Eric Carle Author Study: Making Story Maps

We have been using story maps in our Reader's and Writer's Workshops to help organize the children's thinking and understanding of the Eric Carle books in our author study. These story maps have proven to be a very important tool in the art of retelling. Moreover, these story maps have been a valuable aid in the student's "Response to Literature" during Writer's Workshop. After I read a new book a few times, children are invited to draw an animal from the book to place on the story board on the back of a large index card. As they hear the story again, the children come up to have their cards placed on the poster board in sequential order. The story can be retold the next day by just using this story map. During Writer's Workshop, students can write a response by using this tool as a guide. In Reader's Workshop, it is another choice during "Literacy Centers" as a "Read the Room" activity.
Because so many books are read during this Eric Carle author study, making story maps has proven to help the children organize their thoughts and retelling abilities. It is a simple way to make the story telling organized and understandable during both workshop periods. Today students worked on their own personnal story map for The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Those I'll share with you later!!