Guiding Readers Chapter 7

I'm finally getting a chance to get back to posting about the Guiding Readers book. This Chapter is all about  readers in the upper grades. Lori brings to our attention that guided reading may look like Literature Circles. This is a point of interest to me, since at our workshop today we discussed the role of Literature Circles in Guided Reading and/or Independent Reading.  And Lori mentions that sometimes Guided Reading may also look like Independent Reading. I completely get this, and love that it offers some options for us as teachers. However, I struggle with this concept in how well we can prepare for these thoughtful lessons based on student needs on an individual basis when sometimes it is a struggle to meet with all groups.

All readers struggle at some point and our job is to teach them how to work through text for deeper understanding, but some of those students may not struggle for understanding unless we increase the rigor of the task we ask them to do with the text. So, I can definitely see how we may work with a Literature Circle group and ask them to analyze the text (with our support) in a way that they otherwise would not typically do alone in a Lit Circle Group. 

Hmmm....lots to think about for sure.

Alison from Toad-ally Exceptional Learners is hosting Chapter 7- Struggling Readers in the Upper Grades and of course, you will also want to check in with Beth from Thinking about Teaching also!

What's your Super Power?

"I Teach. What's Your Super Power?" How awesome is that name? What's even more awesome is Megan's blog with that same name.  She is celebrating 150 followers with some AMAZING give-aways!


Check her out, and tell her I sent you. Be sure to check out here posts on Grammaropolis. What a fun website! While you're at it, comment here and let me know your "teaching super power!" If anyone has the secret to potty training, I am in need (I should say my son is in need-just so there isn't any confusion- LOL!) 

Reader's Notebook

Today I conducted and Independent Reading Training for teachers in Grades 3-5. We had wonderful conversation about growing our students as readers. We shared ideas about organizing our students and the work they do in Reader's Workshop and brainstormed sections for a Reader's Notebook.
So, I couldn't resist created cover sheets/divider pages for their Reader's Notebooks.


They are available in my Teacher's Notebook store, but I am giving them away free to the anyone who comments below with their ideas for sections for a Reader's Notebook by tomorrow at 1:00 pm. In your comment, please also not the color you like best. And....if you like them all, no problem! I'll send you a document with a variety of the colors. There are two editable pages for you to personalize. The cover sheets (pictured below) are editable as well to add student names. The blue one has that option as well, but I saved the picture before adding it.....It's late and I'm ready for bed, so I'll switch out the pic later:)



Click on the pics to go to my Teacher's Notebook store to see the full description.


Happy Wednesday!

Growing my Little Reader

Since I've entered to world of blogging, I've "met" so many great teachers who work with preschool children and I am so impressed. One of my favorite blogs is: 

Annie is a stay at home mom (yes, I'm jealous) and former elementary teacher (she must have been AWESOME!) Her blog and shop has so many fabulous ideas for growing young readers. I recently came across a post of hers that outlined the activities she was going to do with her toddler this summer. So, I had to give it a try with my little reader.


My little guy just loves to read (even mommy's books!)

I just couldn't resist trying her activities out with my little guy. He had a blast!  Here he is at work, he had a huge smile on his face and kept saying "More ABC's mommy!"

 And here he is matching the cut out letters to those on the page.  When he wasn't sure, he match it to a letter on the board that was the same color (Hey, I'll take that!)

In her original post, Annie has her board on a magnetic cookie sheet and each of the small letters have magnets on the back. That will be my next step when I head out shopping this week, his little arms kept sliding some of the letters off of the board!

Here is a link to the original post:

Thanks Annie, for helping me grow my reader!

Award

A few weeks ago, I received the One Lovely Blog award from Lynn at

and then was surprised to receive it from Mrs. Bartel's School Family also.  Please check out their amazing blogs- lots to learn from these gals!

Now it is my turn to pass this award along. There are some rules:

Once you receive the award, you have to pass it on to others! Here are the 3 rules to follow:

1. Follow the person who gave you the award. DONE!2. Link back to the person who gave you the award. DONE!3. Pass the award on to 15 new bloggers. PLEASE VISIT ALL OF THE FABULOUS BLOGS BELOW- NOT SURE HOW NEW THEY ARE, BUT I JUST FOUND THEM AND LOVE THEM!!! I  CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT PRIMARY TEACHERS- AND OF COURSE A FEW ARE INTERMEDIATE BLOGS TOO!

 First Grade Hip, Hop, Horray

Fearless in 5th

Rambling about Reading

                   

                       

Blog Hopping.....FREEBIE!

I am sooooo excited to participate in my 1st International Blog-Hopping Day with Teaching Blog Addict.  Click on the button below to discover all of the Linky Parties going on today:

If you have stumbled along to my page by "Following the Road to a Pot of GOLD" then I have a FREEBIE for you- a set of Owl Themed Daily Five Posters! Its my first document made in PPT- so please let me know how you like it.

Be sure to check out the other bloggers participating in this Linky Party for TONS of FREEBIES!

HAPPY THURSDAY!

Guiding Readers Chapter 3

            I'm a little behind this week on posting my thoughts on Chapter 3, Emergent Readers,  this week.  I have to say that readers at this stage have always been my challenge. Most of my experience is with intermediate students (Grades 3-5) but as a K-5 Reading Coach, I consult with many primary teachers in regards to their readers as well. Often, they have children who are "stuck" in this phase of reading and as the year ends, they are still there.  I'm so happy to have read this chapter as it offers a clear framework for guided reading lesssons with those kiddos- and even the author acknowledges that we need to look at these readers differently and be comfortable that Guided Reading with these readers will look different.


I found so many connections to Marie Clay's Reading Recovery in this teaching sequence. For example: the readers visit the text 3 times prior to the mini-lessons and the cut-up sentences activity is a staple in a reading recovery lesson sequence in order to make the reading and writing connection.  You can download my notes for Chapter 3 below. Thank you to Beth over at Thinking of Teaching for creating the note-taking form for us.

Here is a little something for you, you can use it for lessons that focus on Working with Sounds and Working with Words- ENJOY!

Be sure to visit our host for Chapter 3 for her thoughts on Emergent Readers






If you haven't started, it's not to late to catch up on the conversation. Here are the wonderful ladies who have hosted our book study so far.

Chapter 1 - Think, Wonder, & Teach

Chapter 2 - Leading and Reading AND Tori's Teaching Tips

Chapter 3 - Rowdy in First Grade

I'll be posting my thoughts on Chapter 4 later this week, but be sure to check out Primary Inspired for an amazing post on Early Reading and for some FAB FREEBIES:)