tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85312421087829617592024-03-12T17:03:55.188-07:00Teaching ReadingSiennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08304072095877656096noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8531242108782961759.post-27008778628394599432010-05-08T10:30:00.000-07:002010-05-08T10:31:46.322-07:00ComprehensionMany times we just throw out a question after we read a book to children.<br /><br />Adult:"What happened to her hat?"<br />Child: "ummmm, it flew away..."<br /><br />This is great for early literacy... a starting block. Did you know that children need to be taught to ask questions, just as much as they should be answering our comprehension questions.<br /><br />One thing that is very important for comprehension are the skills of generating questions. Students should be creating questions in their mind, WHY? Because that is what GOOD readers do... while they are reading they create questions in their mind to keep interested and in order to retain the information.<br /><br />We need to foster the skill of questioning in children by teaching them HOW to ask questions. For example: (while reading a book) I say: "That dog is scared! Can you think of a question you might have about this? Let me tell you my question... I wonder why the dog is scared? Can you think of a question?"<br /><br />This process will be ongoing and will require a lot of modeling. But, with enough great modeling, they will become great question generators!Siennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08304072095877656096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8531242108782961759.post-18209470725659864172010-05-01T10:03:00.000-07:002010-05-01T10:24:40.242-07:00Turn off your voice and listen to theirs!A great reminder for teachers and parents when helping your child with comprehension... turn off your voice and let the child do the thinking/talking. Too many times we answer questions we ask to children. They are smarter than we think and they need the opportunities to use their voice.<br /><br />When your child says something, react to and answer questions... Try not to repeat what they say, it is counter productive.Siennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08304072095877656096noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8531242108782961759.post-71117677429248993612010-04-28T15:08:00.000-07:002010-04-28T15:09:52.131-07:00Hygiene lesson from a 6 year oldI am a pretty busy and tired person... I will be honest, I don't shower everyday. My hair is usually in a pony tail. My students always comment when I do take a shower and take the time to blow dry my hair. Apparently it is a big difference, because a Kindergartner said to me today, "Mrs. Valadez, you took a shower today!" Wow... that was an eye opener... do I really look THAT bad every other day??? I guess so!Siennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08304072095877656096noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8531242108782961759.post-9903729300362651802010-04-26T20:39:00.000-07:002010-04-26T20:39:50.047-07:00Comprehension using Expository TextsThe fourth grade slump has been attributed to the lack of informational texts used in pre-school through 1st grade.<br />
Research proves that informational texts are increasingly important in students comprehension abilities.<br />
Informational texts are not as predictable in their story structure as a narrative text.<br />
They give the reader 3 times the opportunities to use comprehension skills than narrative texts.<br />
When reading a story as a read aloud, think about reading informational texts. Your students will no doubt benefit!Siennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08304072095877656096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8531242108782961759.post-5270601674978509292010-04-18T14:58:00.000-07:002010-04-18T14:58:26.059-07:00Free Header<div style="text-align: center;">A blog I follow is giving away FREE headers!! Yes, that's right! A free header!!</div><div style="text-align: center;">To get the free header you must</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">-Follow Army Wife Jesse Mac</div><div style="text-align: center;">-<a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Army-Wife-Jesse-Mac/358981614083?ref=ts">Be A Facebook Fan</a> (and comment on the fan page)</div><div style="text-align: center;">-<a href="http://twitter.com/armywifejesse">Follow Us On Twitter</a> (and then tweet about the giveaway)</div><div style="text-align: center;">-Subscribe via email (look on the right side bar for this, just enter your email)</div><div style="text-align: center;">-Post About This On Your Blog</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div>go here to find our more: http://www.armywifejessemac.com/Siennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08304072095877656096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8531242108782961759.post-34786764432913550932010-04-08T13:39:00.000-07:002010-04-08T13:39:30.805-07:00Manipulatives for reading?I have determined that my little low achieving kindergartners will be lucky if they go to 1st grade knowing their letter names and sounds. I have tried EVERYTHING. Now there is only so much I can do in 15 minutes a day for my small group. But, here are some of my new things.<br />
<br />
Play dough: make a letter with your play dough. (What letter says /s/? Show me with your play dough)<br />
Stamps: Let the students explore with letter stamps.<br />
