Derado's Details
TDS January Newsletter
Snow and Cold...Brrr!!!
Welcome back after an extended break. There will be schedule changes for NWEA and REACH testing along with students who are full of excitement. Remember, a normal routine helps students control stress and stay calm. Please let me know if you need my help!
Choose Your Tools
Just as a doctor, architect, or mechanic reaches for a particular tool to accomplish a particular purpose, teachers of reading also make choices among available tools. Last month this newsletter shared information about guided reading, but how are strategy groups different?
Strategy Group Reading (One Piece of the Balanced Literacy Puzzle)
Strategy Group Reading is especially effective for:
- helping students develop more skill in using a particular reading strategy
- re-teaching with students who need extra support
Strategy Group Reading is especially effective when:
- it's short and sweet - approximately 15-20 minutes
- readers get an opportunity to apply the skill/strategy in their own, independent reading
- they meet consistently for a few days to build on specific teaching points… think of this like a teaching “cycle”
What does it look like?
- Readers may be using a shared text for the mini-lesson OR Readers may be using their independent texts for the mini-lesson
- Each Reader has a text in their hands
- Teacher connects today’s learning to previous learning
- Teacher clearly states the teaching point
- Teacher models the teaching point in their own/shared text or with a student’s text
- Students try the skill/strategy while teacher observes, scaffolds, guides
- Teacher might then make a second teaching point based on observations
- Students go off and practice skill/strategy in their own independent reading
Strategy: Attacking Tricky Words (all students can work on these skills, no matter what book they bring to the small group table...)
Getting Ready to Attack Tricky Words
Readers Use More Than 1 Tool to Figure It Out
We-Know-We-Can!
Upcoming Professional Development
Please note: The Units of Study PD that was scheduled for Tuesday, January 14th after school at CRE has be Canceled!
- January 16- REACH ELA Mapping Committee from 4:15 pm - 5:45 pm @ CO
- January 17- District Professional Development 1/2 Day
- January 21- District Kindergarten Math Book Study from 4:15-5:15 @ CRE
- January 23- REACH ELA Mapping Committee from 4:15-5:45 @ CO
- January 28- Math Curriculum Mapping from 4:14-5:45 @ CO
Marci Derado
Teacher Development Specialist @ BSE, DES, SCE
Email: mderado@hse.k12.in.us
Twitter: @mderado
My January...
Because of numerous meetings in January, my schedule will be very flexible. Please email me if you'd like my support with anything. Have a fantastic 2014!