What a wonderful Christmas tradition this would be!  Merry Christmas everyone!!!

Teaching reading also teaches thinking!!

Building a reader

This article has some fabulous inspiration for talking to those learning to read (our students or our children). It gives ideas of how to build the confidence that is crucial to becoming a reader!  

http://www.literacyworldwide.org/blog/literacy-daily/2015/12/08/be-a-mirror-give-readers-feedback-that-fosters-a-growth-mindset

Oral Reading

We all know round robin reading is an ineffective teaching strategy (in terms of fluency, deciding and comprehension) but what do teachers do to replace it?  Here are some great reminders of what can be done instead:

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/alternatives-to-round-robin-reading-todd-finley?utm_content=blog&utm_campaign=alternatives-round-robin-reading&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=socialflow&utm_term=link

Rising STARS

Davison Elementary School’s Rising STARS (Students Achieving Reading Success) After School Reading Program

Davison Elementary School is currently running its third year of Rising STARS – An after school reading program targeted at struggling readers as identified by their teachers. Students are paired one on one with a high school mentor from Melville Comprehensive School. Meeting twice a week, the partners spend an hour reading a variety of texts, practicing spelling and writing strategies and playing an assortment of literacy games.

Both students and mentors gain valuable lessons through this program. Our students are given a pressure-free environment to practice the reading skills that they are learning in the classroom with guidance from their mentor. Mentors are given the opportunity to build a relationship with their buddy, develop leadership skills, and model responsibility to their buddies. Upon completion of our program, both mentors and buddies leave the program with a sense of success.

This program was funded through grants in our initial year from SIGMA and the Early Literacy Foundation. With these organizations’ generous contributions, we were able to purchase a wide assortment of texts (a variety of genres and levels) so we have our own collection of books for students to choose from. We were also able to purchase many different literacy games (scrabble, boggle, bananagrams, etc…) and other manipulatives and supplies to provide our students with the opportunity to practice all literacy skills. Every year, we ask for muffin donations from our school community so that when our buddies and mentors meet they can socialize and develop their relationship, as well as get rid of any hungry tummies that might distract from the task of reading. We are never disappointed with the number of donations that are received.

To date, we have had over 40 buddies and 40 mentors participate in this program. We look forward to continuing our success with this program in the years to come!  

Give them a reason to read!

In 501 we were using vocabulary words to make predictions about non-fiction books. Through our inquiry, the students identified tricky words. Mrs Waldbauer and I posted the words at the end of our lesson and challenged the students to locate the meaning of the words using the writers tools. Before the class was over the kids were already trying to search for the definition. Give them a reason to read and they will!!

Motivating Readers!

Helping students to feel motivated is always a struggle....especially if a child chooses a book which may be of high interest but not quite the right level. This article is an interesting viewpoint of this struggle. 

http://mobile.edweek.org/c.jsp?cid=25919971&bcid=25919971&rssid=25919961&item=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.edweek.org%2Fv1%2Few%2F%3Fuuid%3D0D60596A-6B6D-11E5-8A22-71C9B3743667

Non-fiction predictions

Toady in 601 we used non fiction books to help us predict. To start with when I told the, I chose words from the glossary someone right away said they must be non-fiction since that is a text feature. That opened up for us a discussion on text features in books. In groups of 3 they read five vocabulary words and then made some predictions about 1 of 6 mystery books. They made predictions on the vocabulary.  By the time they were dome they made predictions that the books were about animals.  Some had started to categorize the animals on vertebrate and invertebrate. It also provided us the chance to connect to science and learn some new vicabulary as we'll. each group made one final prediction on the topic of their choice and together do a written response to support their thinking. 

 

Online reading

It's interesting to think that we live in a time when online reading is an essential skill. Why not teach these skills to our students!  I particularly like the small group fish bowl approach. 

http://www.literacyworldwide.org/blog/literacy-daily/2015/10/02/showing-what-they-know-with-online-reading-strategies

Classroom Libraries

I had the opportunity to help the grade 601 class explore their classroom library. We took this tome to also practice choosing a "good fit" book. The students went a book scavenger hunt looking for one too easy book, one too hard book bad two just right books. 

 

Sask Reads has some great information about classroom libraries. https://saskatchewanreads.wordpress.com/the-classroom-library/

The First Few Weeks...

This article is a good reminder about some of the little people in our classrooms.  It's so much easier to make an assumption about a student than it is to get to the rot of some behavioural issues. A line that stood out for me is "there is no tired like teacher tired in the first weeks of school. No matter how tired we are or how little voice we have left, those faces return to is each and every morning, their wide eyes begging us to dig deeper, to identify them beyond the label". I can totally relate!!  Maybe you can too!  

http://www.literacyworldwide.org/blog/literacy-daily/2015/09/09/getting-past-assumptions

For the Love of Literacy!!

Welcome to For the Love of Literacy!  This blog is to serve many purposes.  My main goal of this blog is to have a forum in which I can share articles, information and stories about what I am reading about and doing to inspire literacy within other classrooms.  Sometimes all you need is a spark to create a fire of ideas.  I want the people I work with to have a fire and passion for literacy as bright as I do.  Students can sense our enthusiasm and love for a topic, a class or a part of the day.  I want them to feel that excitement and be engaged in all things literacy related!

At Davison Elementary School, we have decided what we value about literacy:

• READING IS FUN!
• ALL STUDENTS CAN BE READERS.
• READING OPENS DOORS FOR LIFE.

I truly believe in our school's values and want to support our staff and students to see these values to reality.

A second purpose of this blog is to document my journey as a Literacy Interventionist.  This is a new role for me.  I am very excited about the challenges and joys that this position may bring.  As this is a new position, I am still figuring out exactly what my role will look like but will be striving towards the following goals:

• Celebrate learners strengths
• Collaborate with all members of our school community
• Share my own knowledge and practices
• Read and discuss professional texts and reflect
• Provide families with motivating literacy information
• Make literacy engaging, enjoyable and relevant!

It is my sincere hope that through the use of this blog, I will be able to be transparent as I work towards (and fumble through) reaching each of these goals. I hope that you are able to join me on this journey!