Celebrating Little Readers' Small Accomplishments *Freebie*

Hi All!

I just got back from a meeting with a colleague of mine and our principal.  Talk about diving right back into it! Being our School Improvement Chairs means we're right in the thick of it.  I have definitely had to leave my comfort zone - we handle a lot of our school's PD.  My friend and I used to affectionately refer to ourselves as "Dumb & Dumber" but after today's meeting, I tell you - I think she and I rock it out! HA! School is going to start really soon people, REALLY soon!

I did poke my head into my classroom before I left.  I don't know if that was such a good idea.  If you remember, I'm switching from desks to tables and that just has me all jittery inside.  The only furniture that looked the same was my trusty kidney bean shaped reading table.  

Which got me thinking about this new product I created for my classroom that I wanted to be sure to share with you.

It's on sale now for only $4!!! Can't beat that!

As teachers of the little ones we know just how fragile their little skills are.  Even those who come to us already reading have to rise to the challenge of bigger thinking {inferring, mental images, connections, finding evidence}.  I try to boost their egos as often as I can along the way.  I find myself reaching for a sticky note to jot down something one of my first graders did well at the reading table or during our conferring time and either they are someplace else or I can't find a marker.  So, my best of intentions always seem to be thwarted.

My plan is to have these mini rewards at my fingertips so that I can just pick one, use it to celebrate learning and to reinforce a specific skill.  I tried to include the littlest of accomplishments because it's these foundational skills that really impact a child's ability to read.

I made six on a page, they are pretty small and come in a boy version, girl version as well as black and white.  Super easy to print, cut and put in a cute container...keep 'em right at your reading table so they are there when you need 'em!

I'm putting mine in this pencil box

Handy dandy - at the ready!

So simple!!!! {Remember, they come in black and white too if you're conserving ink like me!}

Click to pick up your label!!!

Have fun celebrating your readers small accomplishments!

Guided Reading Favorites *Freebie*

Hey Folks,

Guided reading is one of my favorite times of the day.  Working with small groups really gives me a chance to get to know my kiddos and their reading behaviors more intimately.  

One thing I couldn't live without is my table...

This table allows for a group of 5 or 6 to fit comfortably around the teacher.  Every now and then I have a group of 7 - which isn't ideal but it's do-able.

Another favorite of mine are my whisper phones. A dad made a class set for me years ago and I don't know how I'd live without them - especially when I have my kiddos read at their own pace - no more round robin! Another trick that I talked about here is to have them alternate how they are sitting at the table...face in, face out, face in...

I dig my reading logs...even though I'm still struggling with whether or not to use them.  I like that I can show parents that when we work together their child GROWS.  

If you remember - I didn't know what I was doing with Reading Logs.
Due to accountability factors - I opted to stick with them.  

Something else I love is my conversion chart on my lanyard.  I mostly have this committed to memory - but when a parent or teacher {I've even had my first graders ask me}comes up to me and asks me where a fourth grader should be reading I can flip my card over and tell them.  It's not a must - but it's handy dandy. I got mine at The Booksource.

Who doesn't love a good flash card?  I use these for so many different things. I have kids jot down notes, I use them as bookmarks, we write down new vocabulary, and use them for incremental rehearsal...

They are pretty cheap too...

Not sure what incremental rehearsal is?  Here's a video explaining how this intervention strategy works. I've been using it with my kiddos who continue to struggle with their sight words. 

Our strategy bookmarks...couldn't live without those!!!!

My literacy parapro - who I ALSO couldn't live without...made these for me and said I could share!
Thanks, Tammy!

I talk about how I introduce each strategy at the beginning of the year *here*.

My newest possible favorite is the Record of Reading app for my iPad.  I don't know about you, but the amount of paper I go through in my classroom bugs me.  I'm in the market for a nice stylus to use with my iPad so that I can use this free app to do running records.  In this app you can keep track of your students' reading, record their reading, email it to yourself {or your interventionists, parents, etc.} and print it out {which I wouldn't do much of}.  I haven't played around with it much yet...but I think it has potential of being a favorite.

I could keep going...I just love guided reading.  Do you have any favorites that you'd like to share?  I'm always in the market for new ideas!!!!

