Embedded Reading

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25 Jul 2012

The “Famous” Oatmeal Story

Ben Slavic was working with a song….backwards planning with the song lyrics as his goal.  I wanted to give him an example of what an embedded reading based on a song might look like for my Level 4s.   So, I chose a few lines that might be found in a love song and created a series of embedded readings using those phrases.

The strategy I used was :
A)  Identify the key phrases
Write a simple piece using the first phrase.
C)  Add details using the second phrase.
D)  Continue adding details using the third phrase.
E)  Add details using the fourth phrase for the final piece.

 

My first thought is that I would “build” the story. For example: the four phrases are….I never knew…I thought….you were the one….each and every day.

Level 1: I never knew

I never knew that oatmeal was delicious. I never knew that oatmeal was delicious because I never ate oatmeal. I never knew that oatmeal was delicious because no one in my family ate oatmeal. I never knew that it could be my favorite breakfast.

Level 2: I never knew + I thought

I thought I knew everything but I never knew that oatmeal was delicious. I thought that oatmeal was horrible. I never knew that oatmeal was delicious because I never ate oatmeal. I wasn;t as smart as I thought I was. I thought that it would be absolutely disgusting. I thought that I would vomit if I ate oatmeal. I never knew that oatmeal was delicious because no one in my family ate oatmeal. My mother never ate oatmeal. My father never ate oatmeal. I thought that my father knew everything. You were just the silly little girl next door….the one that always bothered me. So I thought that oatmeal must be horrible. I never thought about trying it. I never thought that I would like it. I never that it could be my favorite breakfast.

Level 3: I never knew + I thought+you were the one

You were the smart one. I thought I knew everything but I never knew that oatmeal was delicious. You were the one who always said that oatmeal was fantastic. I thought that oatmeal was horrible. You were the one who ate oatmeal every day. I never knew that oatmeal was delicious because I never ate oatmeal. You were the one who told me that I wasn;t as smart as I thought I was. I thought that it would be absolutely disgusting. You were the one who promised me that I wouldn’t vomit if I ate oatmeal. I never knew that oatmeal was delicious because no one in my family ate oatmeal. There was no oatmeal in my house. You were the one who had oatmeal in your house. My mother never ate oatmeal. My father never ate oatmeal. I thought that my father knew everything. You weren’t the one who knew everything. My father knew everything. I was a kid!! You were just the silly little girl next door….the one that always bothered me. You were the one who always played tricks on me. So I thought that oatmeal must be horrible. I never thought about trying it. You were the one who put bugs in my salad and told me that they were raisins!!! So when you were the one who told me that oatmeal was delicious, I never thought that I would like it. I never knew that you were the one who could even make oatmeal wonderful, that you were the oatmeal princess. I never that it could be my favorite breakfast….and that you were the one who was right.

Level 4 I never knew+I thought+you were the one+each and every day

You were the smart one. Each and every day you ate oatmeal. I thought I knew everything but I never knew that oatmeal was delicious. You were the one, each and every day, who always said that oatmeal was fantastic. I thought that oatmeal was horrible. You were the one who ate oatmeal, some how, some way, each every day. I never knew that oatmeal was delicious because I never ate oatmeal. Each and every day you were the one who told me that I wasn;t as smart as I thought I was. I thought that it would be absolutely disgusting. I thought I would vomit each and every drop of oatmeal if I ate it. Each and every day ,you were the one who promised me that I wouldn’t vomit if I ate oatmeal. I never knew that oatmeal was delicious because no one in my family ate oatmeal. Each and every day we ate burnt toast and moldy jam. There was no oatmeal in my house. You were the one who had oatmeal in your house. You ate oatmeal each and every day. Oatmeal with honey, oatmeal with jelly beans, oatmeal with spinach, oatmeal with chocolate chips. Oatmeal with each and every meal. My mother never ate oatmeal. She ate burnt toast each and every day. (dry…she was always on a diet!) My father never ate oatmeal. My father ate burnt toast and moldy jam each and every day!! I thought that my father knew everything. If he ate burnt toast and moldy jam each and every day, then I ate burnt toast and moldy jam each and every day!!! You weren’t the one who knew everything. My father knew everything. I was a kid!! You were just the silly little girl next door….the one that always bothered me….each and every day. You were the one who always played tricks on me….each and every day. So I thought that oatmeal must be horrible. I never thought about trying it. You were the one who put bugs in my salad, each and every day and told me that they were raisins!!! I ate those bugs each and every day for a year!!! So when you were the one who told me that oatmeal was delicious, I never thought that I would like it. I never knew that you were the one who, each and every day, could even make oatmeal wonderful, that you were the oatmeal princess. I never that it could be my favorite breakfast each and every day….with anything….as long as you were with me……and that you were the one who was right. And now you remind me of it each and every day!!! Enough already!!!!!!

