The Next Step in Guided Reading - Chapter 6 and a FREEBIE!

This was a loooooonnnnnnggggg chapter!  Considering I teach 1st grade, the majority of my students are not at this level.  Every once in a while I'll get one or two, but a lot of this just went in my memory bank in case I ever switch grade levels, tutor, or move into a different position.  I still really enjoyed reading this chapter!  What did you all think?

1.  What part of the reading caught your attention?  Maybe it's something you never thought about.  Maybe it's something that you've been trying to get a grip on.  Maybe it's something that you've never heard quite they way it was put.

I noticed that with the fluent level, a large majority of the focus is on vocabulary and comprehension.  I knew it would take a hard look at comprehension, but I wasn't expecting the heavy emphasis on vocabulary.  But it makes so much sense!  Vocabulary is always a skill that can be taught, no matter what level a person is on.  Even adults can refine their vocabulary skills!

I was also captured by the VIP strategy.  A lot of my higher readers struggle with identifying the most important parts.  They get so caught up in the details that they miss the bigger picture!  I like the idea of having the small sticky notes on hand so that they can flag it when they read it.

2.  How do you already incorporate this into your guided reading routine?  There's probably at least some part of the chapter that you're already doing!  Tell us about it!

Even though my students aren't this high, we still focus a lot on comprehension.  We will occasionally stop during our reading and check our comprehension.  We also have a chat after reading the book about different aspects of the story.  I typically try to ask a lot of green (literal) and red (inferential) questions.

3.  What is something new you want to try next school year?  How do you want to make your guided reading time better or what new things do you want to try?

I want to try and incorporate more yellow questions when we discuss the book.  Some of my higher groups could totally handle this.  I also love the idea of the reading notebooks for vocabulary recording, comprehension notes, and guided writing.  I probably won't have the opportunity to use this a lot since I teach 1st grade, but I'm glad I read it so that I know what to do in case I have kids at this level!

4.  What are some resources that you ALREADY HAVE that you can use to teach what you read about in this chapter/section?

I have these retelling cubes that I love!  I actually use them with all of my groups.  Retell a Story Cubes

For nonfiction, I just wrote some simple questions on large popsicle sticks and put them in a cup.  The students draw one out and answer the question.

5.  What are some NEW resources that you want to get or try to use to teach what you read about in this chapter/section?

Reading notebooks are the biggest thing I'd want to have on hand during fluent level groups.  Staples has a deal on notebooks for $0.17!  I got 24 for $4 and some change AND free shipping!  You should really snatch them if you think you'll use them!  This is seriously a great deal!

Staples Notebook Sale

I put together a little freebie for you all today!  Remember those green, yellow, and red questions?  Well, I made a little question card ring for reference during your groups.  You can make one for each student, have one at your guided reading table, or have it on hand for YOURSELF to remember what types of questions to ask!  :)  Click on the following link, photograph, or picture to download!  Enjoy!  :)

Traffic Light Questions

See you next week for the LAST chapter of The Next Step in Guided Reading!  Woohoo!

Focus Wall and a Freebie!

Hey bloggy friends!  Long time, no see!  Let me tell you, getting into the groove of this year has been C-R-A-Z-Y!  After 3 weeks of gathering baseline data from a boatload of assessments (Metropolitan, Reading Street Baseline Test, Fluency checks, 18-page math assessment, Houghton-Mifflin word checks, and AIMSWeb), I think I'm finally ready to roll and get this year started!  Baseline data is so important (like, uber-important!), but I'm SO glad when it's all over and I get to actually TEACH!  I feel like I know so much about my students now and know where to go.

By the way, I was going to update my blog one night a couple weeks ago, but right as I sat down to start (literally...not joking...) my dog bit me!!!!  She's a chiweenie and the sweetest thing ever.  I think between my 15-month-old, moving into a new home, and me going back to work, the poor thing was depressed and lashed out.  It was my fault because she guarding a toy and I went in behind her (big no-no) and tried to grab it.  She bit my forearm.  It bruised immediately and she gave me a nice little puncture wound that bled for 4 hours.  The next day I made a trip to Urgent Care to get a tetanus shot and get it cleaned up.  Fun stuff.  The health department came to our home last week to check on her and she's in the clear!  :)  Soooo....there's been my last 2 weeks....on top of starting school!  :P

I wanted to share a couple pictures of my focus wall this year.  This is the first year I've done one.  I put up our spelling words, vocabulary words, high-frequency words (in addition to on our word wall), amazing words, reading comprehension skill, and reading strategy skill.  It's SO helpful to have those things in plain view for the students to reference.  I purposely do NOT have the actual comprehension skill answered on my posters because I like the students to come to those conclusions on their own or through discussion, instead of seeing it on a poster already given to them.  For example, for 3rd grade, the main idea of "Penguin Chick" is that penguins do a lot to take care of their young.  I won't put that on my "Main Idea" poster.  Instead, I'll give another example that's completely clear of the story.  Then they can see an example and apply it to what their reading.  I hope that makes sense.  So if you're one who uses my Reading Street packets and ever wondered why I do that, there's your answer.  :)

Ok, here are some pics.  I honestly don't have a lot of bulletin boards, so I have to squeeze stuff in all over the place.  :P  This is actually a blackboard/marker board that I covered with material.  My pocket chart and Job Jar have large magnets on the back, so they just stick right up there.  I hot-glued vinyl sleeve pockets for my Focus Wall posters.  Each week I can just slide the new papers in and out!  It's so much better than using sticky-tack every week.  So much quicker!

