Tips, Titles and Tools for Teachers
A Weekly Collection of Instructional Resources
A New Adventure
Happy Reading!
Shelly
Using Digital Reading Logs
I highly encourage you to check out BiblioNasium as a tool for your reading workshop this spring! It is an interactive, engaging website where students can track their reading. It has log-ins for students, parents and educators. After setting up your classroom, you can recommend books, set challenges and share your own reading. Some of my favorite features are that students can recommend books to one another, write book reviews and use the reading log to track their daily reading. This FREE website has been approved as safe for children under 13. I know many of you are using paper reading logs with your students, but I think this web-based tool would be engaging and appealing to your readers while increasing motivation, engagement and reflection during independent reading. Take a minute to check out this link!
Top 10 Ways to Get Students Talking
"If what we say shows what we care about, then our conversations with readers are priceless." ~ Tammy Mulligan
I know we have talked a lot about the value and purpose of conferring with students during reading and writing workshop. I thought that these 10 questions and prompts shared by Tammy Mulligan might help you during your conferences.
Looking for a Great Read Aloud?
Fish In A Tree
I think all teachers and students should read this book! You will love this heart-warming story about a teacher's profound impact. You can't help but root for Ally! I found myself reflecting on how we approach students like her everyday in our school. The characters and messages in this book will stay with you long after you read the last page! Kinsey currently has my copy, but I am more than willing to share it!
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.
Rain Reign
After sharing this book with Kinsey and Valerie, they decided to use it as a read aloud with their 5th graders. Kinsey said the students are completely engaged and love seeing the book projected under the document camera so they can see the homonyms in the text. This book would be an excellent read aloud for many reasons. Valerie and Kinsey are using it to introduce students to homonyms and homophones. If you are looking for a book to discuss how characters change over time, I highly recommend checking it out!
Ranger In Time
Ranger in Time is a great book recommendation for students who are interested in exploring historical fiction. It could be used as an introduction to the genre through read aloud or added to your classroom library for students who would enjoy a new historical fiction series.
Ranger has been trained as a search-and-rescue dog, but can't officially pass the test because he's always getting distracted by squirrels during exercises. One day, he finds a mysterious first aid kit in the garden and is transported to the year 1850, where he meets a young boy named Sam Abbott. Sam's family is migrating west on the Oregon Trail, and soon after Ranger arrives he helps the boy save his little sister. Ranger thinks his job is done, but the Oregon Trail can be dangerous, and the Abbotts need Ranger's help more than they realize!
Shelly Moody
Williams Elementary School
Email: smoody@rsu18.org
Location: 55 Pleasant Street, Oakland, ME, United States
Phone: 207-465-2965
Twitter: @shelmoody