Tag Archives: Reading

Bring on FALL! We are READY!

3 Replies

Have I mentioned…

I LOVE FALL!

OK…Many times.

I live in NORCAL.

We don’t have the TRADITIONAL

4 seasons.

DID YOU KNOW THERE ARE 4 ????

In NORCAL…

we have

Summer ( 90-100 degrees )

Fall ( 80-90 degrees)

Winter ( foggy… 60-70 degrees…sometimes cooler )

Spring ( 70-90 degrees )

It’s OK…I LOVE my HOMETOWN.

Sometimes.

OH…well… 🙂

And so on.

SO now that it’s 80 degrees & FALL..

What’s UP in ROOM 3??

Fall Brings…

BRAG TAGS!

We use Brag Tags on rings during the month.

They earn BRAG TAGS

for

following classroom / school rules

AND

Lifeskills

At the end of each month…

They transfer their earned BRAG TAGS from RINGS…

To string necklaces.

They get to wear their necklaces ALL DAY AT SCHOOL

and then

HOME!

( Parents are told at BTS night to

REWARD their kids for necklaces

at the end of the month!) 🙂

Fall Brings…

English Language Arts

Word Work

Word Sorts…NO GLUE!

Pick 3 crayons.

Color the words according to the KEY!

Write!

Back from 2 week vacation.

TEACHER…..CLEAN YOUR TABLE!

I don’t have a teacher desk. #bestdecisionever

Reading ROCKERS! #alternativeseating

Birthday Books.

On each student’s birthday ( or close to ),

We make a class BIRTHDAY BOOK!

We do these during MUST DO TIME!

Independent work.

We have a “FRAME” style we use.

Everyone makes a page.

We STAPLE together and VOILA!

CLASS BIRTHDAY PRESENT!

We sing and dance as we PRESENT ( haha ) it to the birthday student!

LAST..( whew..what a week !)

Fall Brings…

GUIDED MATH

My newest & favorite time of the day!

We are doing

MATH MUST DO’s & MAY Do’s

( Same format as ELA centers in the AM )

KEEP YOUR ROUTINES THE SAME!

We go the the MATH Calendar ( next to ELA Calendar )

after lunch.

Math Calendar

After we go through the “math board”…

We NOW ( Quarter 2) do MATH MUST DO’S.

( Approx. 45 minutes )

Must DO’s

#1 MATH JOURNAL

Story Problem with illustrations & number sentence.

#2 Math Paper

A Workbook Page FROM YESTERDAY ( review )

#3 MATH TUB (center) with a PARTNER

I do the whole class MATH lesson BEFORE centers.

SOMETIMES we do the workbook page together…sometimes they do.

Depends on the Lesson. We have a district curriculum to follow.

( Approx. time 45 minutes )

What am I doing?

GUIDED MATH GROUPS!

I meet with 2-3 kids at a time.

We work on a STRATEGY.

NO worksheets!

They need to have independent strategies to do ON THEIR OWN!

I can’t take the assessments FOR THEM!

So…

Here is what’s UP in room 3 in the FALL?

Need supplements for ELA or MATH?

Brag Tags

Balanced Literacy

Check out my store for GOODIES!

1stgradefireworks

Share38

Pin103

141 Shares

The 8 Components of Balanced Literacy- Week 3: How to teach Guided Reading

2 Replies

Balanced Literacy.

The Why? The What? and The How?

Balanced literacy has been defined as “an approach designed to help individual students learn how to process a variety of increasingly challenging texts with understanding and fluency.” (Fountas & Pinnell, 2001)

It is an approach to teaching. NOT a curriculum. It is HOW we teach our students to be independent readers and writers. It is NOT what books we use to teach them.

Balanced Literacy has been defined in “components” or “pieces” of literacy instruction.

This 8-week series will focus on the components of a complete BALANCED LITERACY program. We will focus on clear and concise definitions. Definitions that educators can discuss in collaborations. A “common language” where we can learn from each other and with each other.

The 8 components we will focus on are:

Read Alouds
Shared Reading
Guided Reading
Independent Reading
Modeled / Interactive Writing
Shared Writing
Guided Writing / Writer’s Workshop
Word Work

Each week we will focus on one area of Balanced Literacy and share experiences, teacher tips, and resources to support and expand our Balanced Literacy repertoire.

