The Joy of Planning Designing Minilesson Cycles in Grades 3-6

by Franki Sibberson

Genres: Adult, Teaching

Unknown Binding

First published September 5, 2012

Reviews

[Suzanne Gibbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gives terrific hands-on, use-it-today ideas and lesson plans for helping kids in the middle grades learn key concepts in reading. Franki takes a very practical approach, and lessons are in a logical, well-thought-out progression for helping your students engage more fully in the books they read. I especially appreciate the unit on characters. After using her strategies in this unit as a guideline, my kids are more in tune with and thoughtful about characters in the books they read. Students can easily identify characters and their roles in the story, which made our class a real reading community. This is a perfect book to use if you have a classroom library and ascribe to Donalyn Miller's (The Book Whisperer) way of thinking about teaching reading.

[Barb Keister · Rating 5 out of 5]

A practical resource for teachers who strive to always keep their unique group of students at the center of planning for instruction. Also helpful in understanding Common Core standards related to character and theme.

[Josie Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the book author Franki Sibberson talks of the need to unpack goals and standards - this book is full of thinking that we need to unpack and process and put into practice. Short book but big on pushing our thinking! Clearly author puts students first.

[Dawn Little · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Franki's thinking in this book about planning mini-lessons. Add to your professional TBR list!

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the first part of this book better than the second half. I like how the author talks about this as a mentor text, but not a rigid series of lessons to follow. You can't just follow the same scope and sequence every year because your kids and their needs change. I get that and sometimes I plan with an end goal in mind, but not a distinct route planned out. Sometimes the detours are just as important. There are some things in this book that I would like to try. She offers several book suggestions, however I feel like she repeat the same books and as a lover of books, I could fairly easily make connections to other texts that might work in that situation, but not sure novice teachers could. I do like the wonderopolis site that she suggested for short non-fiction reading.

[Lou Broughton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to my teacher friend, Tenille, for always having the perfect book to recommend that answers my questions and stretches my thinking at the same time. This is a book I will return to again and again. These lesson cycles are a great starting point for teaching deeper reading in a more holistic way. I especially enjoyed reading about how the author approaches the strategies required for deeper comprehension of nonfiction texts.

[Shannon Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not only did Franki give bid ideas and questions that are essential for planning, but she gave mini lesson examples for several units or cycles. Ones that I really needed help with I might add!! Especially theme!

This is a must read for any teacher who reflects on their planning process and knows how important it is to the success of students.

[Holly Mueller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Franki Sibberson's writing style - it's friendly and thought-provoking. She shares her planning processes and gives us great ideas for minilesson cycles. I'm always inspired by the amount of thinking she puts into her teaching

[Tenille Shade · Rating 5 out of 5]

I plan to revisit the lessons in this short, easy to read professional book often. Franki Sibberson understand the world teachers inhabit. Her down-to-earth suggestions are helpful and practical. She has helped me reconsider my current planning practices.

[Hilary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really helped me to think about planning my reading instruction in new ways. Franki writes in a way that is easy to absorb. The ideas are relevant and useful if you teaching reading or writing. It was kind of like having a conversation with her.

[Donalyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this thoughtful book on planning minilessons. A must-read for every teacher's bookshelf.

[katsok · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book on planning mini-lessons in the reading and writing workshop.

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book with a lot of mini-lesson ideas aligned to the common core. I particularly enjoyed the chapter on non-fiction as I know this is an area I need to grow in as a teacher.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book before going back to school from holiday break. It was excellent and practical. I loved that it wasn't a book of plans. Will recommend to fellow teachers in my district.

[Beth Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Handy and great for curriculum mapping

[Heather Sisson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has just the right balance of making the thinking involved in planning visible and current professional texts for teachers to refer to when thinking through their instructional decisions.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gave me some great ideas for mini-lessons and many of these I'm implementing in my classroom this year.

[Mary Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know. About time I actually read all of the words. GREAT book.

Summer #bookaday 12