Leap into Literacy
November/December- First Grade
Reading: Comprehension Sticks
The use of comprehension sticks is a fun way to get your readers engaged in the reading process. Essentially, each student in a reading group draws one stick and reads it. With training, they can quickly identify when they will need to answer their question. Use this strategy to start a discussion among a reading group about their book. Encourage the students to share whether they agree or disagree with the ideas of the group members.
Writing: Understanding Your Students' Writing Abilities
Have you ever looked at a piece of first grade writing and wondered what the piece could tell you about your student’s writing abilities and what might be the next step(s) in helping to move this writer forward? Access the Reading Rockets link below to view five first grade writing samples. Each sample provides insight into the writing behaviors of five different students and offers suggestions for next steps in moving this writer forward. These five samples may provide some suggestions to help to guide your next writing conferences with the students in your classroom!
Writing / Drawing About Reading
This graphic organizer can be used in first grade to help students organize their thoughts for retelling a story. For guided support, this graphic organizer is helpful at teaching the first, next, then, and last writing structure, which is also an effective tool for keeping students focused when retelling.
Suggested Informational Mentor Texts
- Planning a Birthday Party by Faye Bolton
- How To Make a Mud Pie by Deborah Eaton
- How To Make Salsa by Jaime Lucero
OverDrive
Use OverDrive to borrow eBooks, audiobooks, and more from your local public library - anywhere, anytime. All you need is a library card.
Speaking and Listening: Discussion Strategies
Spice up your classroom by changing the structure of a class discussion. The article and podcast from Cult of Pedagogy outlines 15 different structures to use in your classroom.
- Gallery Walk
- Philosophical Chairs
- Pinwheel Discussion
- Socratic Seminar
Low-Prep Discussion Strategies
- Affinity Mapping
- Concentric Circles
- Conver-Stations
- Fishbowl
- Hot Seat
- Snowball Discussion
Ongoing Discussion Strategies
- Asynchronous Voice
- Backchannel Discussions
- Talk Moves
- Teach-OK
- Think-Pair-Share