BALANCED LITERACY

This week: Guided Reading.

Week 1: We discussed Read Alouds.

Week 2: We discussed Shared Reading.

This week we jump into GUIDED READING.

Let’s talk to the EXPERTS about Guided Reading.

Gay Su Pinnell and Irene Fountas Video by: Kemberly Meriwether

Guided reading is subject to many interpretations, but Burkins & Croft (2010) identify these common elements:

Working with small groups
Matching student reading ability to text levels
Giving everyone in the group the same text
Introducing the text
Listening to individuals read
Prompting students to integrate their reading processes
Engaging students in conversations about the text

The goal is to help students develop strategies to apply independently. Work focuses on processes integral to reading proficiently, such as cross-checking print and meaning information, rather than on learning a particular book’s word meanings. (For example, a student might see an illustration and say “dog” when the text says puppy, but after noticing the beginning /p/ in puppy, correct the mistake.) During guided reading, teachers monitor student reading processes and check that texts are within students’ grasps, allowing students to assemble their newly acquired skills into a smooth, integrated reading system (Clay, p.17)

READ WRITE THINK

Guided Reading Table

What does a guided reading lesson look like?

It varies based on reading level, but here’s a general structure for a 15-20 minute lesson.

Students re-read familiar texts for several minutes. This is a great way to promote fluency!
For just a minute or so, the students practice previously learned sight words.
The teacher introduces the text.
The students read the text out loud or silently while the teacher coaches. They do not take turns reading; instead, each child reads the text in its entirety.
The teacher leads a discussion of the text.
The teacher makes 1-2 teaching points.
If time allows, students do a few minutes of word work or guided writing.

The Measured Mom

Scholastic has 4 Tips for Guided Reading Success:

Establish Routines. Routines for The Lesson format ( this helps with TIME constraints ), routines for when Guided reading happens, AND routines for what the OTHER students are doing while the teacher is teaching at the table.

2. Make SMART text choices. The text should provide multiple opportunities for students to apply strategies and skills you have identified for the group.

3. Dive into INSTRUCTION. Before, during & after reading.

3. Assess and Be Flexible. Your groups should be fluid and should change as your students’ instructional needs change. That’s where informal and formal assessments come in handy.

Scholastic.com

Conversations in Literacy

Kindergarten Chaos

Learning Lessons With Amy Labrasciano

These literacy posts may help in YOUR Balanced Literacy journey.

These Guided Reading resource books for TEACHERS may be helpful for YOUR reading.

Amazon

Reading Strategies (Amazon)

So…Leave me a comment… What does GUIDED READING look like in YOUR classroom?

Share8

Pin611

619 Shares

The 8 Components of Balanced Literacy. Week 2: Shared Reading

7 Replies

Balanced Literacy.

The Why? The What? and The How?

It is an approach to teaching. NOT a curriculum. It is HOW we teach our students to be independent readers and writers. It is NOT what books we use to teach them.

Balanced Literacy has been defined in “components” or “pieces” of literacy instruction.

This 8-week series will focus on the components of a complete BALANCED LITERACY program. We will focus on clear and concise definitions. Definitions that educators can discuss in collaborations. A “common language” where we can learn from each other and with each other.

The 8 components we will focus on are:

Read Alouds
Shared Reading
Guided Reading
Independent Reading
Modeled / Interactive Writing
Shared Writing
Guided Writing / Writer’s Workshop
Word Work

Each week we will focus on one area of Balanced Literacy and share experiences, teacher tips, and resources to support and expand our Balanced Literacy repertoire.

This week: Shared Reading.

Last week we discussed Read Alouds. Week 2 is about Shared Reading.

How is shared reading different from a readaloud?

Shared reading, involves quite a bit of pausing to teach or engage kids in practicing a skill. When doing a readaloud, go through the book a bit more quickly, stopping less frequently.

The other most important difference between shared reading and a readaloud is that during shared reading, kids have their eyes on the print. During a readaloud, you may show the pictures to students, but they are not usually able to see the words clearly. Since students can see the text during shared reading, you are able to teach things like decoding more easily.

Learning At the Primary Pond

Shared reading is a part of the balanced reading model (read aloud, shared reading, guided reading, and independent reading).

