Dig Deeper when Reading and Responding to Text

Helping students to think deeper about what they are reading can be a laborious task when students lack the necessary tools needed to share their thinking. By incorporating the use of thinking stems, students will have the tools to dig deeper and really ponder the books they are reading as well as give thorough written responses about their connections while reading. Encouraging the use of thinking stems can boost your students' use of reading skills and strategies such as visualizing, inferring, questioning, and synthesizing, among many others. As students continue to use thinking stems, they will gradually become critical thinkers, readers, and writers! Try using these thinking stems and maybe even creating a thinking stems rubric to assess their path to becoming thoughtful readers! 

Resolve to Read!

Each new year brings on new promises and new commitments. Many of those promises feel forced and contrived to join the said "band-wagon" and make resolutions. Yet, how many of those resolutions involve reading? If you really ponder that notion, you will come to the conclusion that most if not all involve reading. So...why not just Resolve to Read even more in 2016?

The average person reads an estimate of 1000 words a day. We encounter words in a variety of modes on a daily basis. From text on television to the text messages we send and receive on our phones, everyday we encounter words. In fact, we are constantly striving to become a literate nation; consequently, we lack a literate focus. Resolving to Read in 2016 with a literate focus can actually enable you to address many of the resolutions that you may have possibly set forth for the New Year. In order to truly accomplish the goals that you have established, work hard to grasp a greater understanding of the goal by learning as much information that you can about it. In essence, start with the end in mind and allow your reading life to provide you with the necessary steps to accomplish your goals!

Keep Kids Reading during Winter Break

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. 

Writing Small Moment Stories

In an effort to help our students become stronger narrative writers, we often have to provide and create "small" manageable tasks to enable them to reach their writing goals.  Small Moment Stories can be an excellent strategy to help our young writers flourish. Elaboration is the key to small moment stories. When creating or writing a small moment story, the story can exhibit some dialogue (not too much), but should provide vivid details about the actions and the feelings of the writer's moment in time. An effective story will remain on topic and the topic will be one that is relative to the writer. In essence, allow the moment to be their moment and not a prescribed topic. The following link, gives you further insight in helping your students write Small Moment Stories.

Writing a Small Moment Story

Launching Writing Workshop

When students struggle with writing, they often feel frustrated and unsuccessful. Helping students to identify their struggles and meeting them where they are is an excellent way to bridge learning gaps. How do we create a recipe to help stimulate intrinsic motivation and effort to enable our students to become better writers? It is imperative that we consider the messages that students write as "words of value." Understanding the deeper content of student writing depends on how we plan, teach, and engage students in the writing process. Although it maybe easier to concentrate on surface level conventions, concrete strategies must be taught so that students will come to the realization that you value their voices and thoughts in their writing efforts.

In launching writing workshop, do you...

• schedule writing daily?
• create a mini lesson meeting and conferring and small group space
• organize and make writing materials accessible to your students
• have clear directives for procedures by displaying a  classroom writing expectation anchor 
• chart
• 
  
• Use Mentor Texts: http://writingfix.com/about_us/books.htm

Consider the following prescribed steps and reap the benefits of creating engaged writers in your classroom!

Still need help...consider establishing writing partners for your students. This will provide more collaborative learning experiences in your classroom. :)

Helpful Links to Literacy Resources

Reading Engagement Inventories and Comprehension Resources

Just Right Books Bookmarks for your Students' Bag of Books

Genre Labels for your Classroom Library

The Power of a Read Aloud

2015 Children's Choices Reading Lists

Writing Resources Link (includes Step Up to Writing Resources also)

Back to SCHOOL!

Welcome back to a new school year! Each year brings on new challenges and a world of opportunities for our students! As you continue to create a home away from home for your students, it is important to create a classroom environment that promotes and values literacy. Cozy nooks for reading, tables with ample supplies for writing, and learning clubs that facilitate opportunities for speaking and listening are just some of the ways that you can encourage and promote effective literacy practices. 

The following link http://www.readingrockets.org/calendar/backtoschool#welcoming will lead you to great resources that will provide you with a wealth of ideas to creating a literacy rich classroom environment and get you off to a great school year!