Here's a close-up of my posters.

This is a great pocket chart I got from Really Good Stuff.  It's magnetic and the perfect size!

Last, but not least, I created a little freebie for you!  I made these to include in one of my 3rd grade Reading Street packets and thought I'd share them.  :)  They're Character Profiles.  I made a boy and girl one, so enjoy!  :)  Just click on them to download and print.

Have a GREAT week!  :) :) :)

Teacher Binder and a FREEBIE!

Ok, for real I'm back.  You see, my computer kind of bit the dust.  Sooooo....we got our tax return money on Friday and went out and bought a Mac on Saturday.  :D  This is one happy girl right here.  That means so much more time for blogging!  Yahoo!!!!

Real quick...I posted a 5-W worksheet in my TpT store.  I was glancing through the Common Core Standards and noticed how it mentioned the 5 W's a couple times, so I whipped something up real quick.  It's nothing special, but it's a resource!  The best part?  It's FREE!  Man, what a good day... You can get it here!

I don't know about you, but I'm so Type A it isn't even funny.  No really, it's pretty annoying.  Everything has a place, everything has a label, everything is color-coordinated, everything is straight, everything is written down, everything is...perfect...well, you know that's not true.  It can't be.  But boy do I do everything to try to make it happen, therefore driving myself CRAZY in the process.

So I got this nifty idea to create "Mrs. Kirby's Teacher Binder" where I keep absolutely everything in one place, all spelled out.  If I ever have a sub, she/he needs to look no further than this thing.

In the front left pocket I keep my checklist of things to do each week.  Things to create, things to copy, things to update...it helps keep my brain in order.  :P  Then the first section is "General Procedures".  I have a sheet for every possible thing they may need to know about during the course of a typical day.  There is a sheet for Basic Classroom Information, Homeroom Seating Chart, Math Seating Chart, Morning Procedures, Reading Intervention Procedures, Math Procedures, Centers Procedures, Specials Procedures, End of Day Procedures, and a 2-Hour Delay Lunch Schedule.  Yep, that about covers everything!

Next is the Technology Information section.  I put together "A Sub's Guide to the Promethean Board" with basic info on how to run the thing.  That's first.  Then I also have usernames and passwords for Study Island and AR, iPad info, AIMSweb directions, and a PowerTeacher Quick Entry Tips section.  Remember, this binder is also for me!  Anything I would need to know on any given day is included in this binder.

Then we have the Lesson Plan section!  You guessed it...lesson plans.  I use a template created by Beth Newingham.  You can find it here.  You have to go down the "Miscellaneous" section and you can find it under "Lesson Plan Template."

The Calendar section is next!  At the front of the section is our district calendar.  Then I have monthly calendars.  Busy Teacher's Cafe has the cutest printable calendars to fill in and print for FREE!  Check it out!

Student Information is next.  In this section, I have a copy of AIMSweb scores for my class, writing scores for each unit for each student, a reading fluency progress chart for each unit, and weekly fluency scores.

Next is a section simply for notes from Staff/Student Meetings.

Finally we have the PLC Notes!  Whenever we meet together as a grade level, I jot down some notes and then can find them easily.  :)

There we have it!  My daily life in one spot!  Hopefully I've inspired some of you to get a little more organized and be a blessing to your sub!  Being organized makes you FEEL good!  :)  And who doesn't want that?

Blessings...

Tired Words

I'm so excited about my new creation!  It took me way longer to do this than I anticipated, but it's FINALLY done!  With some inspiration from my Daily 6 Traits book and Pinterest, I give you....TIRED WORDS!  I loved the idea of Dead Words, but I felt that was more "halloweenish" and wanted something that fit in a little better throughout the whole year.  So I put together a little boy in his bed (I'm not very artsy, so I apologize it's not very cute :P) and then I typed up overused words into "dream clouds".  I put the title on paper and cut it into pillows.  Then I hot glued everything to the wall!

Now, I know the first thing my students will ask is, "Mrs. Kirby, what can I use instead?"  I got the idea from Pinterest (quite the obsession) and put other options on popsicle sticks.  I ordered the pockets from Oriental Trading.  :)

Click HERE to download the "Dream Clouds."

Writing Rubric

I despise grading writing.  I feel like it's so hard to grade sometimes!  I couldn't take it anymore.  I HAD to come up with a rubric for extended response questions.  One of our grade-level goals is to achieve 3 points on a 4-point rubric for extended response questions in preparation for the Ohio Achievement Assessment.  Even though my 2nd graders don't take the OAA, we start preparing them in KINDERGARTEN for this goal!  Every grade level has an extended response goal and a math goal.  SO....all that to say, I needed a quick, concrete, black-and-white (as black and white as you can get with writing) way to grade extended response questions.  I had been using a general writing rubric that could be used with ANY writing, but I felt it didn't measure the information I needed.  Here is the rubric in case you'd like to use it!  I graded some papers with it today and so far it has made the grading process MUCH less painful and a whole lot more valid, in my opinion.  :)

Click HERE to download the file.