This is a 15ish minute block of time within that model that should be practiced daily. Simply stated it’s the “We do.” part of the gradual release model. This element is a crucial. It’s time for the teacher and students to practice together.

Mrs. Richardson’s Class

The READ ALOUD is done BY the teacher FOR the students.

Shared Reading is done WITH the students.

A Poem, a Big Book, A chart. Any text where the teacher and the students can see the text, and read it together.

Shared Reading vs Read Aloud

Education.com

It is important to teach what “really matters” connected to a shared text. “We always want students to leave each reading experience enriched by the language and the text because of the shared approach, so we shouldn’t find hundreds of vocabulary words and instructional opportunities in a single text.

Some of the many benefits of shared reading

building vocabulary
developing understandings of story structure
demonstrating reading strategies
entire class reads a common text
all read the large text
high engagement

There are many types of print for Shared Reading. Big books, charts, and poetry are some resources for teachers to read WITH students.

Here some great educators share their resources.

What is Shared Reading?

Learning at the Primary Pond

Shared Reading

The Teaching Texan

Shared Reading

Mrs. Wills Kindergarten

The main goal of shared reading is to engage students with the text. It is to share a reading experience. Everyone can read together and then participate in a rich discussion, writing, or response to the text.

In summary, a Shared Reading is a reading experience where both teacher and students read a large text, together. A chart, a poem on a smartboard, or any other BIG text, where the teacher reads WITH the students using self-questions and think aloud reading strategies. The goal is to model fluent and expressive reading. The students INTERACT with the text while reading WITH the teacher and then through discussions, writing, and/or thinking for themselves.

These literacy posts may help in YOUR Balanced Literacy journey.

These resource books for TEACHERS may be helpful for YOUR reading.

Shared Reading with Big Books

Shared Reading

HamerayPublishing

I hope YOU are prepared to practice DAILY Shared Reading in YOUR classroom!

Stay tuned for next week… Week 2 Guided Reading.

Please share with friends.

Leave me a comment…How do YOU use Shared Reading in YOUR classroom?

Share10

Pin39

49 Shares

The 8 Components of Balanced Literacy. Week 1: Read Alouds

7 Replies

Balanced Literacy.

The Why? The What? and The How?

It is an approach to teaching. NOT a curriculum. It is HOW we teach our students to be independent readers and writers. It is NOT what books we use to teach them.

Balanced Literacy has been defined in “components” or “pieces” of literacy instruction.

This 8-week series will focus on the components of a complete BALANCED LITERACY program. We will focus on clear and concise definitions. Definitions that educators can discuss in collaborations. A “common language” where we can learn from each other and with each other.

The 8 components we will focus on are:

Read Alouds
Shared Reading
Guided Reading
Independent Reading
Modeled / Interactive Writing
Shared Writing
Guided Writing / Writer’s Workshop
Word Work

Each week we will focus on one area of Balanced Literacy and share experiences, teacher tips, and resources to support and expand our Balanced Literacy repertoire.

This week: READ ALOUDS.

As defined by education.com, the teacher reads aloud various types of text. She often models her thinking aloud as she reads. The students participate by listening to the text and the teacher’s thinking strategies and then trying some of them out by talking with partners. The teacher reads the text, therefore taking away the visual sources of information, so that students can focus on meaning and structure.

The READ ALOUD is done BY the teacher FOR the students.

Marie Clay (1991) writes that when teachers read aloud to students “meanings can be negotiated in discussion before, during, and after the story reading” (p.171). Reading aloud to students should include think-aloud or interactive elements and focus intentionally on the meaning “within the text,” “about the text,” and “beyond the text” (Fountas & Pinnell, 2006, p.33). Read aloud, as part of the gradual release of responsibility, feeds naturally into shared, guided, and independent reading as teachers demonstrate for students the ways the reading process works (Burkins & Croft, 2010).

Among the many benefits of a read aloud, Rog (2001) lists the following:

building vocabulary
developing understandings of story structures
supporting developing connections between print elements
encouraging high levels of understanding
teaching the reading process in a meaningful context
modeling fluency
motivating students to read

There are many types of print for Read Alouds. Classroom library books, Big Books, chapter books, charts, and poetry are resources for teachers to read TO students.

Here some great educators share their resources.

15 Read Aloud Books for First Grade

Erica at what do we do all day

has a list of First Grade Read Alouds.

