Hang on!! Summer's Coming.

Teachers, I Feel Your Pain!  Literally.

It's time.  We are MORE than ready for a break in the action.

Things are flying by at a fevered pitch.  Final grades, and grading.  

Parties and field trips.  Awards and ceremonies.  

Yearbooks and autographs.  Warm weather moving in.  

Your room looks like a tornado hit.  

You might even be packing up for a classroom move, new position, 

or maybe even the brass ring...retirement!!

 At the same time, it's moving too fast.  

If only we could hit the pause button every now and then.  

 In the meantime...Think happy thoughts... Look to the future... 

Picture your happy place!

My personal happy place involves a cool breeze, a hammock, and a good book.  

On an island would be nice.  

Come on.  Join me.

One day at a time baby!  

One day at a time.

Going to put on my water wings.  :)

Text Structure

It's not always easy to explain to students the concept of text structure.  Students focus on the content of the story as they read and work to comprehend a book or passage.  Noticing the structure of a story, requires stepping back and actually noticing how a story was put together.  This requires critical thinking skills that for an untrained eye can be complicated!  There are other skills, as well, such as noticing the author's purpose for writing or point-of-view which require similar thinking.

I've started using a chart to explain this to students which asks them to think about the differences between reading skills that are used for what happens INSIDE a story versus skills that happen OUTSIDE a story.  One requires looking into the story itself...while the other requires this step back to consider what the author had in mind.  With the students I actually write the skills inside the open book that are INSIDE the story questions, such as: characters, plot, setting, inferencing, and other "right-there" type questions.  Around the outside of the open book we write the question types that we would find OUTSIDE the story by thinking about how the writer had in mind when they WROTE the piece.

This type of introduction can then launch a teacher into the deeper teaching of TEXT STRUCTURE and other OUTSIDE the story skills.  Try it!  I'll be using it with 4th graders tomorrow.

Hang in there!  Summer's coming!

GO TEAM!

Don't let the recently passed Valentines "season" be the only time we tell our students that we care!  Encouragement is so important for all of us.  There is no better way to get all-out effort from your students than to let them know we BELIEVE in them!  This week is an important one for Texas 4th graders, as they will take their state writing test.  I've come to a school this year that has so many standing traditions in place to encourage their writers.  Besides the excellent instruction the students receive from their dedicated writing teacher, there has been a writers' conference complete with guest speakers, as well as a Valentines writers tea.  But I think my favorite activity so far is the way each school employee from cafeteria workers to administration "adopts" 1 or more 4th graders to which they will write an encouraging note.  Just before the test, each 4th grader will receive more than one friendly message from an adult they respect telling them, YOU CAN DO IT!  Admit it.  We ALL need to hear that from time to time!

Leveling Books

A B C D E F G H I J K

Studies show that the best way for a student to improve their reading level is to dramatically increase the volume of books they are reading at the level that's right for them.  At my school, we use the Fountas & Pinnell Benchmark Assessment.

The tricky part is for teachers to monitor that kids are truly reading on their independent level and not carrying around the latest greatest series, that is 4 levels above which they can comprehend, because it makes them look cool.

This isn't always easy.  Especially since we want our students to be able to choose their own reading materials.

One way to make it easier in your classroom is to level your classroom library.  You might not have the time or energy to arrange your entire library from A-Z, but you can arrange your books in at least 3 sections (Easy, Medium, Hard).  I arranged mine as groups A, B, C and allowed my students to choose within their section.  It's not always perfect but getting closer.  There is a website that I've used to level my books:

http://home.comcast.net/~ngiansante/index.html

I've found this site easy to navigate.  Check it out.  You can also google your book titles along with the words, "Guided Reading Level," and find several locations such as Scholastic and sometimes Amazon that will give book levels.

Hope this helps you get your students on the level.

Off to look up another title...

Reading Workshop in a Nutshell

You might just have yourself a top-notch reading workshop in your classroom if...

You have a quick mini-lesson that makes a strong teaching point in 15 minutes or less.

Your students have 40 minutes to quietly read books on their level.

You take time to confer with some students one-on-one each day.

You meet with 1 to 2 reading groups per day offering a strong guided reading opportunity.

You frequently gather for a teacher or student share time at the end of the workshop.

You read-aloud to your students in and out of the workshop daily!

Show Students Your Love of Reading!

Do you LOVE to read?  Share your love with your students. As your students are reading quietly during class,  do you ever take a moment to join them?  Let your excitement about your latest book show. Demonstrate the joy that's possible by getting truly LOST in a book.  It's contagious!  Like
a good yawn...Now stop yawning and go grade another paper.  Better yet...Plan a great lesson!

A Fresh New Year

Most of us enjoy a fresh start!  Isn't this what appeals to us about a NEW YEAR?

As a teacher and office supply nut, I enjoy a fresh, untouched piece of paper.  And who can resist a sharp new pencil?  Put the two together and the possibilities are endless!

What's your preference? Opening a new book?  First to dig into the peanut butter?  Or perhaps a walk on untouched snow?

Even though you've had your students (most likely) for a few months already, you are still entitled to a fresh start in the classroom!  In fact you know a little about what you are dealing with and can set more specific goals for yourself.  If you are so inclined.  Just saying.  We have been "handed" a fresh new year!  What will you do with it?

May your 2011 be FULL of opportunity and growth!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!