Tips, Titles and Tools for Teachers
Instructional Resources and Ideas for A New Year
Happy Reading!
Shelly
What brings you joy?
"This time of year teachers and literacy leaders are going through schedules, ever on the lookout for the “clutter” of wasted time we can get rid of so we have time for more important things. We’ve trained ourselves to ask, "Is this activity useful? Is it efficient? Is it moving me toward a measurable goal?” What would happen if we looked at how we spend each chunk of time and asked, 'Does this bring me joy?'"
Instructional Resources for Writing Workshop
Here is a great blog post about Creating Classroom Environments: Charts to Start the Year.
If you are interested in Creating Classroom Environments: Places for Writers to Grow, this blog post has some great ideas for setting up spaces in an elementary classroom for writing and writing inspiration.
Great New Resource for Reading Instruction!
*Supporting Pre-Emergent and Emergent Readers
*Teaching Reading Engagement: Focus, Stamina, and Building a Reading Life
*Supporting Print Work: Increasing Accuracing and Integrating Sources of Information
*Teaching Fluency: Reading with Phrasing, Intonation and Automaticity
*Supporting Comprehension in Fiction: Understanding Plot and Setting
*Supporting Comprehension in Fiction: Thinking About Characters
*Supporting Comprehension in Fiction: Understanding Theme and Ideas
*Supporting Comprehension in Nonfiction: Determining Main Topic(s) and Idea(s)
*Supporting Comprehension in Nonfiction: Determining Key Details
*Supporting Comprehension in Nonfiction: Getting the Most from Text Features
*Improving Comprehension in Fiction and Nonfiction: Understanding Vocabulary and Figurative Language
*Supporting Students' Conversations: Speaking, Listening and Deepening Comprehension
*Improving Writing About Reading
I absolutely love that on each page Jennifer Serravallo outlines the strategy with teaching tips and prompts. She also includes a sample anchor chart for most lessons! In the sidebar, she shares what level reader may benefit from the lesson, as well as the type of text to use and skills that are supported by the strategy. I highly recommend using this resource as you plan mini-lessons for your whole group or small group instruction!
Looking for a fun game? Check out Kaboom!
Global Read Aloud
Here is the link to all the information about the Global Read Aloud. This page includes lots of tips and ideas if this is your first time participating in the Global Read Aloud. In the past, I found great ideas for activities connected to the book posted by other teachers from around the country. I will also gather resources for both books including book trailers and any instructional resources during the month of September. Please let me know if you have any questions. This Read Aloud event begins on October 5th so you have plenty of time to check out the books! I'm looking forward to sharing these outstanding books with our readers!
Fish In a Tree
Ally has been smart enough to fool a lot of smart people. Every time she lands in a new school, she is able to hide her inability to read by creating clever yet disruptive distractions. She is afraid to ask for help; after all, how can you cure dumb? However, her newest teacher Mr. Daniels sees the bright, creative kid underneath the trouble maker. With his help, Ally learns not to be so hard on herself and that dyslexia is nothing to be ashamed of. As her confidence grows, Ally feels free to be herself and the world starts opening up with possibilities. She discovers that there’s a lot more to her—and to everyone—than a label, and that great minds don’t always think alike.
Here is the link to Lynda's blog. I love this post from her site.
Welcome to the Global Read Aloud!
The Year of Billy Miller
Here is a link to Kevin Henke's website and an instructional guide for the book!