I have a few friends who treat letter writing as an art. What a great way to get kids motivated to write! If you could look forward to receiving items like this in the mail, wouldn’t you be inspired to get creative and write back?
Add comment July 24, 2008
I’ve been using my free time this summer to give more serious attention to the many teaching resources that I’ve added to my bookshelves over the year. I’m fortunate enough to be teaching grade 1 literacy again this coming year and I have high hopes and big plans for what my literacy workshops are going to look like. Based on my first year of classroom experience, I’ve decided to immerse myself in the work of three literacy gurus: Debbie Diller, Debbie Miller, and Lucy Calkins.
I’ve just finished rereading Literacy Work Stations: Making Centres Work by Debbie Diller. What follows is my first draft of literacy work stations that I hope to introduce over the first 6 weeks of grade 1 this fall.
1. Listening Station (2)
-”I Can” instructions card
-labelled basket with baggies for earphones
-labelled basket for books, CD’s in cases, Discmans
-CD player with instructions posted?
2. Overhead Station
-”I Can” instructions card
-basket/binder for transparencies with songs/poems learned
-? Sorts ‡ retells, sounds, etc.
-dry erase markers
3. Poetry Station 2 -”I Can” instructions card
-special pens, paper for copying poems
-bin of poetry books and cards to read
-?pocket chart with poems
4. Working With Words
Station
(initially phonemic awareness, then WordWall) 4 -”I Can” instructions card
-playdough + alphacards in plastic sleeves
-sounds match binders with transparent chips
-hair gel baggies + alphacards (laser copied)
-commercial alphabet memory game
-alphabet feltboards
-wikisticks and crayon
-printing boards and thin dry erase markers
-whiteboards, markers, 1-minute timer
-alphabet stamps, inkpads, 1/2 sheets of paper
-stencils, gel pens, 1/2 sheets of paper
-mini clipboards with lists of new/theme words
-footprints + other flash cards
5. Big Book Station 2 -”I Can” instructions card
-big books, easel
-pointers (umbrella stand?)
-reading the room glasses
-task cards
6. Classroom Library 2 -”I Can” instructions card
-pillows, chair, rugs, stuffies
-whisper phones
7. Fluency Station 2 -”I Can” instructions card
-tape recorder (when working in pod)
-familiar books, poems, songs
-big plastic microphone
-buddy checklists
-puppets (make puppet read story)
8. Writing Station 2 -”I Can” instructions card
-”I can write…” ideas file folders
-fancy paper (in accordian file?)
-special pens
-envelopes
9. Guided Reading Station 4-6 -”I Can” card?
-whisper phones
-stickies
-student folders for RR (magazine file)
-head phones
-RR sheets
-writing implements
-6 whiteboards, dry erase markers, socks
-storage for extra GR books and loaned baggies
Add comment Tagged: literacy, stations July 15, 2008
Wow. Not sure of the original source, but I found this while browsing Holly Nowalk’s site.
Add comment July 12, 2008
The first full week of July and I’m finally settling into vacation mode. I don’t have big plans for July. Most of my plans revolve around organizing all of the boxes of clutter I’ve accumulated over the school year and, of course, making a dent in my reading pile. Pictured here are some of the books I’ll be reading.
I’m experimenting with the Facebook Visual Bookshelf Application for tracking what I’m reading and what I’d like to read, but I’m not linking that application to this one just yet.
Another couple of books that didn’t make the photo are those that I’ve borrowed from OCT’s Margret Wilson Library. This is a great service of the college: select books from the online catalogue, submit your request, and they arrive in the mail! They also come with a postage-paid tag to send them back. I’ve got two bundled and ready to drop in the post tomorrow.
One of the two books I’m returning is Reflective Practice: Writing and Professional Development by Gillie Bolton. I learned quite a bit from this book about the merits of writing and reflecting in order to help me become a better teacher. This week, by some kind of lucky coincidence, I also stumbled across an opportunity to be part of a reflective practice training group this year, and I’m got my registration beside me, ready to be faxed tomorrow. I’ve learned a lot about how writing helps my students become better learners and now it’s time to practice a little of what I’ve been preaching.
