docs because it is a safe and private program that the students
know how to use. Students will be able to create blogs, share them with each
other and comment on each others pages in safety.
ii. Have students create new google documents and title the document with their
name and the name of their character.
iii. Formatting the blog: Students need to create a name for their characters blog
site and use the characters name as the author.
iv. Students will find an image that they believe represents the character. This
could be an eagle, a light bulb, a flower, a vacuum cleaner, or anything that they
believe accurately represents their character. The students need to explain (as
the character) why this is their image.
v. Students will then write two blog entries from the perspective of the character.
These can be the characters thoughts about an event, recounting a travel,
recounting a memory, or anything else that clearly displays the characters
personality and that the character would find important to share.
vi. After writing the entries and sharing the google docs with their classmates,
students will comment on at least two blogs. These comments need to be made
to the character, not to the student.
vii. Students need to be sure that the document is shared with the teacher, this is
how it will be accessed for a grade.
viii. An example blog post is included at the end of the lesson. A checklist for
students to refer to while creating there blogs is also included at the end.


4. Modeling: With a blank google doc on the screen, the teacher will model creating a blog with
Captain Jaggery from The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle. Follow the checklist as you
model. Begin with the Title The Important Life of a Captain. Since this blog is already created,
you can re-create it on a google document or show a printed version part by part on the
document camera. Follow along with the student checklist as you go so that students will know
what they need to do for each requirement. Continue to reveal the blog, or create a whole new
blog with the character of your choice, for you students. Give examples of good comments
(included on the example blog) and bad comments such as its good or you are interesting.
Remind students that they need to quality comments from their perspective or the perspective
of the character they are blogging for. Voice is important here. Stay in character!

5. Assessment Example: When assessing these blogs, first look for the two entries and two
comments. You will need to keep track of who made the comments on each page to ensure that
everyone has made two. Each entry should include details from the story to show that the
student understands the character. It should be clear if this is a protagonist or antagonist in the
story. If it is a minor character, it should also show through the writing. When reading these, the
teacher should be able to get a feel for the characters personality.

6. Childrens Text Information: Students will be using their SSR (Sustained Silent Reading) books
for this strategy. They are required to choose books that are within 50 points of their Lexile
Reading score. I chose to use these books, rather than a book that we are reading together so
that there would be a lot of variety in the blogs. None of the characters will be the same, making
the blogs much more fun for students to read.

7. References:
"Creating Character Blogs." readwirtethink. Elizabeth Potash, n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2014.

Harrison, David L. Childrens Author David L. Harrisons Blog. Childrens Author David
L. Harrisons Blog. Childrens Author David L. Harrisons Blog. 7 Oct. 2014. Web.
13 Oct. 2014.

Kids Who Blog. Reading Rockets. Reading Rockets, 2013. Web. 16 Oct. 2014

Yopp, Hallie Kay. Yopp, Ruth Helen. Literature-Based Reading Activities. United States:
Pearson, 2014. Print.


8. Two Complementary Strategies: (explain why each strategy was selected and how they would
work with this book) (min 1 paragraph)
1. Circle of Viewpoints: This activity would be helpful to use before the Character
Blogs in a class when introducing the concept of viewpoints. It is a verbal activity
that can be done individually or in small groups. After reading a portion of a text, a
poem, book, or other, students make a list of characters they want to explore, and
are then assigned (or allowed to choose) a character. They must then prepare
answers to finish these three sentences:
a. I am thinking of (an event, a topic, another character) from the point of view
of (the selected character).
b. I think
c. A question I have from this viewpoint is
Responses can be shared to the whole group, or to small groups. This activity is
meant to be used repeatedly so that students adopt thinking from other
perspectives into their daily learning.
*This strategy could also be used as a brainstorming activity before the character
blogs.
2. Literary Report Cards: This activity could be done either before or after the
character blogs. In this strategy, students analyze multiple characters and grade
them on characteristics such as kindness or creativity. Students create the
categories that they wish to grade the characters on. They use a chart with the
characteristic, grade and a comment (including text evidence) explaining the grade.
Keep all characteristics in the positive.
Example chart:
Characteristic: Grade: Comment:
Brave


Creative


Kind


Prepared























Student Checklist
Directions: Check off each requirement as you complete it.


Requirement
Creative Title
Image to represent your character
Character introduction and explanation of their image
2 Blog posts from your character to the reader. Include
details from the story.
Make 2 comments on other blogs
(from you or your character)

Student Checklist
Directions: Check off each requirement as you complete it.


Requirement
Creative Title
Image to represent your character
Character introduction and explanation of their image
2 Blog posts from your character to the reader. Include
details from the story.
Make 2 comments on other blogs
(from you or your character)

Student Checklist
Directions: Check off each requirement as you complete it.


Requirement
Creative Title
Image to represent your character
Character introduction and explanation of their image
2 Blog posts from your character to the reader. Include
details from the story.
Make 2 comments on other blogs
(from you or your character)

The Important Life of a Captain


Blogger: Captain Jaggery

Introduction: Welcome readers! I am sure you are very excited to read the thoughts of such
a brilliant captain as myself. I pride myself on my standing as the Captain and therefore
most powerful person aboard the Seahawk. I deal with my crew with swift and harsh
punishments to keep everyone in line. There will be no funny business on my ship. We will
adventure across the ocean without incident and as swiftly as possible.

I chose to represent myself as a hawk because of my power as captain, my swift
punishment techniques and my frightening reputation.

Please, enjoy my reflections.


Day 1:

Today my ship and crew stopped in Liverpool England to pick up two families and one
young girl. As it turns out, the two families were not able to join us, but the brave young girl
has decided to stick it out. I admire her courage, but I also worry a lot for her safety. We are
about to journey across the ocean she already looks quite green. I have my doubts about
this crew. They seem suspicious and I will be keeping a close watch on them.




Day 20:

I never thought I would see this day...not only did I allow a single female on board, she is
now part of the crew! She climbed all the way up to the Royal Yard! I see that she will be
causing me more trouble than I bargained for. What will her father say when I tell him that
Charlotte has turned sailor? I dont believe I could stand the humiliation of being outdone by
a female and such a young girl at that! Maybe there will be an accident that will keep this
secret from becoming public...




Comment:
Wow! It sounds like you have a potentially dangerous situation on board your ship Captain
Jaggery. It is seriously bad luck to have a woman on board. And now she is part of the
crew! I am disappointed in you as a sailor my friend. Get it together! I am interested in the
potential accident...I will be watching for future posts on your progress.
-Captain Hook (Peter Pan)

Comment:
Captain Jaggery, you best take good care of that girl Charlotte! My son ended up on his
own in the wilderness and I will not hear another story of a young person harmed while on
their own! Take good care of her or you will hear from me!
-Brians Mother (Hatchet)