Guided Reading Groups *Reading Response Prompts For Two Lucky Followers*

I thought I'd talk a little about guided reading groups.  I use Daily 5 to manage what the other kiddos are doing when I'm meeting with guided reading groups.  I think working in those small groups where I can really see what's going on with each student and providing valuable teaching points is my most favorite time of the school day.

I try to have four reading groups...years that I have five are so tricky to manage.  I am lucky to have a literacy paraprofessional that comes in during Daily 5 for about 30 minutes and an ELL para that comes in to help as well. 

I use the Fountas & Pinnell Continuum to help plan for each group...

 

It provides comprehension strategies, word study and other skills that are based on each guided reading level - and what can be expected developmentally for kids working at each particular level.  Another book I was just introduced to that I can't wait to get is Guided Reading - Next Steps...

 



I think this one might be another "go to" resource for planning guided reading group instruction. It has really great lesson plan templates/ideas that help break down how a lesson should flow for each leveled reading group. 

One question I get asked often by both parents and other teachers is whether or not I introduce a new book each and every day.  I don't - I believe so strongly in the power of familiar re-reads that I introduce a new book every other day within the guided reading group setting.  My kids are encountering new texts other places {their independent reading books, the classroom library, public library, Raz-Kids, etc.} that they have plenty of opportunities to practice those decoding skills often.  What is often lacking is experiences with familiar re-reads where they can practice fluency, expression as well as comprehension {digging deeper}.

I don't know about you - but there's such a sense of urgency on my part to move, move, move - get things done - do this, do that....sometimes I forget to breathe.  This bums me right out because sometimes I forget to enjoy the pleasure of teaching and kids learning.  I can't imagine trying to introduce a new book, work on decoding strategies, respond to the literature in a deep and meaningful way each and every day, for sometimes FIVE guided reading groups.  I've already got "the twitch" goin' on...I don't need to add to it by feeling pressure to get a new book into my students' hands each and every guided reading group and it's just not necessary to do so.

I sort of look at my guided reading groups as having this framework:

Day 1: New Book
*Introduce new book: picture walk, vocab development, predictions {all that great pre-reading "stuff"} I spend a lot of time pre-reading.
*New read: At the table I have one child sit facing "out" the next child facing "in", "out" all the way around the table.  I do this so they can all read at their own pace and I'm able to confer with those who are facing "in".  We alternate each day with who faces in/out.  I'm really able to see what strategies are being used - I can also do a quick running record on portions of text to get a vibe for how the kids are doing.
*Quick discussion of book/retell/noticings/etc.
*Take this book home to re-read

Day 2: Familiar Re-Read
*Students get started with their re-reads just as soon as they sit down {alternating seating: in/out/in...except if you sat out yesterday, today you sit in} If students are in lengthier books - they may only read a portion of the book.
*I also set several "old" books on the table for them to re-read from the past week/weeks.  We spend about five minutes on this {of course we go through fewer books as the levels increase}.
*I spend the rest of the group {about 15 minutes} either on word study, comprehension strategies, decoding strategies, response to literature, whatever is needed and often a combination of ...
*Take same book home to re-read {sometimes I assign additional homework to go along with the book the second time they bring it home}

Day 3: New Book {if we aren't in a chapter book}

This works so well for me - and I really do notice a difference in my students fluency/comprehension and I feel less frantic!

As the year goes on; this tends to evolve.  My higher readers spend less time with me and more time partner reading, independently responding to literature, book clubs, etc.

I created some response to reading prompts that I like to use once the texts become a little meatier.  Here's a preview and you can head over to my store to purchase them if you'd like!!!!!  If you leave a little lovin' I'll randomly choose 2 followers from the comments to send the pack to for free!  {Be sure to leave your email!} I'll choose a winner tonight - say, 8:00 EST!

Thanks for all the lovin' and the great comments!  The winners are....{I didn't count my responses in the number or additional comments for forgotten emails}

Congrats ~ Miss Foote!!

Congrats ~ Liz!!

29 fiction prompts & 20 nonfiction prompts 

Happy Reading!!!!!