 

All content of this website © Embedded Reading 2012-2014 or original authors.  Unauthorized use or distribution of materials without express and written consent of the owners/authors is strictly prohibited.   Examples and  links may be used as long as clear and direct reference to the site and original authors is clearly established.

Posted in Creating from the Bottom Up | Leave a comment
25 Jul 2012

Example 1: From the Bottom Up (English)

 One way to create an embedded readings is to use two – three target structures at a time:

This works very well when the focus structures string together to create a sweet little beginning, middle and end story…..

wakes up early
she has things to do
wants to get to work on time

Base story:

Georgina wakes up early every day.   She  wants to get to work on time. She has many things to do.  She  wants to get to work on time.  She has to do one thing, then she has to do another thing, then she has to do another thing.  She looks at the clock.  Now it is late!  She runs out the door because she  wants to get to work on time.

Copy and paste…..and add details.  I’ll try to do that by repeating each phrase with additional information:


Georgina wakes up early every day.   She wakes up earlier than her family.  She wants to get to work on time.   She wants to get to work on time because the boss gives doughnuts to everyone who gets to work on time.   She has many things to do, but  she  wants to get to work on time and get a cinnamon doughnut.  Right after she wakes up early, she has to do one very important thing.  She has to feed her pet goat.  Then she has to make a huge thermos of coffee.  She has to make a huge thermos of coffee because she wakes up very early!!  If she makes the coffee first, after she wakes up early, and doesn’t feed her goat, then her goat eats her fuzzy slippers.  So, Georgina wakes up early, has to feed the goat and THEN has to make a huge thermos of coffee.   Georgina has to do one more thing in the morning.  She has to read her horoscope.    She looks at the clock.  Now it is late!  She runs out the door because she  wants to get to work on time and get that cinnamon doughnut.

Copy and paste…and now I can add more details to the story.   With a real story and real students I can weave in other structures, local information, details that reflect my students’ lives and interests, etc.

I can give put the paragraph in a word document and post it on my web page or in a shared file.  The students can go with me to the computer lab.  They can each open up the document, add their own ideas and details and save it back to the shared file for  me to read.  Or…they can access it at home and email me their copy. 


Georgina wakes up early every day.  She wakes up before she hears her alarm clock.  She wakes up earlier than her family.  She wakes up earlier than everyone in town.

She wants to get to work on time.   She wants to get to work on time because the boss gives doughnuts to everyone who gets to work on time.   Everyone!!  Wouldn’t you want to get to work on time ?    She has many things to do after she wakes up, but  she  wants to get to work on time.  When she gets to work on time she likes to get a cinnamon doughnut.  With lots of cinnamon and sugar!!!

Right after Georgina wakes up early, she has to do many things, but the first thing that she has to do is a very important thing.  Yes, she really has to do one very important thing.   She has to feed her pet goat.  Before she can get to work early and get that cinnamon doughnut, she has to feed that goat.

Then she has to make a huge thermos of coffee.  She prefers Folger’s coffee with extra caffeine because she wakes up very early.   She has to make a HUGE, ENORMOUS thermos of Folger’s extra-caffeinated coffee because she wakes up very early!!  Remember, she wakes up earlier than everyone in town!!  But……..If she makes the coffee first, after she wakes up early, and doesn’t feed her goat first, then her goat eats her fuzzy slippers.

Georgina loves her fuzzy slippers.   They are very warm fuzzy slippers.   This is important because Georgina wakes up very early and it is very cold when she wakes up very early and her toes are very cold.  So, Georgina wakes up early , puts on her warm fuzzy slippers, has to feed the goat and THEN has to make a huge thermos of Folgers super-caffeinated coffee.

