SEM Elementary Coach's Corner
November 16-20
-Stephanie Harvey
Reading
- I had the privilege of attending a training with Stephanie Harvey this week. It was so inspiring to hear how important it is to be passionate about learning. When we are excited and enthusiastic about learning, the kids will be too! It's CONTAGIOUS! It is also so important that kids be reading on-level books that they are interested in. I am excited to go around next week to see kids reading independently and with partners, responding to reading and see you modeling reading with read alouds. If you haven't already, please let me know when I can come and take pictures in your classroom. I'm putting together a slideshow for our presentation of the learning that took place at our training.
- Reading cluster 4 is now in eduphoria for all grade levels!!
- The Kinder mentor lesson 3.6 has been revised. Please make sure you print off a current copy.
I received these helpful hints for readers workshop this week and wanted to pass them along!
Reader’s Workshop Helpful Hints
The Reader’s Workshop Model incorporates sustained silent reading during the independent reading portion of the workshop block. The independent reading time affords students time to practice their reading and improve competence and fluency through authentic engagement with “just right” texts. Thus, it is not necessary to include “DEAR” or “SSR” time in the class schedule.
Reader’s Workshop will occur daily.
It is very important to model expectations for Reader’s Workshop.
Reading will most often be self –selected and self-paced.
Conferencing will occur daily with different students/student groups.
Conferences may be held with individual students or small groups of students with similar needs. One-on-one conferencing should be no longer than 3-5 minutes in length.
Teachers should maintain anecdotal notes on students’ needs and progress.
Students should keep track of books and genres read in their log. (The log is tabbed in the reader’s notebook.) Teacher should model the process for maintaining a log with a collective classroom reading/genre log.
Students will have a reader’s notebook and should be allowed to personalize it (pictures, stickers, drawings, etc.) so they have ownership. (See the handout for the Reader’s Notebook suggestions in the Reader’s Workshop Resources folder.)
Reader’s Workshop is a continuous cycle….once one book is complete, students begin reading a new one.
Share time is so important! Do not skip or rush through this stage in the workshop.
Sharing can be whole class, small groups, or partners. When sharing as a whole class, all students do not have to share every day. Students may refer to their notes in their reader’s notebooks for sharing points.
Students should be responding to reading daily.(letter, post-it, Thinkmark, quick write, etc)
Through class discussions create anchor charts during mini-lessons, and post these in the room for student reference.
Math
- Now that most of us have gone through the 5 week process of rolling out the Exemplar rubric, I wanted to share some resources with you on what you can do next. Some I have shared before but wanted to share again :). Hope these help you to continue using exemplars to increase student's capacity with problem solving. This is a great way to incorporate all pieces of the rubric and can be started whole group or teacher table and finished in stations.
Another idea I've heard is to present a problem and have each table group work on a specific part of the rubric. Then they take a gallery walk giving feedback on how to add to the thoughts already given. I'd love to do this lesson in someone's classroom next week. Please email me if interested :)
Stanford Video (8 min) on How to Learn Math
A Math Nugget: An Illustrated Mathematics Dictionary a resource for parents and students.