B-5 GoodReads Challenge 2013 discussion

Tips/Suggestions: Feel free to take this in any direction. Think about what teaching tools, strategies, children's books, assessment, conversations, etc. that you read about, tried in class, observed in a field placement, etc. that you are really excited to try out in YOUR own future classroom. BE SURE TO EXPLAIN "WHY" YOU'RE EXCITED TO TRY IT OUT. ;)

I like to model finger-point reading if I am reading one on one to a child. That means to follow the words with your finger from left to right as you read them. The child will learn to do this and I also like to show them to read with a book mark so that they stay on one line. Talking with the child about the story and seeing what was their favorite part is a good way to see if they understood the story and how they interpenetrated it. I really LOVE to get a picture book with no words and let the child tell me the story and write it down for them or help them to write it. Guided reading is another way that I like to teach children to read. Having a small group to go over the book and learn new words is a great way for the children to learn to like reading. In my many different field experiences I always liked to go the the library with the children because they would come up to me and ask questions about the books that they have picked out or ask me what the tittle said if they could not read it. In my future class room I am excited to teach children site words, following along in the book that I read aloud, and I love having a letter of the day. I have mostly been to pre-k classrooms and they always have a letter of the day when the child comes in and they teach them to sound out the letter and show them what objects start with that letter.

I am extremely excited about one day trying out the readers theater, instead of doing it with the whole class, I would probably use it as a small group literacy activity. I liked the way that the teacher in the video we watched last week had the small group of children read a complete page from the book in their group on the first day, on the second day she had broken it up into a script and the children practiced their lines on that day, and on the last day the children performed their theater piece to the whole class. I really like this activity because it gave the children time to master their reading of the story and with the repetition of what they were reading it gave even the most struggling student confidence enough to perform the reading with clear speech, comprehension of the story, and fluent speed and accuracy. For that level of confidence I believe those children felt, once they completed their reading and had their classmates cheer them for a job well done, that is the kind of give and take I want for my students for my classroom. Children being able to believe in themselves and support their peers, is a beautiful thing to me. I simply loved this method and I wish to use it the same way in my classroom for the same results if not more, with my students.

So much good stuff to try! I agree with Alysia, I loved the reader's theater. It can be used with any book and as a whole group or small group activity. Everyone gets a chance to participate and the readers anticipate their lines.

I liked the neatness of the students' portfolios. I remember teaching Pre-K one year and would put the different domains on the pictures and I was asked by a lead teacher what it was and was told not to do that. Seeing the domains on the work samples just gave me reassurance that what I was doing was correct.

I am so excited to do Read Alouds now that we have been taught the proper way. I used to shy away from reading to children because by the end of the book, they aren't paying attention. We have to make it fun and interesting and I really looked forward to Dr. Meyers reading to us. I really hope my students and my own children get excited when I read to them.

I am looking forward to implementing the Read Alouds in the classroom and encouraging students to read. I really like the idea of peer to peer reading, children have their own way of communicating with each other so to have them read to each other and listen to each others points of view on the book. I like that in the video with one class the teacher really was encouraging reading by having the children write down the name of the book, author, and illustrator each week with the new book and post them on a bulletin of books read for that particular month and theme, it helps with writing skills and literacy. i absolutely love the readers theater, it really gives the children a way to connect to the stories and characters. Allows them to be creative with the story lines, costumes and props that are used. I would incorporate the fluency flips for the centers in the classroom.

I thought reader's theater was great, but since I plan to be working with infants and toddlers I'm most excited to practice read alouds with them. I felt as though I was good at read alouds before, but I think I've gained a lot more insight and strategies for it now. I'm excited to use more voices and facial expressions to bring the story to life for the children. I also want to give them some text-to-self and text-to-world connections so that they can relate to the stories and show more interest in the books and words used in them.

I'd never really thought of how a children's book could be such a good assessment tool until I happened to find the book, "Alphabet Rescue" by Audrey Wood. Each week I search the library for books that will explain and highlight the week's number, letter, and theme. I also choose books that are just for fun, with no intentional teaching in mind. This book was supposed to be just for fun, but when I shared it with students in small group they were excited about the actual story and immediately started pointing out letters. I quickly realized that I could assess students' letter recognition using this book. We had been pointing out letters on the alphabet line (not so much fun) but now I use this colorful book to do that! My emergent writers definitely benefit. They recognize letters (the letters are lying on the ground in no particular order). I am excited to find other books that will help with assessment in other areas.

