Weaving the Big 5 into Children's Lives is a Path to Self-Determination

In today’s diverse classrooms, it’s essential to go beyond teaching reading skills in isolation. To truly empower students, especially in developing self-determination, we need to help them see how these skills are relevant to their lives. This lesson plan, centered around Eloise Greenfield’s poem "Honey, I Love," is designed to weave the Big 5 of Reading—phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension—into the fabric of students' daily experiences.

By connecting these fundamental reading components to their personal and cultural backgrounds, we not only enhance students' academic abilities but also foster a sense of ownership over their learning. This approach helps students understand that mastering these skills gives them the tools to navigate their world, express themselves, and achieve their goals. In doing so, we support them in developing a strong sense of self-determination—a critical element for lifelong learning and success.

Research shows that culturally relevant pedagogy, when combined with foundational literacy skills, significantly improves student engagement and academic outcomes (Ladson-Billings, 1995). Moreover, studies have found that when students can connect their learning to their personal experiences, they are more likely to retain information and develop critical thinking skills (Gay, 2000). This lesson plan integrates these principles with the Big 5 of Reading, ensuring that students see themselves in their learning journey.

Lesson Plan: Weaving the Big 5 into Children's Lives

Grade Level: 3rd-5th Grade Subject: Reading/Language Arts Duration: 1 hour

Lesson Title:

Weaving the Big 5 into Our Lives: Understanding Phonemic Awareness, Phonics, Fluency, Vocabulary, and Comprehension

Objective:

Students will understand how the Big 5 components of reading are connected to their lives, helping them to develop self-determination in their learning process. Students will engage with each component through activities that link reading skills to their personal experiences and cultural backgrounds.

Materials:

• Poem: "Honey, I Love" by Eloise Greenfield
• Chart paper and markers
• Individual student notebooks or journals
• Age-appropriate books and texts
• Vocabulary flashcards
• Story prompts
• Technology (optional): tablets or computers for digital activities

Standards:

• Phonemic Awareness: Demonstrate understanding of spoken words, syllables, and sounds (phonemes).
• Phonics: Apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words.
• Fluency: Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.
• Vocabulary: Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases.
• Comprehension: Demonstrate understanding of key ideas and details in a text.

Introduction (10 minutes):

• Purpose and Connection to Self-Determination: Begin by explaining the importance of self-determination and how understanding and connecting the Big 5 of Reading to their own lives will help students take ownership of their learning. Emphasize that when they see how these reading skills fit into their lives, it empowers them to become stronger, more independent learners.
• Read Aloud: Read an excerpt from "Honey, I Love" by Eloise Greenfield aloud to the class. For example, read:
• Discussion: Ask students what they think the poem is about and how it relates to their own experiences. Encourage them to share what they love in their lives, similar to the way the speaker in the poem expresses her feelings.
• Connection: Explain that the poem is not just about love but also about how we can see reading and language in the things we care about most. Introduce the Big 5 of Reading and explain that these skills help us understand and express our own stories. Reinforce that by mastering these skills, they are taking control of their education and setting the path for their own success—a key part of self-determination.

Lesson Steps:

1. Activity 1: Phonemic Awareness and Phonics (15 minutes):

• Sound Play: Use words from the poem, like "love," "visit," and "slides," to engage students in phonemic awareness activities such as identifying beginning and ending sounds or blending sounds to form words.
• Phonics Connection: Show how these sounds are connected to letters and spelling patterns. Have students practice decoding similar words found in the poem or create new words using the same phonics patterns.
• Differentiation Example: For students who may struggle with phonics, provide visual aids or phonics games that break down the sounds more slowly. For advanced students, challenge them to find other words with similar patterns and use them in sentences.

2. Activity 2: Fluency Practice (15 minutes):

• Group Reading: Have students practice reading the excerpt from "Honey, I Love" aloud in pairs or small groups. Encourage them to focus on fluency by reading with expression and rhythm, just like you did in the read-aloud.
• Peer Feedback: After practicing, pairs can provide positive feedback to each other on their fluency, focusing on smooth reading and expressive voice.
• Connection: Discuss how reading fluently helps us enjoy and share poetry and stories with others, making the words come to life.
• Technology Integration Example: Use a digital recording tool to allow students to record their reading and listen to playback, helping them self-assess their fluency.

3. Activity 3: Vocabulary Building (10 minutes):

• Word Exploration: Select key vocabulary from the poem, such as "cousin," "South," and "slides," and discuss their meanings. Have students create flashcards with the word, a picture, and a sentence using the word in a way that connects to their lives.
• Vocabulary Discussion: Engage the class in a discussion about how these words are meaningful to them and how they might use them in their own writing or speaking.
• Parental Involvement Example: Send home vocabulary flashcards or a list of words for parents to review with their children, encouraging discussions about the meaning and use of these words in the family’s daily life.

4. Activity 4: Comprehension (15 minutes):

• Story Mapping: Break down the poem into its key ideas and emotions using a story map. Ask students to identify what the speaker loves and why.
• Personal Connection: Have students write a short paragraph about something they love and why it’s important to them, using the poem as a model.
• Connection: Highlight how understanding the poem helps them connect with the speaker’s feelings and express their own.

Conclusion and Reflection (5 minutes):

• Recap: Summarize how the Big 5 of Reading were used to understand and connect with the poem "Honey, I Love." Emphasize that these skills help them not only in reading but also in expressing their own stories and feelings. Reinforce the concept of self-determination, explaining that by mastering these skills, they are taking control of their learning and their future.
• Journaling: Ask students to reflect on what they learned today in their journals, focusing on how the poem and the reading skills are connected to their own lives and how this empowers them as learners.

Assessment:

• Formative: Observe student participation in activities and their ability to connect the poem to their lives.
• Summative: Review students' vocabulary flashcards, story maps, and journal reflections to assess their understanding of the Big 5 and their personal connections to the poem.

Extension Activities:

• Poetry Creation: Have students write their own poems titled "Honey, I Love," focusing on things they love in their own lives, incorporating the vocabulary and themes discussed.
• Cultural Project: Encourage students to explore poems from their cultural backgrounds and share them with the class.

Potential Areas for Enhancement:

1. Differentiation: Incorporate strategies such as visual aids for phonics practice or advanced vocabulary challenges for more proficient students. Provide additional scaffolding or simplified texts for struggling readers, or offer advanced texts and independent research opportunities for more advanced students.
2. Technology Integration: Incorporate digital tools, such as recording tools for fluency practice or interactive vocabulary games, to further engage students and cater to diverse learning styles.
3. Parental Involvement: Suggest activities that involve parents or guardians, such as reviewing vocabulary at home or discussing the poem’s themes, to extend learning beyond the classroom.