Bingo: find the letter that says /b/ and put a marker there.Siennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08304072095877656096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8531242108782961759.post-79670574858079919032010-03-30T13:57:00.000-07:002010-03-30T13:57:43.286-07:00Giving enough think time.... using signalsIn my small group, we read a decodable together after we review the phonics concept and blend the words. It is hard to give students enough think time during a read through together. I use a dog training clicker to time the think time. I tell the students to think... and when they hear the click they all read together. This way your strong reader in the group doesn't dominate and everyone gets a chance to blend it in their head before reading.<br />
I feel weird using the dog clicker but it is the best thing I have found and it is really cheap at Petco.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs5SoJL-RRIGCUBhGA2uPBcba1F3WeZKoeQUzJxJlGzXwCzN1PYvcb05Y0AVOXQ8Gp5TIWIFIWOUiVvYn1Xed_7AIKD2L66zugiCS9Igf4tNiRM4WAvtgzTWHPdeQL9Qk8-I6DF8TF-6mc/s1600-h/Dog-Training-Clicker-TC-1153-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs5SoJL-RRIGCUBhGA2uPBcba1F3WeZKoeQUzJxJlGzXwCzN1PYvcb05Y0AVOXQ8Gp5TIWIFIWOUiVvYn1Xed_7AIKD2L66zugiCS9Igf4tNiRM4WAvtgzTWHPdeQL9Qk8-I6DF8TF-6mc/s320/Dog-Training-Clicker-TC-1153-.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Do you use something as a signal? I would love to hear other ideas.Siennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08304072095877656096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8531242108782961759.post-37394965315634129782010-03-25T12:27:00.000-07:002010-03-25T12:28:39.403-07:00funny stuff kids say....Me: Do you have any plans for the weekend?<br />Student: No, but this summer I am going to Hollywood to become famous!<br />Me: Wow!<br />Student: Yeah, when I grow up I want to be a teacher, a movie star and work at Subway so I can get all the free sandwiches I want.Siennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08304072095877656096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8531242108782961759.post-12922674338612265962010-03-23T12:07:00.000-07:002010-03-23T12:10:32.746-07:00Song for Phonemic AwarenessMy kindergartners have such a hard time with phonemic awareness. I am trying everything!!! Today it was a new song, they liked it.<br /><br />Listen, listen, listen to my word<br />and then tell me all the sounds you've heard... CAT<br />/c/ is the first sound<br />/a/ makes two<br />/t/ is the last sound<br />it's true, it's true.<br /><br />(I sang it in the tune of skip to my lou)Siennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08304072095877656096noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8531242108782961759.post-62682010883728835972010-03-17T16:15:00.000-07:002010-03-17T16:19:05.893-07:00Rereading for FluencyOne of the most important things we have to teach struggling readers is fluency. The only way we can teach this is through rereading. Here are some fun fluency ideas.<br /><br />Explicitly explain that:<br />Fluency is reading quickly, but not too quick.<br />Reading with expression.<br />Stopping at periods and pausing at commas.<br /><br />Fluency ideas: (rereading the same story)<br />Whisper read to self.<br />Use a whisper phone.<br />Read to a partner.<br />Use a minute timer, see how far they can get... then try to beat that time.<br />Roll a dice with expressions such as: happy, sad, mad, glad and have them read the story/page with that expression.<br />Readers theater.Siennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08304072095877656096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8531242108782961759.post-66811105782226262292010-03-16T13:51:00.000-07:002010-03-16T13:53:50.561-07:00Word wallsWord walls are most effective if they are <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">alphabetized</span> on the wall and when the words are added as they are learned.<br /><br />Too often we see teachers who put up all <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">their</span> site words at the beginning of the year and expect them to know them.<br /><br />The purpose is to introduce... memorize and put them in an accessible area for students.<br /><br />Ideas for word wall...<br />I spy (I spy a word that starts with w and end in y and let students guess)<br />Write sentences using site words.Siennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08304072095877656096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8531242108782961759.post-9185788968144386232010-03-04T08:21:00.000-08:002010-03-04T08:25:02.071-08:00Stretching words into soundsTo teach phonemic awareness to my kindergartners and first graders, I tell them we are going to stretch bubble gum. I let them pretend chew it up... then they get it in their hands and I tell them a word, cat, then we stretch it out into sounds /c/ /a/ /t/. Then we slap it back together and say cat. This is a fun activity and it gets the kids thinking about sounds in words.<br /><br />Remember, we should work on PA everyday until 2nd grade but only spend a few minutes on it.Siennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08304072095877656096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8531242108782961759.post-25536922447846781322010-03-03T13:44:00.001-08:002010-03-03T13:46:07.011-08:00Only from the mouth of a childI said to my student...<br />Me: Where were you yesterday, sick?<br />Him: No, my ears hurt.<br />Me: Oh no, you had an ear infection?<br />Him: No, they hurt from you yelling at me...<br /><br />PricelessSiennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08304072095877656096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8531242108782961759.post-45908213688899210822009-09-16T13:12:00.000-07:002009-09-16T13:22:06.306-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2e0mQ6l_3q0mxZaV6SaNouq7365J1anDAGr14s8_ansFakChzak6JuPSMkkAW6eF_Hj7SP29O39erDlISh4nn29uKVT39qpdDTmZTk5yxgjQk22LXGuaCn1HgQvTxeO__edkV_o1tl5_5/s1600-h/sgri.