In this zipped file you receive everything you need to teach a Common Core Unit on studying the problem and solution in a first grade classroom. There are 17 different files for a total of 40 pages printed.

There are eight different lesson plans set up in the Reader’s Workshop Model of minilesson, meeting, connection, teaching point, active engagement, independent reading, conferencing, and share. The lessons can be used from a 2 – 3 week period and done over more than one day.

There are lessons for interactive read alouds to introduce and practice engaging students in the identification of the problem and solution in a story.

There is a list of mentor texts we have used and found success when studying the problem and solution.

There are anchor charts already created for you that are colorful and engaging. The anchor charts are in a Smart Board File that is editable if you have a Smart Board. There are also hard pdf poster copies of the anchor charts that can be tile printed
that you can put together and write on as you see fit if you don’t have a Smart Board. These can be posted in your classroom. There are also copies of the anchor charts in an 8 ½ by 11” format if you’d like to reuse them in small group instruction or copy packets for your students to keep with them. There are six different anchor charts for different lessons. The first describes what the problem means and how to tell about it. The second is a chart that describes the solution and how to tell about it. The third is a discussion chart for using a new read aloud to identify the problem and solution and model how to keep track of your thinking. The next two pages of the Smart Board file are large copies of the graphic organizer to model for the students. One they can use as a model for themselves. You can use the large poster version also to write on and post in your classroom for support. The last chart is the rubric used for the Problem and Solution organizer. There is a lesson on how to use this effectively to teach students to begin looking at and assessing their own work. The rubric can be printed in both 8 ½ by 11” or tile printed as a poster to hang in your classroom. There are also Power Point files of the Smart Board Files for users that don't have a Smart Board.
Also included in this file is a banner that can be used to display student work and two min posters that state the chants that can be posted in your room as reminders.

What’s great about this pack is it almost a ‘blank’ format for students to learn the content through. We have similar things for the other story elements so once the students learn this type of process, you can filter the content through.

The goals for this unit are for students to identify the problem and solution of a story using specific references to text. The Common Core for first grade focuses on students being able to go back to the text to cite specific evidence that helped them draw their conclusions. This unit focuses on and practices that skill. They start whole group, then it filters down to small group and finally independently. Some students may be able to do the more intricate independent work at this point, but the unit differentiates itself so all students are successful. This is the beginning. We are giving students a lesson in how to organize their thinking. We are teaching them how to show they understand text. We tell them to show they understand. This is one way for them to experience success at showing they understand.