This Week's Touchstone Text

What is a touchstone text?  It is a storybook that can be used as a tool to teach a complex literacy skill in a grade appropriate way.  Even though a storybook is sometimes seen as being less text rich as a chapter book, they still can have richly developed characters and complex plots.  Touchstone texts are usually picked for the way they can be used to introduce or reinforce a literacy skill.

This week's touchstone text was "Blaze and the Forest Fire" by CW Anderson.  I used it to introduce comparing and contrasting similar texts as well as re-teach characterization.  Billy, the main character in "Blaze and the Forest Fire" had many similar character traits to Axel, the main character in "Cliff Hanger".

"Blaze and the Forest Fire" was originally published in 1938, but is a timeless story about a boy and his horse, that bravely warn the community of a forest fire.  Billy's actions mirrored Axel's calm, brave actions in "Cliff Hanger" and led to a very good discussion of character in text.