Shared Readings: Modeling Comprehension, Vocabulary, Text Structures, and Text Features for Older Readers

As I began reading this article, I realized that the word “model” was frequently used.  I have mentioned in past posts that I stand firm on the teaching method of modeling for students.  When teachers implement shared reading, they are keeping their students engaged.  This also assists students in their improvement of phonemic awareness.  I think teaching students to use context clues and references is an affectful tool to figure out what words mean.  There is not enought hours in day to sit and talk about what each word means.  This is when teachers should model ways to find out what a word means.  One teacher mentioned wanting the “students to have ‘inside’ and ‘outside’ word strategies.” I like this idea because students need to think outside the word to find the context clues and inside the word to find the meaning.  I think it is always necessary to have an alternative.  It is important to inform students that there are other ways to get help when trying to find out the meaning of a word.  How to find different resources is something that should be modeled by the teacher as well.  These are just a few of the tactics that were mentioned in this article.  I could go on and on! I found that these were all good strategies, most importantly when they were modeled by the teachers. These are all beneficial ways to guide students in their readings.

Integrating Instructional-Level Social Studies Trade Books

As I began reading the story about Jon in his fifth grade classroom, I realized that this is a reality teachers face every day.  It is encouraging to know that there is something that can be done to improve this scenario.  It is important for teachers to not only begin guiding through the appropriate level of reading, but motivate students during the reading process.  A quote was mentioned by Betts that read, “A “class” or “grade” is an abstraction; it exists in the teacher’s mind or nervous system…No one has ever seen a “first-grade class,” or a “fifth-grade class.” What a teacher should “see” is a group of individuals, unique unto themselves.” I absolutely love this because students are able to progress in reading when teachers begin seeing them as individuals who range in their instructional reading levels. I felt that this article provided inspiration and useful information.  I know I will be able to use this as a guide to assist me in making my students successful readers.

readings worth reminiscing :)

I love love LOVE thinking about the wonderful books I have read and are reading.  There are so many wonderful books out there and these are a few I read this summer.  I found myself crying, laughing, and even angry at times while reading these.  My roomie suggested them to me and I could not put them down!  I believe there are books that are worth rereading and these definitely made my list.

Judy Brown Article

After reading this article, I began reflecting on the experiences I have had in the classroom.  During Spring semester of this year, I was doing my practicum in Burke County at Forest Hills Elementary School.  I was in a first grade classroom.  Judy Brown mentions that in first and second grade, children progress through at least three stages in learning to spell.  This is an important time in those student’s lives.  While working with one of the first grade classrooms, my teacher informed me on how much the students progressed with their spelling and reading throughout the year.  She said that was one of the most rewarding parts of being a teacher.  It is rewarding for the teacher, but think how rewarding it is for the students!  It may take a reasonable amount of time to get through those spelling stages, but it definitely pays off!

I loved how Judy Brown provided a weekly schedule for spelling instruction.  This is a tool I will be able to apply in the classroom.  I firmly believe that students who are behind in spelling can close the gap between their average achieving classmates.  If teachers provide the opportunity and guide them with the right level of instruction, these students will be able to exceed expectations.

Swashbuckling Adventures on the High Seas and Pullout

I firmly believe that pairing fiction and nonfiction is an excellent way to make reading interesting for students.  The books Pirate Diaries: The Journal of Jake Carpenter and What if You Met a Pirate? are great books to present during this piratical journey!  They are  alluring students in by making the history of pirates come to life.  I love how this unit covers reading comprehension and social studies.  One of the things the article covered was an engagement that lured the students in.  The pirate music playing in the background is an excellent way to get students interested and asking questions.  I am thrilled with the idea of the Pirate Diary Notebook.  This is a great place for students to record what they learn.  I realized that it is also important to have the students organize their Pirate Notebooks by having them reserve the front for their KWL notes.  The Dictionary of Piratical and Nautical Terms is providing students a scaffold as they are finding out more about pirates.  The questions provided to guide students through recording their data is an important tool for teachers.  It detramental to the students learning when teachers leave them out on a limb to figure things out on their own.

The Double-Entry Diary (DED) is a great way to keep students organized with their thoughts and writings.  As mentioned before, it is crucial that teachers model this in order for their students to use the DED effectively.  Students need ways to organize what they are thinking.  It is then that they are able to record and understand the information they have researched.  These articles provided great resources that I will be able to implement in my classroom.

Locomotion

His name is Lonnie Collins Motion from the song Lo Co Motion.  His family enjoyed the song and it brought them together. The song was popular during that time.  He was not exactly sure how he got his name.  When the song came on he realized how much fun he was having.  That is when his mother told him how he got his name. In this book, the author is using the child’s voice.  The writer uses writer’s craft because he knows exactly where to pause at different places.  I remember listening to this song while growing up! In elementary school I was on a dance team and we danced to the song.

Ordinary Things

Brown Angels

I thought this was a sweet book.  The photos in the book almost came alive with the words that were expressed through them.  I know that every one of my photos holds a story that is precious to me.  I felt that Walter Dean Myers did an amazing job of capturing the story behind the photos.  I loved the poem titled They.  There are people who just forget “how good a grin feels.”  I immediately thought of a time when I used to be called “Smiley.”  My boss told me every time he saw me I had a smile on my face.  I love those memories.  I felt that this book was beautiful in a way that the author was able to make a connection with these photos in a simple yet powerful way.

Love That Dog

I found myself hooked as soon as I read the first page.  I enjoyed how Jack’s journey was one we can all learn from.  I specifically recall a time when I felt I could not write poetry.  After reading this book, I realized that writing poetry is not out of reach for anybody.  We all have words and experiences that are bursting to be poems.  I loved the conversation Jack was having with his teacher.  Her responses to Jack’s questions and requests were not physically written down, but you can imagine maybe what she would have said.  I thought it was a clever idea for the teacher to tell Jack that is is ok to be inspired by other poets.  I know in my experieces of reading/writing poems I have always been moved by someone else’s poetry.  I am sure Jack was relieved when the teacher shared that.  I will definitely be presenting this book to my class, and encouraging them to believe that even they can be poets!

all the small poems and fourteen more :)

I felt joyous after reading a few poems out of this book.  I realized that I chose the poems that made a connection to my life.  In the poem garage sale I could recall the times I would get up early Saturday mornings to attend these treasure findings.  All the knick knacks I left with had some sort of significance.  I would leave with a stuffed animal and think I was on top of the world.  I felt that it was my duty to take care of whatever it was I walked away with.

I’m excited to see what exciting stories the other poems can unfold!