Add comment Tagged: books, summer July 6, 2008
Last Tuesday, I took my class to the Donkey Sanctuary of Canada, near Guelph, ON. Although the trip was mostly outside and we took a bit of a gamble with the weather (the rain held off) this really was a great location for a field trip. It got the kids out of the city and gave them hands-on experience with something completely new. I think the trip had a really positive message about humane treatment of animals and the beauty of rural life. What made it incredibly stress-free for me, however, was the fact that we were in a contained environment, so I didn’t have to worry about children getting lost, distracted or separated from the group. The bus travel time was about 30 minutes (just long enough to build anticipation) and we were prepared with activities for the children to do, so there was no chance for boredom. A great day that I’d really like to repeat!
Add comment June 21, 2008
This week, I started the last writing unit of in the Lucy Calkins Units of Study series for K-2: “Poetry - Big Thoughts in Tiny Packages.” My students (and I) are loving it!
There’s no denying that I have a special spot for poetry in my worldview. 4.5 years studying English Lit. is partly to blame. It’s really just FUN though–and I know my students would agree with me on this–to experiment with language. At the grade 1 level, this is the easiest way to do it.
I’m also impressed to see that some of my struggling writers are already excelling with this genre. I’m surprised by who is able to think abstractly and some of the things that come out of their mouths are absolutely beautiful! A personal favourite is a poem about a paper towel: “It sounded like the wind breathing/ when I ripped it.” The wind breathing!!! Oooh…shivers down my spine!
Add comment June 4, 2008
Currently in a distracted report card state.
Writing in partial sentences.
Remembering how much excitement came from those literacy groups I used to run, root for, and love.
….remembering the small moments of big success
….with a shivers-down-my-spine connection those amazing, big-but-small times.
I need to get back there. Somehow. To write that part of my life into this one.
Somehow.
Add comment May 31, 2008
It’s happening. It’s actually happening! Beginning in January, I started reading Jeff Brown’s Flat Stanley books to my class. Serendipitously, the books appeared in the following month’s Scholastic order and several children ordered Flat Stanley books. Now, I’m pleased to hear that several students are reading these books at home and, more importantly, that several of them are doing most of the reading independently! What once was beyond their level is now “just right.” Given a taste for Flat Stanley (and chapter books in general!) they’re developing an addiction.
Watch out. Literacy is contagious. 
Add comment May 14, 2008
I just read something interesting in Marie Clay’s An Observation Survey. Clay points out, that, as teachers become better at conducting running records, error frequencies actually go up. (We’re more likely to catch all the errors. Interesting thought. I wonder if it applies more to readers in the higher levels?)
Also, read some interesting comments about making audio recordings of running records sessions. If played back immediately after conducting a running record, this can provide helpful information with regards to fluency. I’m going to try this with a small group of my struggling readers who have fluency issues.
Add comment April 27, 2008
When I did my undergrad in English, I swore I despised Austen. I had her pegged as “girly and traditional” (quite right, I still think) and thought there was no way I would enjoy reading her work.
Then I actually read some Austen and was embarrassed to admit that I was wrong. While Austen may be “girly and traditional,” her works also show incredible talent and are packed with tiny surprises. Here’s one such surprise I discovered last night, while reading Northanger Abbey:
(Miss Morland and Mr. Tilney are discussing books and literacy.)
Miss Morland: “You think me foolish to call instruction a torment; but if you had been as much used to myself to hear poor little children first learning their letters, and then learning to spell,–if you had ever seen how stupid they could be for a whole morning together, and how tired my poor mother is at the end of it, … you would allow that to torment and to instruct might sometimes be used as synonymous words.”
Mr. Tilney: “Very probably. But…it is very well worth while to be tormented for two or three years of one’s life, for the sake of being able to read all the rest of it.”
Oh, Austen. There’s the “no pain, no gain / delayed gratitude” literacy strategy for you. I’m putting THAT quote in my files for examples of new vs. old in teaching reading.
Jumping around, as I tend to do lately, I should note that I’m on an Austen kick lately, thanks to The Jane Austen Book Club. Viewing (and reviewing) that film has left me inspired to read more of what Austen had to say. It’s funny what motivates people to read. I’ve heard tell of children wanting to read books after they saw the movie, but what about wanting to read the books that their favourite characters in movies are reading? Now there’s an interesting extension. (Just to take the connection one step further, in Northanger Abbey, Catherine Morland is obsessed with Udolpho and gothic fiction. It’s fascinating how one foray into film or literature can be a springboard into another!)
As a p.s. on the poster, “You don’t have to know the books to be in the club.” is a very interesting slogan. Clearly, it’s an attempt to appeal to potential moviegoers who may not also be avid bookreaders, but it’s also an interesting contrast to how seriously Austen’s characters take reading in Northanger Abbey!
Add comment April 21, 2008
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