Student Book 2010-2011

This is the first year I made a photo book of my students but it will not be the last. My mom had the idea of allowing each student to write what their favorite thing about first grade was on the last two pages since they are blank. At first, it really stressed me out but now I love having their writing and ideas in the book. As I said before, this will become a tradition for each year.

Click here to view this photo book larger

Reading tip

How many times have you had parents say they did not understand why their child was on a reading level when they can read the guided reading book with no problem.  You then have to tell them for the 10th time that by the time their child takes their book home they have read it several times in class.  Parents often have a hard time accepting that the first several times they read the book in class they struggle.  The following was sent to me from Mailbox as their timely tip.  Parents can't argue when their own child writes down words they don't know.

Assessment Tip: running records

This management strategy makes it easy to do running records during reading group time. Set out a supply of sticky notes. Complete running records on individual students as the rest of the group reads independently. If a child who is reading on his own has trouble figuring out a word, he writes the word on a sticky note and flags the page with it. When you are free, help him figure out the word(s). You’ll be able to complete the assessments without interruption, and students will get practice monitoring their reading!

The Final Space Flight

Today I watched NASA space shuttle Atlantis leave Earth, marking the program's final flight. It is unclear as to what will happen to the space program.  It has been said that there will be no more space flights.  Does this mean that there will be no more astronauts?  What about NASA?  It is sad to think that 5 or 10 years from now children will not know what an astronaut was or what a space shuttle looked like.  It is so hard to believe that this is yet again something that will have to be taught from a textbook or the internet.  My heart is heavy for the ones that will either be without a job or will have to go and work for the Russians.  I guess this is just another job that is being sent overseas.  What about the kids right now that have only dreamed of being astronauts...what will happen to their dream? 

Reading Comprehension Strategies

Every month we had a different Reading Comprehension Strategy.  We did different activities each month to make sure our students understood what each reading strategy meant.  I always knew my students understood the strategy when they would start using it while they were "playing school" during center time.  It always made me smile to hear my students using each comprehension word on their own and remembering to use them while they were reading.  I had several parents tell me that their child/children were using them at home as well.