Elementary Essentials
May 19, 2023
ELA
This week we continue our spotlight on familiar, tried-and-true reading strategies that have a high impact on reading comprehension, according to What Works Clearinghouse.
These strategies are applicable to all grade levels K-5.
PART 3: Guide students through focused, high-quality discussion on the meaning of text. (SL.1)
PART 4: Select texts purposefully to support comprehension development. (RL.13, RI.13)
PART 5: Establish an engaging and motivating context in which to teach reading comprehension.
Students must actively engage with text to extract and construct its meaning. They will become better readers if they are taught reading comprehension in an engaging motivating context. This context can be created by a teacher clearly conveying the purpose of each lesson, explaining to students how the comprehension strategies will help them learn, and impressing on them that the power to be successful readers rests as much with them as it does with their teacher. Teachers should choose reading materials that offer students a choice in what to read. Having an opportunity to collaborate with one another is also important.
1. Help students discover the purpose and benefits of reading.
Recommendation:
- Teacher modeling
- Establishing purpose for reading
- Using themes integrated with content
2. Create opportunities for students to see themselves as successful readers.
Recommendation:
- Text complexity
- Questioning
- Goal setting
- Making tracks
- Scaffolding the reading
3. Give students reading choice.
Strategies that support:
- Providing choice when reading
- Classroom/school libraries stocked with various genres
4. Give students the opportunity to learn by collaborating with their peers.
Strategies that support:
Writer’s Workshop Tip #3: Share, Share, Share!
Workshop Closure (Share): You may find it meaningful to create a handful of ways that share time could be implemented in your classroom. A valuable part of the share is for every student to feel heard while being held accountable for their work during independent writing time. With this goal in mind, it is helpful to remember that students will not be sharing their work in the same way everyday. Share sessions are intended to be quick (5 minutes or less) and provide an opportunity for the teacher to lean back into the teaching point and highlight where this occurred in student writing. To maximize share time, this could look many different ways…
- Students may gather as the teacher shares one piece of writing that shows evidence of the mini-lesson taught that day. Then students turn and talk, sharing their experience with the given strategy(s).
- Partners share one thing they tried, something that was hard, a proud part of their writing, or a goal they have written.
- The options included in the manual are just an idea. The share should really be based on the work of your students.
- Be cautious not to get in the habit of letting one child share their entire piece as this takes away from the focus of the mini-lesson.
- Tip: You may want to give students a heads-up of the focus for share time a few minutes before it begins.
SCIENCE
Picture-Perfect Science
Participants of Picture-Perfect Science will learn straight from award-winning NSTA Press authors Karen Ansberry and Emily Morgan. This introductory workshop, held via Zoom, will help educators build a solid understanding of STEM and literacy integration and the 5E Model through participation in engaging picture book-inspired lessons, lively discussion and interactive learning tasks. There is no cost for this workshop. The first 50 registrants will receive a free copy of the supporting materials book.
- 9-11 a.m., June 6, kindergarten through second grade
- 9-11 a.m. June 7, third through fifth grade
- Register here: https://forms.gle/3Hpk2mcmS8Grb5YA6
Phenomenon Science
Phenomenon Science is for elementary teachers who want to incorporate more hands-on science investigations and phenomena into their classes. This session is being offered for free through a partnership between the Kansas State Department of Education and Phenomenon Science. During this workshop, which is being held via Zoom, participants will learn more about three-dimensional science standards and experience how phenomenon and student curiosity can drive learning in multiple areas. The first 60 registrants will receive a free kit of materials. Zoom links will be provided upon registration.
- 9 a.m.-noon, June 12-13.
- 9 a.m.-noon, July 27-28. This is a repeated session.
- Register here: https://forms.gle/fiddcEVgUnAAg2WYA
SOCIAL STUDIES
Please check out the social studies newsletter for important end-of-the-year items.
Congratulations to all on a great school year! I was lucky enough to be invited to several buildings this year to see some awesome activities and student engagement, such as the great debate, wonders of the U.S. mini-golf, shark tank, Kansas Day celebrations, kinder-zoo, Constitution Day mock trial, presentations about Kansas agriculture and so much more!
Thank you for all you do to promote excellence in social studies in your classroom. I hope each of you has an amazing and restful summer break with family and friends.
All the best, Julie