What's Happening in 2A?: Literacy Changes

Sunday, January 31, 2010

Literacy Changes

As I promised after the new year, I have made some changes to our Daily 5 routine. So far the students seem to be enjoying them!! Hopefully they keep up the enthusiasm.

Each student has an assigned day when they need to do Raz-Kids during Listen to Reading. This is an online program that we are fortunate to have access to. I have entered each student into the computer and also entered their reading level. When it's their turn they need to go online and find their name. They have a list of books they need to complete, in any order. They need to listen to the book and follow along, read the book aloud, and then take a quiz over the book. The best part is...they get to earn points for each part completed!! These points go towards their spaceship!!

Secondly, students are recording a weekly podcast using Garageband. They need to practice 1 book in their reading tub for a week. They are supposed to use expression and be accurate. They are supposed to practice the book daily so they are well prepared to record. Each student records on his/her sharing day. Austin, Jenna, and Kael recorded on Friday. I am in the process of putting these on our 2A website. Hopefully I will have this done by tomorrow!

Thank you for reading with your child at home. I really appreciate your support. I am really proud of my 2A readers!!

1 comment:

UnknownFebruary 9, 2010 at 1:58 PM
Libby has been talking about this - very neat twist on the daily 5 and great use of technology!
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Comprehension Skills and Strategies

Distinguish Fact and Opinion: Your child learned that facts are statements that can be proved. Opinions are what someone believes. The words I believe, I think, and in my view are clues that someone is expressing an opinion. Most students are able to state a fact; however, opinions are more challenging. Please practice this at home.

Sequence Events: Sequence is the order in which event take place. Clue words such as first, next, then, and last help readers know when events occur. When your child is summarizing have them sequence the events using the clue words.

Make Inferences: This is a strategy that readers use to understand what they are reading. When making an inference, readers need to fill in information that the author did not include. Readers must combine what they know with details from the text.
Pictures and words (text clues) + background knowledge (what we know) = an inference

Summarize: A summary is a paragraph or a statement in your own words that gives the most important ideas from the text that was read. Step 1: find the main ideas from the selection. Step 2: shorten and combine those ideas.

Categorize and Classify: We can categorize and classify objects, evens, ideas, and characters by how they are alike and how they fit into groups. When students are reading they can find types of things that are similar and group them into the same category.

Monitor Comprehension: Students must ALWAYS monitor their comprehension while they are reading. If they don't understand what was read they need to reread it. When readers are confused they can use "fix-up" strategies. Here is a list of those strategies:
*reread more slowly
*look up words
*read on
*use picture clues
*summarize
*ask for help