Buzzing with Ms. B: WILD About Reading! In my classroom, I always used Reader's Workshop. I included shared reading, read alouds, independent reading and guided reading, and word study. To help teachers set up their Reader's Workshop and independent reading components, I put together this jungle safari themed "WILD about Reading" Pack! It's so hard to fit everything in one image! In the pack are student sheets, teacher resources, printable posters & cards, bulletin board materials, and student response bookmarks! This is the full listing of materials included: -Reader’s Notebook Cover - Sample Anchor Charts - Reading Survey - Myself as a Reader - Genre Graph - Genre Bingo Recording Sheet - My Reading Goals - Choosing a Just Right Book - Book Pass Activity & Recording Sheet - 2 different versions of bunting banner - 4 and 5-day versions of Home Reading Record - 25 Book Club: directions, recording log, recommendation sheet, and bulletin board recognition materials - Independent Reading Rubric - Independent Reading Record - Response Ideas Poster.
New Guided Reading Groups. The buckets are packed with goodies, and the kids were soooooo excited to start our new guided reading groups this week. I have 5 different groups with 4 students in each group. Each group will be reading a different Jerry Spinelli novel: Wringer, Report to the Principal's Office, Maniac Magee, Loser, and Fourth Grade Rats. We do guided reading each day, and all groups work at the same time. My resource teacher works with me during this time, and she meets with (runs) the same group each day - she works with my below grade level group. I meet with two different groups each day (I read with one group, then I work on the task with a second group).
Our overall focus for the next four weeks is Literal Comprehension (this is our division focus for my school). This is one of my student's journals. Each day after reading the students have two tasks. I created a special "Summary of Learning" section in my guided reading binder to keep track of all these sticky notes. Happy Thursday!!! 10 Ways for Kids To Experience Poetry | We’ve recently introduced regular poetry reading and activities into our weekly routine and my kids, ages 8, 6, and 3, absolutely love it! I’ve gathered some more resources together for kids to experience and enjoy poetry.
Choose poetry that inspires your child. We are just beginning to create our collection, but Malia at Playdough to Plato has some great recommendations. We discovered that our local library has a childrens’ poetry section. Every other week, I ask each of my children to choose one book from the section. Tuesday Tea Time poetry-for boys, too! How do you share poetry with kids? Linky parties I know and love. Digital Storytelling. Poetry River Craft. Here is a simple poetry river craft that I made for the newest Issue of LMNOP Magazine, which is all about books. We’ve been enjoying the book, A River of Words, which is a brilliant introduction to the poet William Carlos Williams. This book contains many of his wonderful poems and talks about beautiful things that are part of everyday life. So the kids and I cut out a river with paper, then wrote some favorite words, memories, and activities, and had fun creating our own river of words.
You can rearrange the pieces of paper to make a variety of different phrases. Another fun variation could be a poetry mobile, similar to this Mobile of Thanks. To learn about many other beautiful books, and see more on this craft, check out the new issue of LMNOP. Exercises to Unlock the Poet Within. I think that I shall never see ... well-disciplined creativity! How often has that thought crossed your mind? Don't despair! The experts -- working poets who teach their craft -- share their secrets for instructing and inspiring budding poets.
Included: Exercises to help students access their creative powers and produce well-crafted poems. Teaching poetry can be a tricky business. Give the following techniques and exercises a try. "When we go into schools, our focus is to get the students to write, not to teach the theory of poetry," said Faith Vicinanza. "Through the years, I've developed a whole set of exercises designed specifically to get students writing from a particular place," Vicinanza added. Vicinanza shared with Education World four exercises she has used successfully in workshops with both children and adults. I'm sorry, but . . . "When I go into schools, I try to get the students to think outside their normal boundaries," Thomas said of her approach to leading workshops. A Resource Guide for Young Readers and Writers. Reading and writing not only helps children perform well in school, it boosts their creativity.
When a young child reads a book or has a book read to them, they are able to imagine worlds that are different from the one they live in. Reading and writing are also essential for developing language skills. When a child reads, they are exposed to new vocabulary words and are exposed to different methods of communication. Developing writing skills helps children learn to express themselves clearly through language. Reading, Literacy and Your ChildAn article from the University of Michigan on the importance of reading for children.
Emergent WritingArticle from PBS on teaching writing to very young learners. Why is Reading Aloud to Young Children So Important? The Importance of Literacy and Books in Children's DevelopmentArticle arguing the value of books and reading to a child's development. Parent Proven Tips to Get Kids ReadingIdeas from parents to encourage children to read. J.K. Mrs. Reading Poetry With Kids – New and Favorite Books.