Sunday, November 12, 2017

Meta-Cognition and Comprehension Strategies

Students need to be metacognitive or “aware of their thinking”.  In fact, this ability is imperative or nonnegotiable if a student is to be a successful reader.  We all have students who are “word callers”.  In fact, a few years ago, I would have called a student who read correctly and with a high level of prosody one of my best readers.  These students are so caught up in figuring out the code they forget they are reading a story. We all know “word callers” who do not know what they read a few seconds after finishing a passage.  How do we make student reading visible?  How do we help students to hold their thinking? Today, I am offering a couple of ideas for holding students’ thinking.


As adults, we may use a close reading technique and read a text several times in order to truly grasp what we are reading.  Students need to realize even adult readers read a text several times to pull out reading. This is what Close Reading looks like for a student.  As always, use gradual release and model this process and your thinking.


  1. Scan the text for the main message, GIST, or main idea. Use text features such as headings, tables, illustrations, etc.
  2. Read once again while annotating the text.  Highlight or use sticky notes to hold important details, thoughts, or questions.  For every highlight, student should have a reason they highlighted (important detail, new word, question, wondering, etc.). Reasons for highlighting may be written in margins or held on a separate piece of paper if reading online. This process aids in student metacognition or their thinking process.
  3. Read one more time...yes, a third time.  Use a graphic organizer to hold thinking.  My favorite organizer is a double entry diary as shown below.  Student can easily make this in their reader’s notebook by drawing a line down the middle of the page. Headings may be personalized for your classroom or subject area.


Facts
My Thinking








Summary of text with original thoughts:



Or FQR strategy below…..


Facts
Questions
Response






Summary

Double/triple entry diary/graphic organizers taken and adjusted from Harvey & Goudvis, Strategies 
That Work, (2nd Ed). 

Thoughts and suggestions are appreciated.

Monday, March 23, 2015

Anchor Charts for Making Meaning

Three anchor charts used for making meaning.

The TIP (term, information, picture) anchor chart is used for student friendly understanding of new vocabulary and  visualizing  interesting words.  Add words to this anchor chart with each read aloud used in your classroom.  Soon students' word consciousness will raise and they will be bringing words to you for the TIP chart.



The Five Finger Retell is a quick turn and talk activity for students to construct meaning from a literacy text.  This form of retell works well for the 'Read to Self' and 'Read to Someone' portions of the Daily 5.

For an informational text, use the thumb for the main idea and the fingers for details that support the main idea.  
Click or Clunk intervention from Intervention Central  is a self monitoring strategy.  Students are not always aware of when meaning breaks down.  Click or clunk raises this awareness and gives students strategies when meaning does break down. After students read a paragraph or page, ask students to retell what they have just read (who and what). If they are able to retell, students say "click."  If not able to retell, students say "clunk."  Each "clunk" is an opportunity for modeling and practicing a comprehension strategy at the word or meaning level.





Thoughts and suggestions are appreciated.

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Instructional Coaches are Here to Support Classroom Teachers

As an instructional coach, my job looks different in every building and classroom. The commonality across all classrooms is that I am here to support teachers in the way they need or want to have support. This video from Washington Education Association published in July of 2010 explains what instructional coaches looks like. Enjoy!


Thoughts and suggestions are appreciated.

Saturday, August 9, 2014

Phonics and Sight Word Apps

These apps are designed for primary grade levels. This collection of apps my be used in your Word Work portion of the Daily 5. Thoughts and suggestions are appreciated.

Daily 5 Sites

Please explore the sites I have bookmarked for Read to Self, Read to Someone, Listen to Reading, Word Work, and Writing. Let me know if you have any additional sites for Daily 5 that I may add to this grouping.
Thoughts and suggestions are appreciated.

Monday, July 7, 2014

Litearcy Coaches and Teachers, Collaborate at Lines of Literacy Wiki



The goal of this wiki it to help drive professional development toward individual needs and passions for literacy instruction and/or coaching. The best way for us to be effective educators is to share with colleagues. Please add your research based best practices while adding to your instructional tool belt.

Lines of Literacy on Wikispace

Thursday, March 6, 2014

Literacy Circles Presented With TouchCast App

This week I am excited to be trying something new with my tips. I am using the TouchCast app which allows you to send video information with interactive links. Within the video, TouchCast allows you to pull up PDFs or websites as you are talking about them. When you touch or click on a website that is highlighted in the video, you will link directly into that site.

 TouchCast is make a great communication tool for communicating with parents or an interactive way to flip a lesson for your students. Students may enjoy using TouchCast for presentations.

 Coaches will find this app a great tool for flipping professional development.

Click here for interactive TouchCast
 

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Word Walls for All Grades

Academic vocabulary in elementary grades is a significant predictor of comprehension ten years later.  Research tells us that we need 10 to 15 exposures to a new word before it become established.  Being established means that the student is able to explain the meaning of the word and use the word in conversation or writing.  A word wall is a subtle means of reminding students about important or interesting vocabulary and also reminds the teacher to refer to the words often.

Word walls will look different in different grade levels. I was in a fifth grade classroom today and noticed a word wall based on the current novel study.  Students were encouraged to discover new words as they read and use them in different contexts.

Take a look at this Power Point designed by Shelley Lunde for more great word wall ideas!


Monday, February 10, 2014

Tuesday Tips: Engaging Reluctant Readers

Click on Picture for Interactive Tips for Engaging Reluctant Readers


Thoughts and suggestions are appreciated.

Monday, January 6, 2014

Phonics Infographic

For phonics instruction to be "best practice" research states that it needs to be explicit and follow a scope and sequence.  This infographic outlines explicit and developmental effective phonics instruction.


Thoughts and suggestions are appreciated.

Word Making With -in and -ip

Use this word making video for teaching the word families of -ip and -in.  Students may sit with white boards or word making notebooks as they make words along with the video.  This video is also a great word making tool when sent home for word making homework.
Thoughts and suggestions are appreciated.

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Making Words With Long O...Lesson Flip

Use this video to project in your classroom or send the link home home. Your students may use mini whiteboards to make words along with the video. Enjoy!

Thoughts and suggestions are appreciated.

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Making Words With -it and -ig

I made this lesson for K or First Grade students.  Have student use the guided discovery method with analygy while viewing.  Stop the video periodically for students to predict or discover more words. Students may use journals after viewing and make sentences with some of the words.


Thoughts and suggestions are appreciated.

Tuesday Tips: Hattie's What Works Best

Post by Lines of Literacy.
Follow above post link for Hattie's rank order.

Thoughts and suggestions are appreciated.