READING GROUPS

Welcome to a new school year! I am currently procrastinating studying for my reading test next Saturday by posting information for you about reading.  It seems fitting. 

   

      This summer I completed a two year reading endorsement program through Portland State and coordinated by our district.  Thirty teachers in our district chose to do 24 graduate level college credits to expand their expertise in reading instruction.  I have learned even more to help your child become a better reader.  In our class we use something called The Daily Five.Put simply, the Daily Five is a way of structuring the reading block so every student is independentlyengaged in meaningful literacy tasks. These research based tasks are ones that will have the biggestimpact on student reading and writing achievement, as well as help foster children who love to readand write. During the reading block hour, students receive explicit whole group instruction, work in small groups with the teacher focusing on the specific needs of each group, practice their new skills during independent reading time and then work on word development or what we call word work.  Prior to the reading block we have writers workshop.  The final part of the Daily Five model is allowing students time to read to someone and listen to reading. 

     These are sprinkled through out the day.  The goal is that each day students will be engaged in:

       Reading to Self Working on Writing Reading to Someone Listening to Reading Word Wor

      



There are very specific behavior expectations that go with each Daily 5 component. We will spend our first weeks working intensely on building our reading and writing stamina, learning the
behaviors of the Daily 5 and fostering our classroom community. I will also spend time learning about your child’s strengths through writing samples, a decoding and reading comprehension assessment called the BAS (Benchmark Assessment System) as well as diagnostic assessments with Dibels and high frequency words. Once I have had an opportunity to read with your student I will share their reading level with you so that you can shop for books at their level, if you so choose.   Also, for those who want to know what can I do to help my student, please check out the Google Slides presentation I made just for you. 

I hope to see you at back to school night where we can talk more and I can answer any questions you
may have.

          Brigitte