Georgina has to do one more thing in the morning.  She has to read her horoscope.   She wants to know what type of day she is going to have.  She won’t leave for work unless she reads her horoscope.  Now, Georgina is very superstitious.  She reads her horoscope in the Middletown News, but it isn’t always right.  So…she also has to read her horoscope in the New York Times.   Then, just to be sure, she reads her horoscope in the L.A. Times.    If she is having a bad day (and if her goat eats her slippers) she also has to read her horoscope on the Internet.

This happens every day.  After Georgina wakes up early every day, she has feed the goat, she has to make the coffee and she has to read  her horoscope several times.    Then, and only then, every day she looks at the clock in order to check the time because she wants to get to work early and get a cinnamon doughnut.   And every day it is late!  Every day she has to run out the door because she  wants to get to work on time and get that cinnamon doughnut.

Every day, even though she gets up early, she is late to work…..and her boss eats the cinnamon doughnut.   Poor Georgina!!

………………..

If  the three structures fit nicely, like these do, to make a short little story in just a few lines….building this way works well.    Each story will work differently.  I think what is important is to do what you can in the time that you have.   These are not stories for publication.    This are stories for acquisition.   If there is comprehension, connection and repetition….whooo hooo!!!!!!   Jackpot!!!

 

All content of this website © Embedded Reading 2012-2014 or original authors.  Unauthorized use or distribution of materials without express and written consent of the owners/authors is strictly prohibited.   Examples and  links may be used as long as clear and direct reference to the site and original authors is clearly established.

Posted in Creating from the Bottom Up, Uncategorized | Leave a comment
25 Jul 2012

Combining Student Story Ideas for An Embedded Reading

How can embedded stories and “classroom-created” stories blend together?  Here is one example…..This can be helpful if you need to prepare for a day out of the classroom, give your voice a rest, or get additional reading time in….

I’ll use sample phrases from one of Anne Matava‘s stories:  receives a package, is afraid to open the package

Divide students into groups.  Ask them to create a skeleton story (3-10 lines) in the TL (or English if you have beginning students) using the target phrases.   Give students 10 minutes to write their version down and hand it in.

Collect the skeleton stories.   Now you have your ideas!

(At this point Michele has used these stories in class to build and write the stories as a group….I will let her explain that…she has had a lot of success with it!)

Let’s say you collect the following:

Group #1   On July 4th, Arnold Schwarzenagger receives a package in the mail.   Arnold is afraid to open the package.  He gives it back to the Post Office.  The Post Office gives it back to Arnold.   Arnold buries the package in his backyard.

Group #2  Mr.  Tanner, the math teacher, receives a package.  It arrives at his classroom, during 5th period.   Mr. Tanner ignores the package.  He wants to teach.  The package starts to  sing like Elton John.   The students say, ‘Mr. Tanner, the package is singing”.  Mr.  Tanner is  mad.  He doesn’t like Elton John.    Mr. Tanner gives the package detention.

Group #3  Apolo Anton Onho is in Vancouver counting all of his medals.  He receives a package from the Canadian hockey team.   Apolo is afraid of the package.  Apolo is afraid of the Canadian Hockey Team.  Apolo calls Lindsey Vonn.   Lindsey is not afraid.  Lindsey opens the package.  Inside there are 245632.56 Chicken Nuggets with Spicy Chili Sauce.

So…now…you look at the possibilities and combine as much of it as you can into a skeleton story.

Arnold Schwarzenagger receives a package.  Arnold is afraid to open the package.   Arnold gives the package back to the Post Office.  The Post Office sends the package to Mr. Tanner the math teacher.  Mr. Tanner gives the package detention.   A boy in detention takes the package on the bus.  He leaves the package on the bus.  The hockey team finds the package.  The hockey team leaves the package at the hockey rink.   The Canandian Hockey team finds the package.  The Canadian Hockey team sends the package to Apolo Anton Ono.  Apolo is afraid to openthe package.  He calls Lindsay Vonn.

You copy and paste the skeleton story on to a new page.  Now you go back to the stories written by the students and add more details.

