Tips, Titles and Tools for Teachers
Resources for Reading and Writing Instruction
Wow! I can't believe we only have 8 more days of school! Thank you for a great year!
In this week's newsletter, I am sharing some professional resources you should check out this summer. I am also working on a newsletter for book recommendations for summer reading that I hope to share with you in a few days.
"For in the end, it's not what we got done that matters, it is how we felt doing it."
What Every Teacher of Reading Should Do According to My Students
"You cannot buy a love of reading, but you can buy a lot of books..."
Happy Reading,
Shelly
Essential Question: Who's Doing the Work?
I finished Who's Doing the Work? a few weeks ago and it will definitely be a book I return to this summer. It stretched my thinking about "productive effort" and how our scaffolding may get in the way of our learners. I would love to share this book with all of you! The authors provide an overview of the importance scaffolding and the reading process. The chapters are organized around how to release responsibility for the learning to our students in read aloud, shared reading (close reading), guided reading and independent reading. This book is full of recommendations and suggestions that encourage us to do less so our readers can do more!
Read more about the Core Beliefs!
1. Reflection and practice are key to improvement.
2. There is more than one right way to teach reading.
3. Reading process is more important than reading level.
4. It is important to listen to and observe children.
5. It's okay if students struggle a bit.
6. Working through a text's tricky spots takes time, and students need to be given time in order to solve the problems they encounter.
7. We communicate with both our words and our bodies.
8. Great texts help nurture balanced, integrated reading processes.
9. Always work toward balance.
Let me know if you would like to take a peek at this book!
(Note: This ideas in this book are recommended for grades 3 and up.)
DIY Literacy Videos
Here are links to the video series that explains the tools in the book!
Episode 1 Demonstration Notebook
Episode 2 A Teaching Chart
Episode 3 A Micro Progression
Episode 4 Demonstration Notebook
Episode 5 Student-Led Bookmark
Episode 6 A Micro Progression
Episode 7 Process Charts
Episode 8 A Demonstration Notebook
Writing Videos by Jess Keating
I recently saw the Write With Jess Keating video series recommended on Twitter. I'm looking forward to watching them out this summer! Jess Keating is the author of Pink is for Blobfish, which is a contender for our March Madness bracket next year at WES.
I hope you take the time to check out these writing videos this summer, too! I think they could be a great addition to your writing workshop to inspire your authors!
Write with Jess Keating Videos
Some of her video topics include:
What's the secret to writing?
How do I get story ideas?
Why do I need to revise?
Shelly Moody
Atwood Primary School
Williams Elementary School
Email: smoody@rsu18.org
Twitter: @shelmoody