19 Perfect Read Alouds

Mia at the Pragmatic Mom also has a list.

Pinterest has many fun and exciting ideas!

The main goal of a read aloud is to engage students with the text.

To create their own thinking based on their life connections, and discuss the text with peers. Each will bring their own comprehension based on their life experiences. As they learn to communicate their thoughts and understanding to others, their own comprehension will expand. The teacher has an opportunity to draw the students INTO the book. Use your storytelling techniques, be the characters, create the world using your voice, and open the doors to new adventures.

How to PLAN Read Aloud Lessons

Paige from Our Elementary Lives shows us HOW to plan a Read Aloud Lesson.

And there are MORE. Click the links below for more information on READ ALOUDS.

Upper Elementary Snapshots

The Inspired Apple

Intentional Homeschooling

A Dab of Glue Will Do

In summary, a READ ALOUD is a book, a chart, a poem on a smartboard, or any other text, where the teacher reads TO the students using self-questions and think aloud reading strategies. The goal is to model fluent and expressive reading. The students then INTERACT with the text through discussions, writing, and/or thinking for themselves.

These literacy posts may help in YOUR Balanced Literacy journey.

Balanced Literacy

Read At Home

Flexible Seating

These resource books for TEACHERS may be helpful for YOUR reading.

The Ultimate Read-Aloud Resource

The Read-Aloud Handbook

The Read Aloud Handbook

I hope YOU are prepared to practice DAILY Read Alouds in YOUR classroom!

Stay tuned for next week… Week 2 Shared Reading.

Please share with friends.

Leave me a comment…How do YOU use Read Alouds in YOUR classroom?

Read Aloud for 15 Minutes

Read Aloud

Share26

Pin222

248 Shares

Book Clubs Reading Groups

BOOK CLUBS

We have grouped our BOOK CLUB kids into groups of six.

Each has the same book.

They have worked with the packet with me first during guided reading.
Model, model, model.

Then …

RELEASE THE KRACKEN!

I mean …release the firsties!

Book Clubs work as a team
to help each other read the story,

have a “LITERATURE” discussion ( the hard part),

and then they complete the packet TOGETHER.

Do they copy…yeah ( get over it) .

They ARE Learning from each other.

I have heard the BEST discussions ever
( and I wasn’t involved in it!).

They really CAN do it.

They enjoy the new packet.

I give them a “reward certificate”
&
LUNCH with the teacher
when the TEAM completes their packets
AND
give a
GROUP ORAL REPORT
on their book!

They want MORE!
( I try to switch the Book CLub groups , depending on the book level).

It takes them about 1-2 weeks to complete it.

We have a “core” reading series
we HAVE TO DO are highly, most decidedly will, are

encouraged to do, first.

SO… Book Club is their UA (small group) time.

So here it is! Check it out! Good for ANY story or book.

BOOK CLUB

“Book Club” Book Reports

Tips & Tricks

When students are independent readers, begin BOOK CLUBS
Hold students accountable
“Chunk” their work time ( I have them work for 15-20 minutes)
If needed…choose a LEADER to begin the discussions.
All club members need the same book.
Have booklets ready ahead of time. When they finish one…start another!

Check out these resources to help with reading & writing in YOUR classroom! 🙂

If you like it..PIN IT! 🙂

Book Clubs for Reading Comprehension!

Share4

Pin33

37 Shares

In a Balanced Literacy Classroom, the Guided Reading table is THE COMMAND Center.

6 Replies

What is YOUR favorite time of the day?

Before lunch?

Recess?

Mine is…

GUIDED READING!

The MAGIC happens at the Guided Reading Table

In a BALANCED LITERACY classroom,

this is the place where “MAGIC” happens!

The “AHA!”..the lightbulb…whatever you want to call it.

Last year I got rid of my

TEACHER DESK.

This is my

Guided Reading

CENTRAL COMMAND.

Guided Reading Table

Then I added stools from IKEA.

My kiddos LOVE IT!

I use flexible seating stools at the guided reading table.

The central area of any Balanced Literacy classroom…the guided reading table!

My next favorite

Guided Reading”accessory”

from by

BFF…

AMAZON!

Brewster Wall Pops

WPE99065 Peel & Stick Calypso Dry-Erase Dots

with Marker

Vinyl clings make seating areas The guided reading table where I do small group reading as part of balanced literacy.

