Reader's Theater

To increase fluency, I am using a research-based strategy called Reader's Theater. Students each get a short play to read out loud. They practice several times before performing in front of the group. The increased practice helps students become more confident in their reading and more fluent. They are better able to read with expression and fluency.

In all fairness

One of the things I pride myself on is fairness. I think it is important to be fair with students. This does not mean all students will be treated the same. They are all different, and I treat them as such. But I know that I am human. I can not be everywhere, and I can not see everything. Sometimes I make mistakes. I admit it. One of the things I tell students is if they have a question, or feel I have made a mistake; they are to calmly speak to me about it. Tell me what happened. I am not afraid to admit my mistakes, even to a child. Even to you. I spoke recently to a parent and child about this. I just wanted to share.

Strategic Grouping

While students are completing their daily 5 routines, this frees my time up. I am able to pull small groups of students to my table to work on skills they need. Students work independently or in pairs to focus on select skills. When the skill has been retaught, they are able to retake tests to hopefully replace their low scores. Other students recieve small group enrichment to keep their grades and interest high. Students are also able to meet with me individually so that I can listen to them read and monitor their progress, high or low.

Daily 5

I am so excited to say that Daily 5 is underway. We have all five dailies introduced. During reading, students choose between five reading activities we call "dailies". They may choose to Read to Self, Read to Someone, Listen to Reading, Word Work, and Work on Writing. Students are responsible for doing two dailies each day and each daily twice a week. For accountability, students must complete the word work activity and show what they have done independently in work on writing. Here's a picture of what we do.