 Arnold Schwarzenagger receives a package.  The package starts to sing the Star-Spangled Banner.  Arnold is afraid to open the package.   Arnold gives the package back to the Post Office.

Peter the Postman takes the package from Arnold.  Peter is also afraid to open the package.  The package sings “They Say It’s Your Birthday!”  Peter the Postman from the Post Office sends the package to his friend,  Mr. Tanner the math teacher.

Mr. Tanner receives the package on the first day of school.   He receives the package during 5th period.     Mr.  Tanner is afraid to open the package.  Mr. Tanner gives the package detention.

Mark Messesup is a boy in detention.   He puts the package on his desk.  Mark Messesup takes the package home on the bus.  On the bus, the package sings Miley Cyrus songs.  Mark is afraid to open the package now.  He leaves the package on the bus.

The bus picks up the hockey team.  The hockey team brings the package in to the hockey rink.   It sings more Miley Cyrus songs.  The hockey team is also afraid of Miley Cyrus. The hockey team leaves the package at the hockey rink.

The Canadian Hockey team finds the package.  The package is still singing Miley Cyrus songs.  The Canadian Hockey Team is not afraid of Miley Cyrus.   But they don’t like her music.    The Canadian Hockey team sends the package to Apolo Anton Ono.

Apolo Anton Ono is in Vancouver when he receives the package.   The package starts to sing.    Apolo calls Lindsey Vonn.  “I received a package that sings”   Lindsey Vonn arrives.   “Wow!” she says.   The package starts to sing very loudly like Miley Cyrus.  Now, Apolo is afraid of the package.   He is really afraid of Miley Cyrus.

Lindsey Vonn is not afraid of Miley Cyrus.  She is not afraid to open the package.  She opens the package.  Inside of the package she finds 245632.56 Chicken Nuggets with Spicy Chili Sauce.     She eats 245627.56 Chicken Nuggets.

And repeat the process……..

On July 4th, Arnold Schwarzenagger receives a package.  The package starts to sing the Star-Spangled Banner.  Arnold is afraid to open the package.   Arnold gives the package back to the Post Office.

Peter the Postman takes the package from Arnold.  Peter is also afraid to open the package.  The package sings “They Say It’s Your Birthday!”  Peter  gets an idea.  Peter the Postman from the Post Office sends the package to his friend,  Mr. Tanner the math teacher.

Mr. Tanner receives the package on the first day of school.   He receives the package during 5th period.    The package sings the Star-Spangled Banner, but the 5th period class is very loud and no one hears it.   During 6th period the package “They Say It’s Your Birthday”,Mr.  Tanner thinks that it is a student.  He thinks that it is his favorite student George Geometria.   Mr.  Tanner is afraid to open the package.  Mr. Tanner gives the package detention.

Mark Messesup is a boy in detention.    He receives the package when it arrives.  He puts the package on his desk.  The package sings like Michael Jackson.    Mark Messesup takes the package home on the bus.  On the bus, the package sings Miley Cyrus songs.  Mark is afraid to open the package now.  He leaves the package on the bus.

The bus picks up the hockey team.  The hockey team thinks that the package is food for after practice.  The hockey team brings the package in to the hockey rink.   During practice the package starts to sing.  It sings more Miley Cyrus songs.  The hockey team is also afraid of Miley Cyrus. The hockey team leaves the package at the hockey rink.

The Canadian Hockey team finds the package.  The package is still singing.  The package is still singing Miley Cyrus songs.  The Canadian Hockey Team is not afraid of Miley Cyrus.   But they don’t like her music.    The Canadian Hockey team sends the package to Apolo Anton Ono.

Apolo Anton Ono is looking at all of his  medals in Vancouver when he receives the package.   The package starts to sing the Star-Spangled Banner.    Apolo calls his friend Lindsey Vonn.  “I received a package that sings from the Canadian Hockey Team!!”   Lindsey Vonn arrives.   She looks at the package.   “Wow!” she says, “You received a cool package!”   Apolo  walks towards the package.  The package starts to sing very loudly like Miley Cyrus.  Now, Apolo is afraid of the package.   He is really afraid of Miley Cyrus.

