Make Your Own Joke Book

I had this great idea.


Since I'm going to try to share more of my lesson designing ideas, how I teach to content, and why,  I thought I'd share this.
I teach 3rd grade second language students.
I need to better support vocabulary acquisition, and multiple meanings of words.
This was not where I wanted it to be last year on my scores from the state.
I am trying various changes this year-looking at results. 
One way I do this vocabulary development is through a grade level piece in explicit vocabulary-using a book to write our story vocabulary, define it, notice part of speech, illustrate it, write synonyms, antonyms. This is done early in the year whole group and teaches us about using dictionaries, glossaries, supports the words meaning understanding, clarifies to students words HAVE multiple meanings that we decide from the context they appear within, asks children to apply understandings of synonyms/antonyms, uses small illustrations to key the mind, helps them practice and share sentences constructed from the words and increases memory for this word.
We take ten minutes a week to read within this book now, and study past words from previous stories, with a partner,  having them say a word and try to use it in a good sentence. It's fun.
When we write poetry they do remember to get this vocab book out for "good juicy words."

That book has meant that on EVERY reading test so far my class has aced that selected vocabulary-terrific. Noticeably better than last year. The real issue will be-can we retain it, does it become a part of their writing and useage. If I can bridge that-then the instruction was "effective."

But I'm aware that we need to play with words- it would help to get to those  vocabulary goals and have an environment that encourages word use and word play,  to have times children act on word play, use puns, work on multiple meanings within oral practice and written practice.

So I had an idea.

I was waiting in the pharmacy in a long line.

And I'd say it took 20 minutes to get to the counter.
In the pharmacy there was a wire rack with sets of inspirational books, but also I saw a child's joke book.
This one:
 

I started reading it- to pass my time more pleasantly. I was thinking of how once a teacher that mentored me, a 2nd grade teacher, noted to me how much kids love joke books and puns especially at age 7 to ten.
And she had a big box of them. Worn covers confirmed her assertion.

But I ALSO thought in that line of a student that moved who loved to sit and read joke books. Hearing in my mind how he'd cheer himself with the jokes.
Laughing out loud in this precocious laughing in our morning 30 minutes of AR reading.

And then he'd come read them to me.
He had a superior command of language, reading, word meaning.
A natural wordsmith.
So-I just thought-a day should have projects to lift both skill and spirit-jokes are delightful.
And more than ever it's necessary part of making it through a day in your life. With humor.
Produce products-books-equally delightful.
Happiness in education is no joke to me and as a label-"the fun teacher" -it's an honor. Here I recommend "Happiness And Education" the best book of ed philosophy I know.

So the idea popped in my head.




(I  MUST recommend this set-it's a terrific quality-excellent-I'm saving the $65 to get a second box)
 So I thought they'd like to use these.
Why not buy a set of blank books and add to the To Do, or May Do, List for reading time as the writing choice-make a joke book. Your own set, a book that can be traded and enjoyed with peers.


Then illustrate with thumbprint little characters using old stamp pads and the markers.
They'll love it.

More importantly they'll have tons of punning jokes to choose from, in the book, and from that can read and read and read to spot favorites and ones they understand, for my advanced group they will want to write their own. These can go in their joke anthologies-a way to introduce ideas of "collections."
I'm so pleased.

So I'm picturing these cute thumbprint illustrations a bit like this one I took from the net:




Except particular to the book of jokes.

I'll need to build a joke book box-we can use the library for resources.
I'm certainly calling for friends in my life, here, to donate old or new joke books for 8 year olds.
If interested in donating leave me a short note in "comments" here and we'll work out a way.

I'm thinking that I'll model the lesson and place it out as a possible activity next week or coming up- while I work with reading groups.
To get into it I'm going to make one tomorrow- I may add in here later on. So check back.
Here are a few jokes from Rob Elliott's book I enjoyed:

Q: Why did Jimmy's parents scream when they saw his grades?
A: Because he had a bee on his report card.

Q: What did the pen say to the pencil?
A: You sure are looking sharp today?

It goes on and on.
Hopefully this will bee a great new project I can add to my repertoire to assist my students in their learning this rich, expressive, complex language-English. Or as Big Bird once said-American.