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A boy, dogs, and a race, these are things to which most second and third graders can relate. In Mrs. Sandy Neagle’s and Mrs. Tracie Best’s multi-age classrooms at Lake Spokane Elementary School they are pieces of the plot for two reading books, Stone Fox for the third graders and Balto for the second graders. Both stories are about dog sled races. As the students read the stories, they practiced a variety of reading comprehension strategies. While most students could make a connection with a pet and some kind of a race, most had no background knowledge about dog sled races. To extend this learning parent volunteer Terri Marikis recruited community member Dr. Frank Caccavo. Dr. Caccavo is a professional musher who brought his sled and three of his dogs to Lake Spokane. As the students had already read the stories, they asked Dr. Caccavo more pointed questions about his dogs, his sled, and racing in general. Through reading their books, the students knew that sled dogs wore booties to protect their pads from sharp ice. Dr. Caccavo brought one of these booties and put it on one of the dogs. They saw that while the dog didn’t particularly like wearing the bootie, he tolerated it! Balto is based on a true story about the first Iditarod Race. When Dr. Caccavo mentioned the race there was a universal “oh,” as the students made connections between what they read in their fictional stories and what he was sharing about a real race. “I’ve always wanted to see a sled dog team with their musher, and I finally saw one,” commented on student. Connections continued to be made as Dr. Caccavo explained about his sled, his dogs, and racing. “I liked it when he showed how to put the dogs to the line,” commented aonther student. As the second and third graders had some background knowledge, they were every excited for Dr. Caccavo’s visit. Not only did they have “millions” of questions, the questions were more meaningful as they were based from a reference point in either Stone Fox or Balto. This was also an opportunity to discuss fiction verses nonfiction in literature and how a story can be based in facts, but the details be fictional. In addition, the third grade Scholastic magazine for the last week of February was all on the Iditarod race! The front page’s photo is of a dog team, all wearing booties! “The timing couldn’t have been more perfect!” commented Mrs. Best. In reading and making connections, Mrs. Best’s and Mrs. Neagle’s students are “off to the races.” |
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