Dry erase dots!

I put BIG teal dots on my table!

We write on our dry erase dots during guided reading,

My kids write on them!

Vinyl clings make seating areas where I do small group reading as part of balanced literacy.

Using dry erase dots on our guided reading table for word work, comprehension, and vocabulary.

After we read… then

we write questions on them

and then change seats to answer them!

Musical Chairs!

Students are highly engaged during guided reading.

They LOVE it!

Write & WIPE!

The BEST!

I use my

BALANCED LITERACY BINDER

for Guided Reading Resources.

ALL of the elements needed for a Balanced Literacy classroom in one resource.

Balanced Literacy Resource Binder. ALL of YOUR Guided Reading resources in ONE BINDER

The components of Balanced Literacy.

I use it

to assess kids reading levels,

to group them with like skills,

and to teach them AT THEIR LEVEL.

Guided Reading 101

Now a couple of things I have learned “on the way”…

The reading strategy element needed for a Balanced Literacy classroom.

Teaching reading strategies is vital to a Balanced Literacy reading program.

1. Guided Reading is NOT independent reading time!

They read to themselves (READ TO SELF) at a different time of the day.. we do it after lunch.

2. Guided Reading is NOT a time for a LONG teacher LESSON!

I only have them for 15-20 min.

Always give them a skill or strategy they can use NOW!

Your goal is to create INDEPENDENT READERS… do not enable them to wait for YOU to do the reading.

3. You DO NOT have to read a BOOK every day!

This is not the time for HOW MANY BOOKS have you read?

My lowest reading group needs PHONEMIC AWARENESS. If you don’t know your letter sounds…it’s really HARD to read.

My “bubble” kids ( those that have some skills, but need support and practice to move over the “BUBBLE” into INDEPENDENT READERS) need phonics support to be able to solve reading problems, independently!

So Guided reading should be called

GUIDED LITERACY

Meet them at their level.

Give them a “take away” that they can use TODAY.

Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

I also use FRIDAYS for assessments ONLY.

NO GROUPS!

Student assessment recording sheet needed for a Balanced Literacy classroom.

Assessment drives the guided reading groups.

Teacher “HOW TO” pages for guided reading assessment.

Assessing skills for guided reading groups.

I do one-to-one RUNNING RECORDS.

I do fluency assessments.

I do letter, spelling, word family, & phonics assessments.

BUT…

Don’t “DAWDLE”…

Turtle and rabbit running FAST!

Make it quick. Not a “story” time.

Try to get the most BANG for your buck.

Suggestion:

Start with your middle groups.

The “BUBBLE” kids.

They will be moving the fastest.

Next.

Alternate assessments between your highs & lows.

Your highs probably will make continued growth with “less” support…they came in with strong foundations or they wouldn’t be HIGH!

Don’t forget about them. Keep them connected with BOOK CLUBS, Writing, and LOTS of COMPREHENSION.

My low babies. You can’t practice TOO MUCH.

When they become “done”…distracted, unable to focus, etc.

CHANGE IT UP.

Interactive writing, phonics games, reading with “finger pointers”, etc. etc.

Change the game…not the content.

Here is a Sight Word FREEBIE for YOU to get started !

FREE Sight Word game to practice reading

FREE sight word game for guided reading.

Remember…

1. Assess your students. Check data frequently.

2. Sort students into groups ( 4-6 student per group is perfect!)

3. Reteach skills and Strategies.

4. LET them READ! They need PRACTICE!

So I LOVE the guided reading table.

LOTS of learning goes on there.

BUT ALWAYS, ALWAYS, remember…

IT STARTS WITH

BALANCED LITERACY!

Pin3

3 Shares

Those CRAZY Word Walls!

5 Replies

Share19

Pin203

222 Shares

WORD WALLS

I can honestly say, in my 27 years in first grade,

I have “redone” my word wall…

probably 26 times!

My dilemma is always the same…

How to put them on the wall so kids can

access them ( at ANY reading level!)?

At first, I thought “A..B..C” order.

Then, I thought “by curriculum unit..week 1..week 2, etc”.

Next, I thought ” phonics sounds ..short a..short e…etc”.

