1. How far into the school year do you think Kinders need to
be to be able to begin to Read to Self?
be to be able to begin to Read to Self?
What is realistic? When do you plan to begin implementation?
To answer this question I think we need to decide what we
consider “Read to Self.” At the beginning of the year, my students
may be reading the pictures and retelling the story without actually reading
the words. I feel that October/November is a good time to actually expect my
students to “read the words.”
consider “Read to Self.” At the beginning of the year, my students
may be reading the pictures and retelling the story without actually reading
the words. I feel that October/November is a good time to actually expect my
students to “read the words.”
Additionally, I feel
that I will be able to teach enough strategies with CAFE to encourage good
reading. I also think I will spend a lot of time with small groups teaching
tracking and other important emergent reader skills. I don’t think I will be
conferencing as much before January.
that I will be able to teach enough strategies with CAFE to encourage good
reading. I also think I will spend a lot of time with small groups teaching
tracking and other important emergent reader skills. I don’t think I will be
conferencing as much before January.
2. How will you make sure that each child views him/herself
as a reader whether they can read the words or not?
as a reader whether they can read the words or not?
This is where working with students often comes into play.
These young children cannot and will not
learn to read by handing them a book and telling them to read to themselves. I
plan on having my assistant and myself read with small groups often. This is
where we will encourage confident readers. I also feel teaching students actual
reading strategies will help them gain the confidence to read.
These young children cannot and will not
learn to read by handing them a book and telling them to read to themselves. I
plan on having my assistant and myself read with small groups often. This is
where we will encourage confident readers. I also feel teaching students actual
reading strategies will help them gain the confidence to read.
3.What are some ideas you have about Launching Read to Self
in Kindergarten? How will you go about it and what are some ways to make sure
it is Kinder friendly?
in Kindergarten? How will you go about it and what are some ways to make sure
it is Kinder friendly?
I was so so so nervous to introduce this to my class this
past year. AND THEY DID GREAT. The loved it. I was the nervous one, not them. I
think they liked the freedom it gave them. I literally did what the book said
to do. I modeled, modeled, modeled…
and used the charts and then I had to just trust them.
past year. AND THEY DID GREAT. The loved it. I was the nervous one, not them. I
think they liked the freedom it gave them. I literally did what the book said
to do. I modeled, modeled, modeled…
and used the charts and then I had to just trust them.
To make it more kinder friendly, I let my class wiggle
before and after read to self time. They need to move and make noise. When I
give them a positive outlet to do this, they did it when they were supposed to.
before and after read to self time. They need to move and make noise. When I
give them a positive outlet to do this, they did it when they were supposed to.
4. How will you/how do you build the children’s belief that
this IS important? What can we do to encourage the ones who do not value it and
create disruptions for others?
this IS important? What can we do to encourage the ones who do not value it and
create disruptions for others?
I have been blessed that almost every singles student I have
taught does what I ask happily. They typically want to please me. More so, when
we are creating and discussing our i-charts, we talk about why we are doing
this- Read to Self. Most students are more than happy to enjoy a book quietly
than complete an assignment. (I have work ready for any student who cannot
handle read to self.)
taught does what I ask happily. They typically want to please me. More so, when
we are creating and discussing our i-charts, we talk about why we are doing
this- Read to Self. Most students are more than happy to enjoy a book quietly
than complete an assignment. (I have work ready for any student who cannot
handle read to self.)
This answers the next question- if students do not value
their read to self time, they can and will be given work. This sometimes
backfires when we intro Word Work. I make sure my word work activities are not
just meaningful, but fun and engaging. “Seat work” for those who
don’t follow the rules is not.
their read to self time, they can and will be given work. This sometimes
backfires when we intro Word Work. I make sure my word work activities are not
just meaningful, but fun and engaging. “Seat work” for those who
don’t follow the rules is not.
Typically- a disrupting student will go to seat work once or
twice. If I am consistent, they do not want this option and will not do their
unacceptable behaviors again.
twice. If I am consistent, they do not want this option and will not do their
unacceptable behaviors again.
Now… this past year I had a student who was not able to
sit and read for even 30 seconds, even at the end of the year. I encouraged his
parents to “blanket train” their child. Obviously this student had
huge attention span issues. I got the idea for my own child from Michelle
Duggar, mother of 19 children. This is what she does with her toddlers while
she is homeschooling her k, 1, 2 children. I did this with my toddler when she
was 2 and it worked. I wanted this student to be able to maintain a location
before I can expect him to maintain reading.
sit and read for even 30 seconds, even at the end of the year. I encouraged his
parents to “blanket train” their child. Obviously this student had
huge attention span issues. I got the idea for my own child from Michelle
Duggar, mother of 19 children. This is what she does with her toddlers while
she is homeschooling her k, 1, 2 children. I did this with my toddler when she
was 2 and it worked. I wanted this student to be able to maintain a location
before I can expect him to maintain reading.
5.How valuable is “checking in” and reviewing with
kinders? How often will you do it? When will you do it? What are some different
ways to check in?
kinders? How often will you do it? When will you do it? What are some different
ways to check in?
Checking in is a science… I never check in or move
students unless they no longer engaged. I like to learn my students and
anticipate when I know they will “loose” their focus and check in
right before they actually do. (It’s
like stopping calendar time to wiggle when you students are no longer able to
sit and listen.)
students unless they no longer engaged. I like to learn my students and
anticipate when I know they will “loose” their focus and check in
right before they actually do. (It’s
like stopping calendar time to wiggle when you students are no longer able to
sit and listen.)
I check in a LOT at first, and less often as time goes by. I
also teach my students to check in with each other, so I don’t have to
“led” the check in each time. This is fun for them as well.
also teach my students to check in with each other, so I don’t have to
“led” the check in each time. This is fun for them as well.
I LOVE to make the gathering sound for my class, then sing a
song on their way back to the carpet to check in. This helps with getting
wiggles out. I know other teacher who use nursey rhymes to get students back
together.
song on their way back to the carpet to check in. This helps with getting
wiggles out. I know other teacher who use nursey rhymes to get students back
together.
6. What are some problems that can occur that I anticipate
or have experienced? How can we be proactive about these issues?
or have experienced? How can we be proactive about these issues?
The fun thing about Kinder is… the children will always
surprise you. YOU can’t anticipate everything. I love to see how creative they
get to get what they want. I wonder what they will do? Hummm…. I will be ready to laugh. Then we
use it as a teachable moment.
surprise you. YOU can’t anticipate everything. I love to see how creative they
get to get what they want. I wonder what they will do? Hummm…. I will be ready to laugh. Then we
use it as a teachable moment.
Thank you for linking up, Mary! Great insight.
Krissy
Mrs. Miner's Monkey Business
I love this post 🙂
Blessings,
Jessica Stanford
Mrs. Stanford's Class
I hope that you'll join me for my giveaway ♥
Very helpful post! Thank you!
I enjoyed reading your post. On a side note, I noticed a child 1st picture with the sight word pull. I am wondering if you used this in your class. I saw these before and they do look great!