WE ARE READERS!
We are learning that can read independently and with a partner by using different strategies for different purposes. Sometimes we are looking to learn something new, share from memory an old favorite, rereading for fluency, looking for sight words, or making connections. There are so many ways to be a reader. They are feeling confident as readers as they fill their book bags with "just right" books. Our Reader's Workshop has a mini-lesson, a purpose for their independent or partner time, and time to share with the class something they learned or a strategy they used. As their abilities grow I can see their stamina for reading grow.
READING GROUPS:
In addition to Reader's Workshop, students have been having reading groups Mondays through Thursdays and should be bringing home a new book every night. Please have them read that to/with you and return the next day. Students put their nightly book in their book bag and reread them during independent reading time in class. When you read at home with your child be sure to ask them what their favorite part is and if they had any connections ("This reminded me of...") or new learning (I learned...). If time, I suggest picking an alphabet book to reread and highlight either letters or sight words, or another favorite book at home. Here is what guided reading looks like in class:
Picture Walk:
Students flip through the book and look at the pictures on each page. Adults "plant" words (point to and find a key word on a few pages that might be challenging). Planting words increases their success.
Individual Reading:
Students whisper read the book to themselves. The adults listen and try to encourage them to use strategies to decode words:
- Look at the picture.
- Say the beginning sound.
- Skip the word and read the rest of the sentence.
- Go back and try a word. Does it make sense? Does it look right? sound right?
Students read together (like a choir) to build fluency.
Strategy Discussion:
Students share what strategies they used to figure out a tricky word.
Retell:
Students can retell what happened in the beginning, middle, end.
Comprehension Work:
Students are learning to think about what they read and engage in the book. Currently they are making connections to the text by sharing:
-This part reminds me of... (ficition)
-I learned...(non-fiction)
Word Study:
Each group has a differentiated word or letter sort. The homework for that week should come home on Mondays and we will take a quiz on Fridays to see if they mastered the skill. If they struggled on the Friday quiz, please continue to practice that sort at home.
Strategy Discussion:
Students share what strategies they used to figure out a tricky word.
Retell:
Students can retell what happened in the beginning, middle, end.
Comprehension Work:
Students are learning to think about what they read and engage in the book. Currently they are making connections to the text by sharing:
-This part reminds me of... (ficition)
-I learned...(non-fiction)
Word Study:
Each group has a differentiated word or letter sort. The homework for that week should come home on Mondays and we will take a quiz on Fridays to see if they mastered the skill. If they struggled on the Friday quiz, please continue to practice that sort at home.
WE ARE WRITERS!
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| Students are learning to read their own writing. |
Our class has been learning to use use the different tools in Seesaw. You may have noticed so many attempts coming home this week. I will soon be going through their Seesaw journals to and delete some of the duplicates. I did want you to see how much work they are putting into it. Thanks for your patience and we grow in skills. Next we will be learning to go to a quiet spot to make our recordings, so their entries will become more meaningful as we go.