Last, I thought “they don’t even LOOK at IT!”

and so…

I WAS FRUSTRATED!

via GIPHY

What to do? What to do?

ASK THE KIDS!!!

So what do THEY want?

What will THEY use?

What do THEY want it to look like?

And they TOLD ME!!

They helped me “SOLVE” our Word Wall “PROBLEM”!

WHAT? You want ME to help SOLVE our WORD WALL PROBLEM???

My Word Wall

Now our word wall has sight words we use for 6 weeks

( 1 unit of our curriculum).

These words will be in our stories

AND

on our TESTS!

We study them EVERY day ( at Morning Meeting )

AND

we play I SPY with the words wall DAILY!

The kids practice with each other, too!

Partner Practice…yippee!

We use our chromebooks, write on our desks with whiteboard markers, flash cards to take home, and we play LOTS of word games!

My WORD WALL focus’ on sight words.

I teach vocabulary words, but those go on our focus wall for weekly connections.

This year…I am adding personal word walls to their writer’s workshop folders.

They will add words THEY need to use in THEIR writing.

This was last year when we did WAY TOO many

words at one time!

Now…LESS IS MORE

Word Wall by ABC order

Large Word Wall by ABC order

Sight Word games from the Word Wall

Lots of games to practice our “words”.

I have some games and products

to help with WORD WALLS.

Check them out!

So to Conclude…

When putting up word walls, fewer WORDS at one time is BEST!

Teach to MASTERY! Review! Practice! Be consistent!

PINTEREST HAS A MULTITUDE of resources to help.

I found these:

Especially Education

All Students Can Shine

A Sunny Day in First Grade

222 SIGHT WORDS from 1stgradefireworks

Here are MORE ways to help your students learn to READ

I hope this helps your students become BETTER readers and writers!

Leave me a comment. How are things going? Anything I can do to help? 🙂

Wendy 1stgradefireworks

Share19

Pin203

222 Shares

Close Reading 101

11 Replies

CLOSE READING

What exactly is CLOSE READING??

You mean I need to “scoot forward” and put my glasses ON?

You mean I should put my glasses ON?

NO, silly! It’s a reading strategy for gaining information from a reading source.

Here are some helpful resources:

Some blogger friends have great information, also.

We Are Teachers has a great blog post

“What Exactly Do We Mean By CLOSE READING Anyway?

My friend, Susan Jones, explains how to do

Close Reading on First Grade

And, 1stgradefireworks can help with

Reading is the 1 Predictor of Academic Success

When doing research…

when I need more reading information,

just ask PINTEREST!

From HANNAH @ The Classroom Key

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/430164201886627298/

https://www.theclassroomkey.com/2014/12/taking-the-rocket-science-out-of-close-reading.html

From Jen @ Teacher Karma

http://www.teacherkarma.com/2015/01/close-reading-free-resources.html

and from

Kristine @ Young Teacher Love

She has a GREAT blog post about

CLOSE READING!

Gotta know YOUR standards!

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/275212227205716679/

Susan Jones SAYS…

What is Close Reading? by Susan Jones

It’s a chance for students to ask/answer questions by returning to the text for answers.

We want them to INTERACT with the text.

Reread, highlight, use sticky notes, etc.

and then use the text for answers.

Close Reading is not about the PHYSICAL PROXIMITY to the text!

It’s about diving INTO the text for answers to prominent questions ABOUT the text!

WOW! Finding out their own answers to questions AND being able to “PROVE IT?”

NOVEL IDEA!

Just imagine the writing that can be created from a CLOSE READING lesson?

Writer’s Workshop in…FIRST GRADE???? Breathe…YES, YOU CAN!

What a prominent strategy to use in a BALANCED LITERACY CLASSROOM!

What is a BALANCED LITERACY Classroom? This resource will show YOU!

BALANCED LITERACY

Balanced Literacy in First Grade! Let’s start with READ ALOUDS!

Here is a little FREEBIE

from ME to YOU!

Enjoy!

Have YOU tried CLOSE READING? Leave me a comment and let me know how it went! 🙂

Wendy 1stgradefireworks

Share3

Pin106

109 Shares

DO you Garden? A little or a LOT?

3 Replies

What does YOUR garden look like?

Do YOU garden?

My hubby is a gardener.

I mean HE LOVES TO GARDEN!

We have raised garden beds.

