Finding Common Themes in Literature

Finding Common Themes in Literature

At class meeting and during Reading Workshop mini lessons, students are treated to many interactive read-aloud experiences. Reading aloud to students allows them to experience a variety of quality texts in different genres. In a typical read aloud, the teacher reads and the students listen. However, during our interactive read aloud, I pause at significant points, ask students for comments, and invite brief discussion.


Throughout the year, we will be exploring common themes found in the texts we read. We have already chosen 6 themes to add to our collection: Believe in Yourself, Accept Others' Differences, Don't Be Afraid to Try New Things, Be Happy With What You Have, and Always be Kind to Others . Every time we read a book that we think fits into one of themes, we make a color copy of the book cover and add it to a theme collection. Students can also submit books that they read during Independent Reading Time that they feel fit into one of the thematic categories.

We also keep track of the books we read together. It is important for us to make connections between texts, and the visual reminder of the book covers makes it easy for students to recall books previously read.