Fishing for Readers: Identifying and Writing Effective Opening "Hooks"

Materials and Technology

Student Interactives

Printouts

Preparation

 

MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGY

• Computers with Internet access
  
  
• Overhead projector (optional)
  
  
• Chart paper
  
  
• Colored markers or highlighters
  
  
• Student writing folders with previously written pieces
  
  
• Great Hooks Bibliography
  
  
• Fairy Tale Titles

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STUDENT INTERACTIVES

Grades   3 – 12  |  Student Interactive  |  Writing & Publishing Prose

Flip Book

The Flip Book is designed to allow users to type and illustrate tabbed flip books up to ten pages long. Students and teachers can use the flip book for taking notes while reading, making picture books, collecting facts, or creating question and answer booklets.

 

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PRINTOUTS

• Fishing for Readers With Hooks graphic organizer
  
  
• Hook Hunt worksheet
  
  
• Writer’s Checklist

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PREPARATION

1.	Make a photocopy of the Fishing for Readers With Hooks graphic organizer, the Hook Hunt worksheet, and the Writer’s Checklist for each student.
2.	Make overhead transparencies of the Fishing for Readers With Hooks graphic organizer and the Hook Hunt worksheet for discussion purposes (optional).
3.	Make arrangements to hold Session 1 in your school library if possible. Alternatively, you can gather a large number of books in your classroom (at least five per student) for students to use when searching for good leads. The Great Hooks Bibliography can serve as a starting point for your collection. Your school librarian may be able to suggest additional appropriate titles.
4.	Visit the interactive Flip Book and check that the program works properly on your school’s computers. Bookmark the site on the computers so that it can be easily accessed by students during the lesson.
5.	If desired, collect several different versions of a fairy tale to use in Session 3, to show that the same basic story can be introduced in different ways. See Fairy Tale Titles for suggested books.

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