Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Video Clips for Writer's Workshop
If you're looking for the video clips on writer's workshop, you can find them here:
(mini-lesson, conferences, author's chair)
(mini-lesson, conferences, author's chair)
SSR Conferences
Sustained Silent Reading should be a daily part of the Four-Blocks classroom. Conferring is imperative for this to be effective.
Students who spent more time in silent reading at school increased their independent reading levels, scored higher on comprehension tests, had significantly higher grade point averages, and developed more sophisticated writing styles than peers who did not engage in silent reading.
Block, C.C. & Mangieri, J.N. (2002) Recreational Reading: 20 years later. The Reading Teacher, 55, 572-580.
Guided Reading
Mini-Lesson: (10 minutes)
During Reading: (20 minutes)
The students need to be reading during this time. Partner reading is very effective -- one person reads a paragraph, the other summarizes, asks a question, connects .... does SOMETHING to demonstrate comprehension of the text. Partners take turns reading/comprehending. This is an opportune time for the teacher to listen to each student read each day.
After Reading: (10 minutes)
Students demonstrate understanding of the concept taught during the mini-lesson.
After Reading Ideas
In the after reading part of Guided Reading, students demonstrate understanding of mini-lesson taught. These can be scored with a simple rubric similar to:
Scoring Rubric (modified from Robert Marzano)
(Advanced) 4 - In addition to 3.0 performance, in-depth inferences and applications that go beyond what was taught (read).
(Proficient) 3 - No major errors or omissions regarding any of the information (simple or complex) that was explicitly taught.
(Basic) 2 - No major errors or omissions regarding the simpler details and processes but major errors or omissions regarding the more complex ideas and processes.
(Below Basic) 1 - With help, a partial understanding of some of the simpler details and processes and some of the more complex ideas and processes.
0 - Even with help, no understanding or skill demonstrated
RtI

Response to Intervention (RtI) - They key word is INTERVENTION. We should be meeting the needs of most of our students (80%) through differentiated classroom instruction. What about the other 20% -- How are you intervening and monitoring the growth of the top two tiers in your classroom?
RtI Components:
- Screening
- Tiers of Instruction
- Progress Monitoring
- Decision Making Rules
- Fidelity Indicators (adherence, exposure, quality of delivery, participant responsiveness, program differentiation)
FREE Websites to assist with RtI:
Florida Center for Reading Research
The Florida Center for Reading Research is one tool you'll definitely want to check out. http://www.fcrr.org/SCASearch/
Directions:
1. Select a grade range from the options below (e.g., 2-3).
2. Select Phonemic Awareness, Phonics, Fluency, Vocabulary, or Comprehension, and then check the subcomponents you wish to search.
3. Click on Show Results to see a list of matches for your search criteria. (Not every possible combination will produce a match.)
4. Search results may be sorted by clicking on the column headings.
5. Click on Activity Name to view or print an activity or routine in PDF format.
5. The “New Search” button will clear your previous search criteria.
Reading Interventions to Improve Comprehension
FREE Math Worksheet Maker
If you have a child needing extra practice with a specific math skill, you can make FREE customizable worksheets to send home for extra practice at http://www.superkids.com/aweb/tools/math/. You don't even have to create an account. :o)
Free computation worksheet maker: http://www.superkids.com/aweb/tools/math/
Strategies to Improve Mathematical Fluency:
- Cover-Copy-Compare (free flashcard maker)
- Incremental Rehearsal
- Problem Interspersal
- Self-Monitoring & Performance Feedback
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
2010 M.A.P. Test
This is just a heads-up on the 2010 M.A.P. test.
There will NOT be embedded items in Communication Arts or Math this year. All questions on the test will be factored in the students' scores.
Also, there will ONLY be FOUR constructed response questions on each 3rd - 6th grade Communication Arts and Math tests. 3rd Grade CA will also have a writing prompt and 4th grade Math will have a performance event.
For more details, check out page two of October's edition of the TOSA Tribune.
There will NOT be embedded items in Communication Arts or Math this year. All questions on the test will be factored in the students' scores.
Also, there will ONLY be FOUR constructed response questions on each 3rd - 6th grade Communication Arts and Math tests. 3rd Grade CA will also have a writing prompt and 4th grade Math will have a performance event.
For more details, check out page two of October's edition of the TOSA Tribune.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Monday, September 14, 2009
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Plethora of Reading Ideas
Heather Pearce, a 4th grade teacher, shared this site with me: http://www.readwritethink.org/student_mat/index.asp. Lori Elliott also linked it on her blog last year: http://www.lorislatestlinks.com/2008/10/using-technology-to-enhance-reading.html. I've used http://www.readwritethink.org/ before but never directly from the first link above. It simplifies the site!
I've hyperlinked a few items from it below. It's DEFINITELY worth your time.
I've hyperlinked a few items from it below. It's DEFINITELY worth your time.
- Bio Cube:
- http://readwritethink.org/materials/bio_cube/
- Trading Cards:
- http://readwritethink.org/materials/trading_cards/
- Circle Plot:
- http://readwritethink.org/materials/circle-plot/
- Create Comic Strip:
- http://www.readwritethink.org/materials/comic/
- Compare/Contrast Map:
- http://www.readwritethink.org/materials/compcontrast/map/
- Idioms:
- http://www.readwritethink.org/materials/idioms/
Friday, September 4, 2009
4th Grade Writer's Workshop - Beginning of Year
Mini-Lesson: Using a graphic organizer to write a narrative - day three
Writing Conferences
Author's Chair
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