ACE LITERACY
Newsletter: October 24, 2018 - Year 4
Guided Reading
- Student reading levels are current
- Students are grouped according to similar reading levels (these groups only change occasionally as individual students grow and progress)
- Text is pulled at the *instructional* reading level to allow the teacher opportunities to lift and support reading behaviors with prompting.
Check out these key resources:
Guided Reading Lesson Components
Narrative Text Prompting Guide
Informational Text Prompting Guide
Guided Reading Next Steps
We'll be breaking down the different levels of readers to understand how to best address student reading targets.
Thursday, October 25th
3:30-6:30
Thomas A. Edison Middle Learning Center
The Write Stuff
As we enter the 3rd six weeks, our 4th and 7th grade authors are ready to SOAR to success. Take a moment to refresh yourself on these key writing components.
Daily Writing Routines
Mentor Sentences
One of the most frequently assessed writing skills is the ability to correctly compose and combine sentences. A mentor sentence routine at the start of the day provides students with opportunities to learn from great writing and emulate that themselves. More on Mentor Sentences in this previous newsletter.
Grammar Skill Lesson
Reference your IPC for targeted daily grammar skills. Take a look at this frequently assessed SE document for guidance on where to focus your writing lessons. As you demonstrate the writing skill through an anchor chart, a model, and/or an authentic piece of literature, students take notes on the left side of their journal. On the right side, students authentically use the skill in practice sentences. This provides teachers a great opportunity to aggressively monitor and see the grammar skill used in practice. Follow it all up with a multiple choice DOL to see if they have mastered the skill in test format.
Composition
Use a document camera to model the skill you would like for students to emulate. Before students begin each paragraph, model your own drafting process on the document camera. Point out to students the skills you've used and the way you have organized your thinking. As students begin their paragraph, you can aggressively monitor the room and provide instant feedback. Use the Show/Call technique to highlight student work from around the room and provide specific feedback as to why it's great.
Use these resources to help guide your writing instruction:
ACE Organizer and Composition Tools
Be sure to include your feedback on their drafts so that students can see their growth through the writing process.
Rubric Work
Incorporate a weekly routine for students to read great work. Ask students to notice tools and techniques that they might borrow in their own writing. The more great writing students read, the more ideas they have for their own craft. Take a look at these writing exemplars. Be sure to have a rubric handy at all times for students to refer back to!
Spelling Routines
Spelling rules can feel overwhelming. Target your instruction by focusing in on one spelling pattern at a time. This can be included in your daily routine as a quick 5-8 minute review:
Monday- Introduce the spelling rule and have students take notes
Tuesday- Share examples of the word and ask students to practice using the words
Wednesday- Give a quick 2 minute spelling quiz (5 or 6 words) and check
Thursday- Give students an aligned multiple choice question with the spelling pattern
3rd Six Weeks IPCs Updated!
Genre Focus: Expository
Do you have a group of students who LOVE to play soccer? Maybe you have a student that is interested in singing. Head down to your campus librarian and look for informational articles that speak to their interests. This will be a great way to build engagement and practice key informational reading strategies.
As you read expository texts this six weeks, keep this question in mind:
"What is the author trying to teach me about this topic?"
Istation Update
Below, please find tips and ideas that can help you use Istation to its greatest potential!
Teacher Checklist:
· Click the link to learn about a report that shows student growth: ISIP Skill Growth Report. This report shows each skill assessed and the progress made by students through the current month.
· Click the link to view the recommended usage times in Istation Reading, Istation Español, and Istation Math: Usage Criteria
· Students can use Istation at home during Thanksgiving break! Click the link to print out parent letters for Istation Home: Help Center: Get Started: At Home
Manager Checklist:
· Be sure to check out your campus’s Assessment Completion Report by the 10th day of the month.
· It is a great time to offer incentives for classrooms and students with the highest home usage over the holiday break! Check out our Istation store for awards!