There were a lot of really interesting concepts introduced in this class that I had never though of using before. I love the reader's theatre idea just like everyone else. I can see myself really utilizing it to increase the students understanding of what they're reading (comprehension), increase fluency, and helping them to learn to dissect the text.

I also like the "room writers" idea from one of the videos we watched. The room writers were the students responsible for recording the previous days read aloud book title, author, and illustrator, and displaying them outside for their peers and parents to see. I'm eager to use this in the classroom to give the students a visual representation of just how many books they've read or been introduced to.

I loved all techniques learned in class, but I have seen the magic of using a dog as a “teaching tool” and can’t wait to do it with my kindergarteners. I volunteer in my children’s elementary school and we have a group that comes every week to the library with their dogs to help our DLL students. It has being a wonderful experience just observing them, so I am willing to try this in my own classroom with my dog Samson. There are so many ways to connect children with books, but once you see the effectiveness and the impact and improvement on the students when they are reading to these dogs…it is amazing! I am working in training Samson, and hope by the time I have my own classroom, he could come with me couple days/week too!

I will use all the other techniques learned in class everyday, but this one is my challenge!

I know basically everyone else has already mentioned this, but I am also excited to try out the readers theater! I never would have thought about using this idea for children younger than school age, but I think it could really help inspire young children to practice their literacy skills. Especially since I have rarely met a child who doesn't at least occasionally enjoy being in the spotlight in the classroom.

I really appreciate the focus in this class on DLLs and how to incorporate them in learning literacy and support their home languages within the classroom. When I have my own classroom I will definitely be using the various strategies to support them and using their own language. Especially labeling, bringing in restaurant brochures, and learning greetings and simple words and phrases in the child's home language.

I also love the idea of thinking of every child as an emergent reader. If reading truly begins at birth, then everything we do with children from the time they are born can contribute to children's literacy development. The whole idea of working with children on developing every area of literacy at every age is such a great way of thinking and interacting with young children. I don't think I ever consciously made the connection before, but now I will always think of this when I work with children at any age!

Oh my goodness! What am I not looking forward to? One thing that has been inspirational to me are the 'Read Alouds'. Dr. Laura, I hope to be as enthusiastic as you when I read to my classroom. I can remember being read to at school the way you do, I think if I had I would be reading a lot more than I do now. The way you read to the classroom is going to have an affect on how well they process information and whether or not they will enjoy reading. Another thing that I am excited to use is the 'Readers Theater' . Now that I know how to pick a book apart, I feel more confident to being able to do this in the classroom. I would choose a book that relates to our studies for the week and have the group be able to practices over a four day period so that they can be ready to present this to the class on Friday. Readers Theater is a fun way to have children teach themselves and work together as a group to bring the book alive.

Kai wrote: "So much good stuff to try! I agree with Alysia, I loved the reader's theater. It can be used with any book and as a whole group or small group activity. Everyone gets a chance to participate and th..."

I know what you mean Kai, I look forward to her reading to us in class too, I almost feel like one of the children that we plan on teaching one day. I also love all her techniques and suggestions that she gave us, so much that I feel so confident about going back to our centers next semester and blowing these children's minds with all the voices, energy, props and sound effects that I'm going to be with the stories I read to them. I CAN'T WAIT!!!

I am so excited about incorporating writing into EVERYTHING to support emerging writers! Before this class I would have focused on either a writing center or activity without realizing that writing can and needs to be a part of everything! Probably the area I’m most excited about is the dramatic play, adding a notepad, menu, and any other prop that encourages writing. Recently we did an activity in class where we picked a theme and then centers and found ways to incorporate writing in all of them! After that activity I was really excited about how easy it is to figure out ways to support emergent writers, like having a variety of writing tools, stamps, paper, stencils, and books! I am also excited about trying to figure out how to incorporate books into every center because I believe that is also a great way to support emergent writers. They can use the books for ideas or information for any center.

Hoenestly, I have not really thought how to promote/support children emerging writers/readers; however, I realized read aloud is the great tool for young children to begin as an emergent writer/reader. I think I have learned a varitey of strategies throughout this class that I can be looking forward such as to creat tools, appropriate management, and to incorporate DLLs in learning literacy, etc.
I feel much more confident about to teach children in literacy and so excited to use all of the tools/strategies I've learned this summer.