A few of them.

And we have PRODUCE!

One week’s harvest!

Check out these posts for more about MY

FARMER – Without – A- Farm!

Get Your Hands Dirty

It’s Garden Time

Secret of Life

Meet the “Little Ones”

I need to APOLOGIZE…

Me? Not “love” to garden.

I “like” to garden.

I love to HARVEST.

I love to eat.

I don’t like to WEED.

I don’t like to sweat.

Fingers dirty? It’s OK.

As long as I can WASH THEM…SOON!

Love my new GLOVES!

Amazon.

So we plan our garden.

We grow seeds on our kitchen table.

We start them indoors,

so we can move them

OUTDOORS!

He reads OLD FARMERS ALMANAC.

As a teacher,

I want MY students

to learn to grow their own food.

I want my students to LOVE to garden!
We planted a GARDEN!

We will plant tomatoes, pumpkins, Swiss chard,

& lettuce in our raised garden.

The garden flowers will go on either side of the planter.

Now to help you in the classroom…

Sunflower Seeds

Robby Rabbit’s Garden

Check out my

Learn All about Plants

Pinterest Board.

1stgradefireworks Robby Rabbit's Garden Orange

Robby Rabbit’s Garden. Complete CCSS Grade One unit for Reading, Writing, and Math.

More Fun ideas for

Planting and Learning About a Garden.

How do YOU garden?

Share3

Pin17

20 Shares

How to get kids to Read At Home?

2 Replies

1. How do I get kids to Read at Home?

I am a BLOG STALKER!

I admit it.

This year I am trying to get my kids to

Read at HOME.

I am ALWAYS trying to find the BEST,

FASTEST, & EASIEST ways

to make my classroom run smoother

& more effective while being

academically successful.

Aren’t we ALL?

So each year I try to “change”

a few things for the better.

NO THROWING THE BABY OUT

WITH THE BATH WATER!

So here is something “NEW”

( or New to ME )

that I am doing this year!

2. Who chooses the students Read at Home Books?

I am NOT ( Ugh…), NOT

choosing the Student’s

TAKE HOME BOOKS

each week.

( Let it go! Let it go!)

I LET THEM!

The power is in the CHOICE.

I thought if I chose reading books that were

ON their reading level

THEY would MAGICALLY

fall in LOVE with READING!

NOT!

3. How Do Their Books get HOME?

I have RAH ( Read AT Home ) envelopes…

Purchased at

REALLY GREAT STUFF

BUT ANY envelope will do!

Each WEDNESDAY and FRIDAY

they bring their RAH folder back.

I have them choose 2 books…

YES…2 books to put in their folder.

( I place a pile 20 or so, of books at each level …

*disclaimer…right now I have 5 Guided Reading groups…

I group their PILES of books

at the Guided Reading group level…

So they really are taking home books

at THEIR reading level.

Just a little teacher

“nudge”

in the right direction!

They choose two books,

put them in their envelopes,

and put them in their cubbies.

They keep them for 2 nights…

hence bringing them back WED. & FRI.

We change them for two NEW books …

and here we go again!

4. How do I know if they REALLY read their Read at Home Books?

Some nights I add a

READING RESPONSE

page to their homework.

USE ONE OF YOUR RAH BOOKS!

( Your choice!)

You can get my READING RESPONSE Packet HERE

Reading Response forms for ANY Book. Read and Write.

Accountability?

I do have a paper…lined…for parents to sign each night.

DO ALL OF THEM SIGN IT?

NO!

If YOU take a horse to water…

Can you FORCE it to drink it?

NO!

Let it go! Let it go!

5. What happens if a parent doesn’t read at home

with a student?

If you have a parent

who doesn’t support reading at home…

READ, READ, READ at school.

YOU may be

the ONLY adult

who reads with

“THAT CHILD”…

We ALL have “that child”.

Don’t fight it!

Don’t PUNISH the child.

IF he/she could read it BY THEMSELVES…

THEY WOULD!

They can’t.

Let it go! Let it go!

6. How do You REWARD students who do Read At Home?

I do REWARD

those who make the continued effort

to read at home

EVERY NIGHT!

When they bring their envelopes back,

I check the paper.

IF the parent HAS NOT SIGNED…

I highlight in RED that date.

At the end of the MONTH..

