Another thing to consider (besides these excellent suggestions) is strategy groups. I'm starting to play around with these. I've also read and am using teaching strategies from Taberski's book. Based on my most recent running records and some conferences, as well as what I know about the kids from doing guided reading groups, I form several short-term strategy groups each month. This month, one is made up of 4 of my struggling readers--we're working on specific strategies to figure out long words--they seem to pull up short when they get to one, and not even attempt them. Another group is working on reading fluency, with an emphasis on paying attention to punctuation. All four of these kids are at different levels. Another 3-4 kids have difficulty w/ inferencing questions. This approach has been really effective w/ my kids. I also work with leveled groups as needed, particularly my group who is below grade level.
Melissa/VA/2nd On Jan 30, 2008 12:26 PM, Zey, Melissa <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I hear you!!! It is really hard to be the only one, and it makes it even > more difficult when success is determined by test results. At the same time > we do need data to show progress and guide instruction. It's a double edge > sword! > > Anyway, I know many people mentioned guided reading. Another way is > through your reading conferences. Sharon Taberski has great resources that > address reading workshop and conferencing. By conferencing with students > (who would all be reading "just-right" books) you can tailor your > discussion/lesson to the child's need. You can set individual reading goals > that will challenge all of your students in the areas that they need. > > About half way through the year, I stop doing whole group mini-lessons > because of the varying needs to my students and strictly utilize guided > reading or conferencing as my teaching opportunities. I'm not sure if > that's the way to go, but it has worked so far. > > Melissa Zey > > ________________________________ > > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] on behalf of [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Tue 1/29/2008 7:35 PM > To: mosaic@literacyworkshop.org > Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] reåders workshop > > > > Hi > Hope this isn't too off topic but you are my "go to" people for anything > reading related. > > This is only my second year doing readers workshop (i teach first grade). > The rest of my school still regroups for reading meaning students switch > classes and are grouped homogeneously. They are slowly moving away from > a basal > into readers workshop but I'm really the only one who is implementing it > completely with a heterogeneous group and have been coaching other > teachers in order > to help them get started. I definitely believe in reåders workshop and > believe it is going well but i'm feeling a lot of pressure to make sure my > reading > scores are good to show that it's meeting the needs of my students. > Anyway, > I'm almost done with my January DRA testing. Profecient for now is a 12. > As of now, one third of my class is at a 20 or above and the rest are at 4 > or > below. Many are still on a 2 which isn't even proficient for the end of > Kindergarten. I do have a huge ELL population and am used to having > struggling > readers but the discrepency between my low and high kids is unbelievable. > I've > always had many who fell in the middle and now I don't have anyone in > between > a 4 and a 20. > > My big concern now is how do I plan minilessons to meet the needs of very > very low, and very high kids. They are all reading books on their level > everyday which i will continue to do but I'm at a loss of how to get the > low kids up > without boring the high kids. Please share any ideas. > > Thanks, > Cami > > > ************** > Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape. > > http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aolcmp00300000002489 > _______________________________________________ > Mosaic mailing list > Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. > > Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Mosaic mailing list > Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. > > Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. > > _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive.
