Top “Start of the Year” Learning Targets & Resources to consider as you Build your Literate Community

Essential Understandings	Resources
Readers, writers, speakers and listeners grow through conversation and collaboration.	Conversation Stems Collaboration Protocols (Fishbowl, 3-2-1, The Final Word, Think-Pair-Share, etc.) Academic Conversations Placemat Share Square video Create a Class rubric Junior Great Book stories and convo. rubric
Reading fluency is essential to comprehending text	Whole Class Choral Reading Peer-Assisted Fluency Peer-Assisted Fluency Feedback Rasiniski’s Rubric 4-5th Rasinski Fluency Rubric (kid version)
Effective writers write for a variety of purposes, tasks, and audiences.	Ralph Fletcher -Writer’s Notebook Lucy Calkins units-start of workshop Invitations (Georgia Heard’s Heart Map, Decorating Notebooks with meaningful images, reading spark, etc.)
Language impacts writing and speaking.	Words their Way Spelling Inventory Assessment Being a “Courteous Writer” What do readers expect a courteous writer to do?  (Jeff Anderson)
Effective readers and writers use metacognition to comprehend and learn.	Thinking Stems Posters
Digital citizens learn through technology.	What is it? Quick video and links to help you navigate teaching DC. Classroom lesson (Teaching Channel video)

Back on the Bike and Fly Fishing

Back on the Bike  

I know it, you know it, we can all relate... I am talking about the experience of riding a bike after a LONG hiatus. You know what your feet and body are supposed to do, but sometimes neither one will cooperate and you lean a bit to far one way or another and ...fall. Or maybe you get those feet going and suddenly your hands forgot how to brake and ...CRASH! Undaunted, you get back up and try again. Starting school again is a lot like getting back on the bike: exciting, frustrating, full of learning, and ultimately results in a joyful journey.

 

The journey of reading can also have it's bumps and bruises. Taking 2 1/2 months off in the summer can cause some tricky trial and tribulations for many of our readers. While some may have not picked up a book in months, others my have read, but not actually engaged in sharing their comprehension and thoughts about the text with others.  This is why easing them back into reading (and thinking about their reading) will be critical before assessing.

For the first 8 days, try some of the following strategies for scaffolding success:

• Asking about predictions
• Making connections & asking questions
• Retelling & Summarizing (oral or written)
• Determining MIP (Most Important Points, events, main idea, etc.)
• Reflecting on their reading

All of these strategies can integrated in fun ways with collaborative partner/table talk and with read alouds you're already using to establish community!

One more strategy for success with DRA assessment includes

Avoiding the Fluency Fishing Expedition!

 

So that you can gain the student's independence with fluency, try the One Minute (2 really) Oral Reading Fluency. Once you have the Words Correct Per Minute (WCPM) and have looked at their Spring DRA assessment you can find the "just right" DRA and assess the reader at the likely independent level! YAY!   *All ORFs are on SharePoint.

 

Getting BIG fish the first time is a great time and energy saver for you and the child.

 

Start Assessing August 28th (strugglers first- due Sept. 15) Window closes on Sept. 29. Enter DRA levels into IC by Oct.2.