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If you are interested in how Reader’s and Writer’s Workshop works in one school in Minnesota, check out the site Literacy @ Riverview. The site gives an outline of expectations for reading and writing education. It is a great site for new teachers who want a window into elementary literacy or experienced teachers who want a refresher. There is also a section of resources in Spanish.
Check it out and see what you think:
https://sites.google.com/a/stpaul.k12.mn.us/riverview-literacy/
Here is a list of the strategies we are learning with the NUA cohort this year. The work has been wonderful and I always love learning! I am pretty sure that any one of them can be “googled” if you are looking for more information.
Just to name a few! 🙂
I have been gathering websites for early literacy learning in Spanish; here they are… so far. clearly I need to annotate the list and add more.
If you have any other suggestions please let me know; I am sure there are many, many more.
A colleague in my K- 5 school asked for a few ideas about making writer’s workshop fun and engaging. I love those questions because it allows me to be creative and gather ideas. Here are a few ideas to get started… (If you have more please add them!)
Last Friday I read a story with a first grade student during his independent reading time. Actually, he read to me a story of the Tooth Fairy. His ancestors of a few generations back came from Mexico (that will matter towards the end of this commentary).
Here is our conversation after he finished reading the story:
Student: I know that the Tooth Fairy is not real.
Me: No? (I know that this student has older siblings and I wondered what they had told him.)
Student: No. It’s not real.
Me: What more can you tell me?
Student: No, it’s not a fairy. It’s a ratoncito. This is true! In parts of Latin America it is not a fairy that leaves coins for a tooth it is a Ratoncito Pérez.
Writing for year’s end
On paper thinking, today reflecting
Aimless thoughts a wander.
Judging not the honesty of this day,
The moment,
Tomorrow’s truth might morph.
But today I write
and today I know
I know
today.
Yes! Differentiated instruction is important. Students need the opportunity to learn and show their learning in ways that are appropriate and motivating for them.
For a humorous take on differentiated instruction, watch this video:
Today the vertical team, the multi-tiered system of support, is visiting our school. This is a great opportunity to get feedback on what we are doing well and where we need to improve. Specialists in areas of literacy, math, behavior, special ed., ESL, pre-K and kindergarten, … come to spend the day to see what/ how we are doing.
Some of the teachers and staff may get nervous when there are visitors. Me? I like feedback… especially when it is professional and leads toward growth.
At La Cosecha I learned a new vocabulary-practice strategy: Thumb Challenge!
Create a game board for each pair of students. The example in the picture used two crowns from Burger King (sorry about the glare). Along each side have the same set of vocabulary words and the word start. You could attach the words with tape, velcro, sticky notes. Then:
Options: Use a third person to serve as the judge, deciding if the definition and usage are correct. Let students use notebooks and environmental print to aid them
Here is a fun, new graphic organizer: The Consequence Wheel/ Ripple Effect.
Use this to help students see consequences of events, understand cause and effect, … Try it and see if it works for you
S. T. Fleming 