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 165px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2e0mQ6l_3q0mxZaV6SaNouq7365J1anDAGr14s8_ansFakChzak6JuPSMkkAW6eF_Hj7SP29O39erDlISh4nn29uKVT39qpdDTmZTk5yxgjQk22LXGuaCn1HgQvTxeO__edkV_o1tl5_5/s400/sgri.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382163169819833778" border="0" /></a><br /> After much testing...DIBELS! I was able to make my<span style="font-size:180%;"> small groups</span>. My lowest group needs lots of <span style="font-size:180%;">phonics</span> instruction as most first graders do. These students are more on the kindergarten level, they don't know their <span style="font-size:180%;">letter names</span> and sounds. I hear a song in my head <span style="font-size:130%;">"lets start from the very beginning, a very good place to start..."</span><br /><br /> We had a half an hour for this group: started with <span style="font-size:180%;">phonemic awareness</span>... air --- plane, what's the word? quick and easy, we want PA to be more of a game. Then we played pass the <span style="font-size:180%;">site words</span>: see and the. Next, we talked about A and the sound it makes /a/ and its spelling. I gave them a card with letters jumbled and had them find the letter a many times by <span style="font-size:180%;">naming things</span> that started with a. I wrote all their names on the board and we circled the letter a in their names. To end and <span style="font-size:180%;">assess</span>, I had them write the uppercase and lowercase a on a small whiteboard and say the sound.<br />I know this sounds "elementary" <span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >BUT</span>, this is where we start with these students.<br /><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div>Siennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08304072095877656096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8531242108782961759.post-64661558478858657802009-08-12T21:29:00.000-07:002009-08-12T21:33:47.068-07:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsYHecroOt8e6RsVFhLci84foGcqd6sQ_QX9utBk5201OmmDXdFtyQohJUpIbGCZrUb02HGu_J8m0f-OvhXjSw0qpQa5yYYiQMfA2XRNhOh7umTkhwRhGlQQeBnW2fOmp6TE1WUbSZT9oK/s1600-h/Kids.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 295px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369301913844700898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsYHecroOt8e6RsVFhLci84foGcqd6sQ_QX9utBk5201OmmDXdFtyQohJUpIbGCZrUb02HGu_J8m0f-OvhXjSw0qpQa5yYYiQMfA2XRNhOh7umTkhwRhGlQQeBnW2fOmp6TE1WUbSZT9oK/s320/Kids.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Testing, testing, testing... it is so tedious and well, annoying. But, let me remind you it is the only way to gauge student learning and understanding of certain phonics concepts. So, make sure you test often and look at the data for every child. Use the knowledge to create a teaching plan to suit each small group. Sometimes I feel like teachers forget the importance of testing and look at it more as an annoying time eater. I know I am a teacher too, but if you look at it in a more positive light it can benefit your instruction.</div>Siennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08304072095877656096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8531242108782961759.post-51177197751698099722009-07-17T22:49:00.000-07:002009-07-17T22:58:11.712-07:00Step one: Grouping the studentsGuided reading or small group instruction is a chance to work one on one with your students. You are able to reach the struggling readers in this 15-30 minute block. This could be the most important 30 minutes of the day for these students. Make it matter! Assessment is crucial in order to place students in the correct group. Once you have assessed their phonics knowledge you can create small groups. You should never have more than 4-5 students in one group. For example if you have four students who are having trouble with the r controlled vowels such as ar, er and ir...put them together, because you have a starting point for them. The placement is all up to the teacher. I like to put at least one higher reader in with a mix of low students to lead the group. The high student should only be a bit higher so you don't hinder that students developement. I like to use the core phonics test to create my small groups. Remember this small group/ guided reading should be focused and intense phonics, fluency and comprehension instruction. It is hard to determine where students are in fluency and comprehension when comparing them to peers. Phonics concept placement is a good start because you have one common ground.<input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div>Siennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08304072095877656096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8531242108782961759.post-71749807219888854562009-07-17T10:25:00.000-07:002009-07-17T10:28:57.783-07:00Here we go...I always get questions about the best small group instruction. Teachers are very intimidated by the terms used in current research. I wanted to start this website to break it down and explain how easy it is to teach explicit small group reading instruction. I work with mainly K-2 students, therefore my blogs will be focused on these grades and phonics, comprehension and fluency concepts. If you have any questions feel free to ask.<br /><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div>Siennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08304072095877656096noreply@blogger.com0