Winter break is upon us! The break allows both teachers and students to renew their spirits and summon the tenacity that will surely be needed to complete the school year. Yet, during the academic down time, it is important to help our students maintain their motivation to read. Consequently, we ask: How do we keep kids reading during winter break when a book is in competition with their favorite toy? Here are a few ideas that could possibly spark their interest and put some fire in their engines during the down time.

• First and foremost, send a book home! What better gift to give than the one that keeps on giving...a book! 
• Encourage students to write a book review that they can bring to school upon their return to share with the class. (Book Review Link (online) or Written format based on an anchor chart)
• Use the book reviews to spark Book Talks! Easing back into the swing of things post winter break can be a challenging task to say the least, so why not plan to have book talks using the students' book reviews. Undoubtedly, the students will be engaged because they have a buy-in.
• Spark a friendly competition with a neighboring class! Challenge the students to read at least 3 or more books over winter break. The given number may sound minimal; however, give them a goal that won't seem too unattainable then they will hopefully strive to surpass it.  Also, remember 3x18 (average number of students in a class) will mean that your class can possibly read 45 books over the break!
• Encourage your students to learn more about 1 topic that they may have interest in. Have them to list the new facts in a fun way. Certainly they will have to read via internet or a book to gather the information. 

Try one or more these helpful tips to help keep your students motivated to read and progressing toward their reading goals during the winter break. 

Teacher Tips

Effective Literacy Strategies at your fingertips!

What can I do with a Read Aloud?

Implement formative assessment strategies to monitor comprehension such as:  

• Questioning
• Whiteboard Responses
• Reader's’ Response Journals
• Stop and Jots
• Turn and Talk with Observation
• Cite Text Evidence based upon questioning at the end of the Read Aloud

Questions to Ponder as you plan:

Why is reading aloud important for formative assessment?

• What is a read aloud routine?
• How do I collect formative assessment data during a read aloud?
• How do I provide feedback to students?
• How can students monitor their own learning during a read aloud?

Formative Assessment Strategy:

Student Responses on Whiteboards and Response Journals in use during a Read Aloud

How does this strategy look in action?

Resources for Formative Assessment in Balanced Literacy

Off to a Great Start!

As the beginning of the school year approaches, every stakeholder in the learning process would like to give students the best possible start as they embark on a new year of learning. One of the best, and perhaps the most significant way to afford students to a successful school year is to immerse them in a literacy rich classroom environment. Research has shown that reading is a fundamental skill that defines the success or failure of students (Reading Rockets, 2017). By creating a classroom that facilitates and emphasizes the importance of speaking, reading and writing you are enabling your students a successful start. Creating a literacy rich environment not only involves reflection and thoughtful design, but it also requires thoughtful selection of classroom materials that will facilitate language and literacy opportunities.
Read More...

The Need for Interdisciplinary Studies in Classrooms

As we interact daily in our world and within our society it is rare that we encounter individuals or circumstances in isolation. For example, if I go to the grocery store, I won't be able to shop without engaging in reading, math, and possibly other disciplines while I am there. If I even attempt to try to handle my shopping experience in isolated facets, such as reading to find the items on my shopping list and then returning to the list to determine the cost of all of the items I collected, it would not only make my experience more frustrating but also time consuming to say the least.

Likewise, we cannot afford to teach our students in an isolated fashion. When students are questioned about the various disciplines that they study in school, it is quite disturbing to hear them speak of their learning as, " Oh, we are doing math right now and later we will do reading." 😚 There is indeed a growing need for a more interdisciplinary curriculum in our schools. We are doing our students a disservice to continue separate subject areas of learning as unrelated bodies of knowledge. This grave disconnect is not allowing our students to see how school is related to not only their current lives, but their future lives as well. The school day has become so fragmented that students and teachers alike are simply going through the motions and not grasping or grappling with what school should and need to be about, which is interrelated knowledge that can easily be transferred into the lives of the individuals that we teach! We have to bridge the gaps of teaching and learning. Balanced Literacy sets the stage for interdisciplinary studies. Yet, it is important that our pedagogy reflects the fluidity of the structure. Essentially, it is important that our teaching mirrors less choppiness and more flow!

To learn more and to try to incorporate this approach to teaching in your classroom, follow this link. Also, check out the International Literacy Association's Bridges Units of instruction on Interdisciplinary Studies here.
***Remember to always let your standards/indicators, students, and formative and summative assessment drive your instruction! 😊

World Read Aloud Day is February 16th! Get ready to fall in love with a great book! Follow the link to register.