I give a reward

(and a SPECIAL BRAG TAG )

to those who have read

EVERY NIGHT!

I know…NOT fair for “that child”.

Fair is NOT Always EQUAL!

I want my kiddos who

DO THE WORK

to know

I NOTICE!

And so my friends…

I keep stalking.

LOTS of great ideas out there in

BLOGGY LAND.

And PINTEREST LAND.

AND INSTAGRAM LAND.

If you need some ideas…

Check out MY PINTEREST BOARDS.

Happy Reading my Friends

Share16

Pin8

24 Shares

I LOVE FALL!

We don’t have the TRADITIONAL

4 seasons.

Fall Brings…

Fall Brings…

Fall Brings…

Here is what’s UP in room 3 in the FALL?

Share this:

Like this:

Balanced Literacy.

This 8-week series will focus on the components of a complete BALANCED LITERACY program. We will focus on clear and concise definitions. Definitions that educators can discuss in collaborations. A “common language” where we can learn from each other and with each other.

This week: Guided Reading.

This week we jump into GUIDED READING.

Let’s talk to the EXPERTS about Guided Reading.

Guided reading is subject to many interpretations, but Burkins & Croft (2010) identify these common elements:

What does a guided reading lesson look like?

Scholastic has 4 Tips for Guided Reading Success:

These literacy posts may help in YOUR Balanced Literacy journey.

These Guided Reading resource books for TEACHERS may be helpful for YOUR reading.

So…Leave me a comment… What does GUIDED READING look like in YOUR classroom?

Share this:

Like this:

Balanced Literacy.

This 8-week series will focus on the components of a complete BALANCED LITERACY program. We will focus on clear and concise definitions. Definitions that educators can discuss in collaborations. A “common language” where we can learn from each other and with each other.

This week: Shared Reading.

How is shared reading different from a readaloud?

Shared reading is a part of the balanced reading model (read aloud, shared reading, guided reading, and independent reading).

The READ ALOUD is done BY the teacher FOR the students.

Shared Reading is done WITH the students.

There are many types of print for Shared Reading. Big books, charts, and poetry are some resources for teachers to read WITH students.

The main goal of shared reading is to engage students with the text. It is to share a reading experience. Everyone can read together and then participate in a rich discussion, writing, or response to the text.

I hope YOU are prepared to practice DAILY Shared Reading in YOUR classroom!

Leave me a comment…How do YOU use Shared Reading in YOUR classroom?

Share this:

Like this:

Balanced Literacy.

This 8-week series will focus on the components of a complete BALANCED LITERACY program. We will focus on clear and concise definitions. Definitions that educators can discuss in collaborations. A “common language” where we can learn from each other and with each other.

This week: READ ALOUDS.

The READ ALOUD is done BY the teacher FOR the students.

There are many types of print for Read Alouds. Classroom library books, Big Books, chapter books, charts, and poetry are resources for teachers to read TO students.

The main goal of a read aloud is to engage students with the text.

I hope YOU are prepared to practice DAILY Read Alouds in YOUR classroom!

Leave me a comment…How do YOU use Read Alouds in YOUR classroom?

Share this:

Like this:

BOOK CLUBS

We have grouped our BOOK CLUB kids into groups of six.

Book Clubs work as a team to help each other read the story,

encouraged to do, first. SO… Book Club is their UA (small group) time.

BOOK CLUB

Tips & Tricks

Share this:

Like this:

GUIDED READING!

In a BALANCED LITERACY classroom,

This is my

Guided Reading

CENTRAL COMMAND.

My next favorite

Guided Reading”accessory”

from by

BFF…

AMAZON!

Brewster Wall Pops

WPE99065 Peel & Stick Calypso Dry-Erase Dots

with Marker

I use my

for Guided Reading Resources.

Guided Reading 101

GUIDED LITERACY

Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

Remember…

1. Assess your students. Check data frequently.

2. Sort students into groups ( 4-6 student per group is perfect!)

3. Reteach skills and Strategies.

4. LET them READ! They need PRACTICE!

Share this:

Like this:

WORD WALLS

How to put them on the wall so kids can

Book Clubs work as a team
to help each other read the story,

encouraged to do, first.

SO… Book Club is their UA (small group) time.

I want my students to LOVE to garden!
We planted a GARDEN!