Through all the tips, techniques, and strategies we have learned in class to support emergent writers and readers the tool I am most excited about incorporating is learning centers. Learning centers like the "book nook", the writing center, dramatic play, and even art. I am excited about using these learning centers in the classroom because I feel that learning centers are like open ended questions. The teacher sets it up, but its left up to the students on how they will use the tools in each center as well as in what direction the student will go while within the center. During our themed learning centers activity in class I thought it was so clever how every center had something so different to offer to children but subjects overlapped one another. So the student maybe in the dramatic play center but they are also using writing skills to write a menu or take a pretend food order. Learning centers are such a versatile learning tool that is why I am overly excited about using them in the classroom!

Based on everything learned in this class and fro my own personal experience and love of books, I would say that I am most excited about supporting emergent writers and readers through Reading Aloud and incorporating puppets and props into it. I always end up reverting back to my fondest memory of my younger years which involved my third grade teacher reading aloud to all of us. I would use the same type of enthusiasm as she had when reading to us. Because of that experience I became more interested in reading and I am certain that that experience would have another child excited and interested in reading.

To support emerging writers, my goal is to incorporate play and sensory connections to develop and strengthen their fine motor skills. I am excited to use fun messy projects like shaving creams letters, finger painting, and clay. All of these tools are an excellent way to get children using their hands and building their muscles to prepare for writing. It also builds critical thinking skills and hand-eye coordination. I believe that when children are excited about getting messing and having fun, they forget that they are learning a skill. Likewise, I love getting messy with children because it allows me to model the skills I want them to learn and provide positive experiences.

Jackie you are right, we should encourage and incorporate writing in everything. As well as, having writing tools available, like the stamps, stencils and paper to promote emerging writers. Great Post!

Jackie wrote: "I am so excited about incorporating writing into EVERYTHING to support emerging writers! Before this class I would have focused on either a writing center or activity without realizing that writing..."

Gianna, that is an amazing idea. I totally forgot how using an animal would impact children and their writing. A dog would give them so many ideas to write about, like creating the dog as a character in stories, in games, and in drawings. Great idea.!


Ginna wrote: "I loved all techniques learned in class, but I have seen the magic of using a dog as a “teaching tool” and can’t wait to do it with my kindergarteners. I volunteer in my children’s elementary scho..."

I am excited about writing journals! I know it sounds boring but I really like reading what children have to say! You can have them write about what they did over the weekend, what they want to be when they grow up, or what do they think will happen next in the story. Children have wonderful imaginations and the list of things to write about is endless! Writing journals are a great to also assess the child's writing development over time. You will be able to clearly see a child's progress from the beginning of the school to the end.

I totally agree with Jackie. Writing can be incorporated everywhere!You just have to make a writing opportunity available to them. I like the idea of adding menus and stuff to the dramatic play area.

Jackie wrote: "I am so excited about incorporating writing into EVERYTHING to support emerging writers! Before this class I would have focused on either a writing center or activity without realizing that writing..."

The shaving creme letters is so fun. I did an activity with my Kindergarten students last semester and they loved it!
Antonia wrote: "To support emerging writers, my goal is to incorporate play and sensory connections to develop and strengthen their fine motor skills. I am excited to use fun messy projects like shaving creams let..."

Wow, there are so many important and exciting things to try! I have gained a lot of information & great teaching ideas over the course about implementing literacy throughout the classroom. I agree with Robyn that I am most excited about engaging children in Read Alouds, everyday! I can't wait to have the children lead them, reading from their own writing. I want to have individual journals for each student, so that they can write anytime they choose to and can document their creativity! I hope that I can choose daily activities that support emerging writers, through every domain. Antonia wrote about some great sensory activities, the fun messy ones like shaving cream and play dough that allow children to make letters, increasing their literacy AND fine motor skills. I definitely plan to and am excited about incorporating books into EVERY center! There will be books about trains next to the trains, Fancy Nancy books in the dress-up center, and books about buildings in the block center. I cannot wait to watch children reading throughout the classroom and making available to them a place where they will become emergent readers and writers!

Wow! These are such great strategies, tools, etc. to remember to try out in your future classrooms! I especially appreciated your specific details in regards to supporting all learners - so important. :) I can't wait to hear how it goes this fall! Be sure to share how it goes with us .... we'd love to celebrate your successes with each of you! :)