Lindsey Vonn is not afraid of Miley Cyrus.  She is not afraid to open the package.  She opens the package.  Inside of the package she finds 245632.56 Chicken Nuggets with Spicy Chili Sauce.     She eats 245627.56 Chicken Nuggets.

And then…copy and paste…..and on the next page…one more set of details…….

On July 4th, Arnold Schwarzenagger receives a package.  The package starts to sing the Star-Spangled Banner.  Arnold is afraid to open the package.   Arnold buries the package in his backyard.  The package sings all summer in Arnold’s back yard.  Arnold is really afraid to open the package.  In September, Arnold digs up the singing package.  Arnold gives the package back to the Post Office.

Peter the Postman takes the package from Arnold.   Peter does not know what to do with the singing package.  Peter is also afraid to open the package.  The package sings “They Say It’s Your Birthday!”  Peter  gets an idea.  Peter needs a birthday present for his friend Mr. Tanner.  Peter the Postman from the Post Office sends the package to his friend,  Mr. Tanner the math teacher.

Mr. Tanner receives the package on the first day of school.   He receives the package during 5th period.    The package sings the Star-Spangled Banner, but the 5th period class is very loud and no one hears it.   During 6th period the package “They Say It’s Your Birthday”, but Mr. Tanner is yelling about homework and doesn’t hear it.  During 7th period the package sings Rocket Man like Elton John.  Mr.  Tanner thinks that it is a student.  He thinks that it is his favorite student George Geometria.  “It’s not me!” says George. “It’s the package!”  George is afraid to open the package.  Mr.  Tanner is afraid to open the package.  Mr. Tanner gives the package detention.

Mark Messesup is a boy in detention.    He receives the package when it arrives.   He is not afraid of the package.  He puts the package on his desk.  The package sings like Michael Jackson.  Mark likes to sing like Michael Jackson.   Mark Messesup takes the package home on the bus.  On the bus, the package sings Miley Cyrus songs.  Mark is afraid to open the package now.  He leaves the package on the bus.

The bus picks up the hockey team.  The hockey team finds the package.  The hockey team thinks that the package is food for after practice.  The hockey team brings the package in to the hockey rink.   During practice the package starts to sing.  It sings more Miley Cyrus songs.  The hockey team is also afraid of Miley Cyrus.  They are afraid to open the package because Miley might be in the package.  The hockey team leaves the package at the hockey rink and runs to the bus, screaming.

The Canadian Hockey team finds the package.  The package is still singing.  The package is still singing Miley Cyrus songs.  The Canadian Hockey Team is not afraid of Miley Cyrus.   But they don’t like her music.  They only like polka music.   The Canadian Hockey team sends the package to Apolo Anton Ono.

Apolo Anton Ono is looking at all of his  medals in Vancouver when he receives the package.   The package starts to sing the Star-Spangled Banner.   Apolo is surprised.   What a nice gift!  Apolo calls his friend Lindsey Vonn.  “I received a package that sings from the Canadian Hockey Team!  Come over and see it!”   Lindsey Vonn arrives.   She looks at the package.  The package starts to sing Rocket Man.  “Wow!” she says, “You received a cool package!”   Apolo says, “I want to know who is inside singing.”  He walks towards the package.  The package starts to sing very loudly like Miley Cyrus.  Now, Apolo is afraid of the package.   He is really afraid of Miley Cyrus.

Lindsey Vonn is not afraid of Miley Cyrus.  She is not afraid to open the package.  She puts on her ski helmet.  She puts on her ski goggles.  She opens the package.  Inside of the package she finds 245632.56 Chicken Nuggets with Spicy Chili Sauce.   Lindsey is very happy!!  She is very hungry.   She eats 245627.56 Chicken Nuggets.  At the bottom of the box are a group of Chicken Nuggets that sing.  They are afraid of Lindsey Vonn.   “Don’t eat us!  We sing!”  Lindsey names the nuggets The Spicy Girls and they become famous on American Idol!!

 

All content of this website © Embedded Reading 2012-2014 or original authors.  Unauthorized use or distribution of materials without express and written consent of the owners/authors is strictly prohibited.   Examples and  links may be used as long as clear and direct reference to the site and original authors is clearly established.

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