Friday, August 29, 2008
Writing Academy Huge Success
The Writing Academy Workshop was a huge success! We're looking forward to taking and posting pictures of the strategies at work.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Johnston Team Ready!
On Monday, August 4, 2008 I had a chance to meet and learn with the Johnston Middle School team. This year, they will be implementing Reader's Writer's workshop. (RWW) I'm looking forward to including lots of photos of their journey.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
How Do I Manage Readers Workshop?
Thanks again to Beth Newingham for sharing her best practices. The Scholastic article, "Classroom Management in Reader's Workshop" gives some practical tips on keeping Workshop time, focused, managed, and productive. Ideas include rotating special spaces, creating a weekly checkout bag or book box, so student perusing doesn't take the place of reading, and pictures of sticky note Reading Notebooks! View more pictures on how to manage your classroom reading workshops.
How Do I Organize My Classroom Library?
Photos and Tips of Classroom Libraries
Veteran teacher, Beth Newingham has great pictures of how her classroom library is organized. There isn't a hyperlink, so once you enter the site, go to the left hand index, and click on Classroom Library. Once you get to the library, make sure to click on the link that says, "Click here to read more about how the books are organized and leveled!" There's lots of great photos. She includes information on how she levels books, as well as the templates she uses to label the baskets. Other great "to know's" includes dual book storage areas, magazine racks, as well as photos of the student bins for keeping track of the materials that they are working on.
Mandy Gregory, another top notch educator and internet poster, also provides practical information for setting up a classroom library, as well as the resources needed to make it happen.
Cataloging Books: Online and Offline Resources
Beth Newingham has a spreadsheet of her books that can be downloaded for free. Use the template to keep track of your own library collection.
Library Thing is an online cataloging resource, and includes reading level information, and connects you to others who have the same book. Take a tour! You can catalog up to 200 for free, or pay $25.00 for a lifetime membership.
Shelfari is another online cataloging resource and social networking site that revolves around books.
Leveling Books: What size do you wear?
Leveling Books is the same as sizing clothes and having students "try 'em on". As the teacher, we have to guide children to the "right rack". Growing children don't stay in the same size for long, and practicing readers don't either. Just as fashion trends come and go, so do students interests. This handy leveling chart shows the correlation between Guided Reading, DRA, and Lexile. Eduplace and Houghton Mifflin have also created a conversion chart that corresponds to Reading Recovery, and the Stage of Reader. Another comprehensive leveling chart that also includes the corresponding writing stage, along side the reading level, comes from the state of Utah. Looking to find out more information about what kids like? Ask them to pop on the internet and surf. Usually, they'll type in their favorite topic.
Veteran teacher, Beth Newingham has great pictures of how her classroom library is organized. There isn't a hyperlink, so once you enter the site, go to the left hand index, and click on Classroom Library. Once you get to the library, make sure to click on the link that says, "Click here to read more about how the books are organized and leveled!" There's lots of great photos. She includes information on how she levels books, as well as the templates she uses to label the baskets. Other great "to know's" includes dual book storage areas, magazine racks, as well as photos of the student bins for keeping track of the materials that they are working on.
Mandy Gregory, another top notch educator and internet poster, also provides practical information for setting up a classroom library, as well as the resources needed to make it happen.
Cataloging Books: Online and Offline Resources
Beth Newingham has a spreadsheet of her books that can be downloaded for free. Use the template to keep track of your own library collection.
Library Thing is an online cataloging resource, and includes reading level information, and connects you to others who have the same book. Take a tour! You can catalog up to 200 for free, or pay $25.00 for a lifetime membership.
Shelfari is another online cataloging resource and social networking site that revolves around books.
Leveling Books: What size do you wear?
Leveling Books is the same as sizing clothes and having students "try 'em on". As the teacher, we have to guide children to the "right rack". Growing children don't stay in the same size for long, and practicing readers don't either. Just as fashion trends come and go, so do students interests. This handy leveling chart shows the correlation between Guided Reading, DRA, and Lexile. Eduplace and Houghton Mifflin have also created a conversion chart that corresponds to Reading Recovery, and the Stage of Reader. Another comprehensive leveling chart that also includes the corresponding writing stage, along side the reading level, comes from the state of Utah. Looking to find out more information about what kids like? Ask them to pop on the internet and surf. Usually, they'll type in their favorite topic.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)