Sunday, January 1, 2012

Teaching about flashbacks

A few years back my 4th graders completely misinterpreted the meaning of a text because they didn't understand that the character was now explaining something that had happened long ago. Flashbacks can be confusing to the reader. I really like The Summer My Father Was Ten by Pat Brisson as a mentor text for teaching  about flashbacks.
I got this book from Teaching for Deep Comprehension by Linda Dorn. The teaching resource has a DVD which shows a 4th grade teacher modeling how to use the book. Also, I really recommend this blog: Life in 4B http://lifein4b.blogspot.com/2011/12/were-baaaack.html if you don't already follow it. Its been a great resource for me for the last few years. A few weeks ago I was reading Sarah Plain and Tall with my 4th graders. I like using the story Dakota Dugout after reading Sarah Plain and Tall and then comparing the two stories. I got the idea for using Dakota Dugout to teach about flashbacks from Miss Bongers at Life in 4B.
If you have any great suggestions about what books to use to teach children about flashbacks let me know. Christine

7 comments:

  1. Always glad to find good info on teaching flashbacks. I often use Homeplace by Crescent Dragonwagon. The illustrations are by Jerry Pinkney and they are beautiful! The kids seem to relate to this story pretty well. I will be adding The Summer to my list. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Looking good, Mrs. Kennedy! :) I recognize that anchor chart and appreciate the shout-out. I love adding new titles to the mix, so I, too, will be adding some of these new titles! Happy 2012!

    ReplyDelete
  3. What good ideas! Pleased to read you!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sarah, Plain & Tall has some obvious flashbacks when Anna is remembering the day Caleb was born...

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks for the great info. A book that I was recommended to use for flashback is The Wreck of the Zephyr. Haven't read or used it yet, but my colleagues have.

    ReplyDelete
  6. We discuss flashbacks in second grade with the story, "A Chair For My Mother" by Vera Williams.

    ReplyDelete