Vantastic Facilitator Flash
Literacy news you can use from the CF!
Back by Popular Demand?
The Facilitator Flash will focus on literacy. I'll include information I receive weekly in the CF updates, resources I've tried and find useful and any information that you may share. There's a plethora of knowledge in our building. Let's get it out there.
I hope you will find this to be a vantasic resource. Please read all the way to the end!
Hidden Treasure
Medal-mania
Reading IQ
Reading Logs as Formative Assessments
- How many pages? Most reading logs have a place for a title, amount of time read (anywhere from 15-20 minutes) and number of pages. Did the student claim to read all 250 pages in one sitting? We assume that the student understands that you pick up where you left off in a book. If I read to page 26 in The Dollhouse Murders, tomorrow I start on page 27. Students don't always realize that. Take a few minutes to point out how to complete the log. Have a sample. Take time to check in with the student about the reading. Inspect what you expect. If we don't check in with them, they won't worry about the log. .
- Book hopper or engaged reader? This goes hand in hand with the first bullet. Is the student putting a new book on each line or do you see the same title several lines in a row. Some students assume they will be in trouble if the log has the same text on it several times. However, we should see the same text until it's finished. That's a sign of an engaged reader (one of many).
- Correct level or no? There is a plethora of research on giving students leveled books and how they should read what they want, yada, yada. Here's the Vanessa Mittman Thomas take on that (and I don't have a Ph.D or published works) --if the books is too hard and they are struggling to get through it, they will hate reading because its a struggle. So it's great to say you want to read a 6th grade or purple level book. But if The Cat in the Hat is your level, it's a waste. On the other hand, reading The Cat in the Hat just to say they are reading when they have the ability to read more means the student will not grow in vocabulary and then there is a stunted reader. Somewhere there is a happy medium for what is comfortable for a child to read independently. Again, that short conference will help you help the student pick the just right book.
Literacy News Clips
Summer Reading Camp Curator Positions
Applications for Ignite Summer Reading Camp Curators are currently available online. These positions are similar to site coordinators in previous years). Curators will be paid a stipend of $900/week. While summer camp will not officially begin until the workdays beginning June 24, curators will begin working prior to this date helping to hire staff, plan staff development, coordinate curriculum development, and organize materials. Curators will be paid the regular stipend during this pre-work period. Camp dates will be June 24 - 28 (workdays and training) and July 8-August 2 (Monday-Friday). Curators will work 7:30am - 1:30pm each day. Click here for Summer Job Opportunities
Summer Reading Camp Teacher Positions
Applications for Ignite Summer Reading Camp Teachers are currently available online. Teachers will be paid a stipend of $625/week. Teachers will work June 24 - 28 for workdays and training. Summer school dates will be July 8 - August 2 (Monday through Friday) from 7:30-12:30. Please have any interested teachers complete the application by clicking here for Summer Job Opportunities. Contact Todd Cayton, Doria Sullivan, or Megan Rives with questions.
ELA CEUs: I haven't forgotten about the CEU for ARC and CKLA. I will work this week to get our Performance matters course up so that you can get registered for credit.
Vanessa M. Thomas, M. Ed.
Email: thomasv2@gcsnc.com
Website: https://www.gcsnc.com/murphey_traditional_academy
Location: 2306 Ontario Street, Greensboro, NC, USA
Phone: (336)294-7380
Twitter: @vantastict984
And so....
Until next time!