FUNDATIONS Level I & Level II I CAN Statements... Back by Popular Demand!

Monday, November 28, 2016 No comments
In my TpT store I have both level I and level II Fundations I Can Statements!  
They are under Phonics- Foundational Skills - I Can Statements Level I  & Level II.

They are fully editable in PowerPoint so you can take away some of the skills for that unit to focus more on what you are doing on a day to day basis and to make it not look like SO much for the children to see, or keep as is.  You can change the font and colors too!

Enjoy! 



CYBER MONDAY SALE!!!! 20% off EVERYTHING

Visit my TpT store for 20% off EVERYTHING! Get it now before the sale ends tomorrow! 
Fundations I Can Statements, Comprehension Skills and Strategies and more!


A Little Tour of Our Reading Room


So I changed a few things up and figured I would take more pictures.  I had gotten a few inquiries on how I organize my reading room and how I group my students.  Below I have my School Wide Scholastic books on the top shelf in grade order and then had printed out a list of the books and authors that are within each unit to place on the front of the binder (my reading buddy actually did that for us).  This just makes it easier when I want to grab an authentic text to use.  


When you walk into my room and look to the right you will see my white board and what I call, my comfortable seating area.  I am hoping to get a small rug to make it even cozier.  It's tough when there is not a lot of space to work with in my room.  I love it though and wouldn't ever trade it! 
On the whiteboard (soon to be  laser  board - I was told like a Smartboard but different) is the groupings I have for my LLI groups.  We named ourselves with wild animal names (something that I love.  I am a HUGE animal lover - If only there were a way to tie in literacy, animals and photography ... my three passions). My photography site: www.danstaphotos.com which I will soon be donating a portion of children's photography purchases to a local literacy charity and in the process of making a brand, Forever Wild - to donate portion to a wildlife charity.  Anyway, back onto the classroom....

This is when I am standing at the back of the room looking toward the door.   I have that small table in the top right of the picture.  That's called the "testing table" where we do our reading and running records.  You can also see to the left of the door the bench I have there.  I have been wanting to take that home to either paint of stain it and make it prettier.  It's pretty neat though because it opens up and that's where all our reading treasures/prizes are! They have to earn ten stamps (remembering to bring their book baggies and do their best work) in order to earn a prize.  


I think my sunflowers are the best.  Who wouldn't want some pretty, bright flowers to brighten up their day? Sure puts me in a better mood. 

 My book sign out is near my door.  If a student is interested in a book of mine I WANT them to take it home and ENJOY it!  I would never say no to them when they ask to take a book home.  Although I like to take note of what they take out and if and when they return it to me!!!  Right outside my classroom door I have a long table with bins labeled by genre.  This is my choice library that my children can decide what books are just right for them that they are interested in reading. I had a picture taken, not sure why it didn't show up.  

Hope you enjoyed the little tour of my tiny, cozy reading nook!  Keep your eyes open for the post I will be putting up soon of conferring with my students while they independently read!  

Mrs. K 💖

Comprehension Skills & Strategies

Wednesday, November 23, 2016 No comments
Comprehension skills & strategies are the main things I teach in my reading support classroom.  I am always discussing a skill and/or strategy that can help them as a reader to better comprehend the text.   This product is editable. You may switch out the genre labels and the colors. I printed all mine out, cut and laminated together with the last page on top, "Comprehension Skills & Strategies" I then hung it on my door, got clothes pins with students numbers/names and they use as their exit ticket after reading... "What skill or strategy did you use as a reader today?" Grab it at my TpT store

Mrs. K 💚



Genre Labels

These genre labels can be purchased at my TpT store.  I love these because they are editable so you can change the colors, font, and words to suite your needs.  These are great to print out, laminate and place on your book bins in your classroom!  Hope you enjoy them.  

Mrs. K 💖


Reading Graduation Certificate

Monday, November 21, 2016 No comments
With our first trimester coming to an end, we have collect data on students over the last couple of months.  Some are able to exit out of reading support, or like I like to call it, "Graduate Reading." 

I have made a reading certificate to allow the students I am exiting to see what an outstanding job they have done in reading support.  

Please look on my TpT site to purchase this certificate for yourself.  It's editable using Power Point. 

~Mrs. K

Story Elements

We discussed story elements a few weeks ago and will re-visit it around the new year.  The lesson I did coincided with my Leveled Literacy Intervention program that I use with my reading groups.  I like to teach a skill or strategy before introducing the new text to the group.  I always feel they should try and not just use the strategy I teach that day, but to think about all the skills and strategies we have already gone over and use different strategies that help them as a reader.  I think it's important to practice the strategy that is gone over on that specific day - I do this by modeling and having them work with a partner (turning and talking) - but when it comes time to independently read, that specific skill or strategy may not apply to their book that day, so when I conference with them, I like to see what skills and strategies they are using as a reader to help them comprehend the text they are reading. 

New York Islanders

The New York Islanders visited our school this past week!  They spoke to our students about team work and working hard in school.  This was such a great visit and all the children were beyond thrilled and excited to see them speak, ask questions, and get autographs!  Way to go New York Islanders!!!  



Thanksgiving Day Bulletin Board

Tuesday, November 15, 2016 No comments
Thanksgiving Day bulletin board - Gobble Up Extraordinary Word Choice.  I had a lesson on using "million dollar words" or extraordinary word choice with my fourth grade students.  We discussed using a thesaurus and came up with a basic word list.  We each took 4 words and needed to find that word in the thesaurus to come up with extraordinary words to use in its place!  Love the way this cute bulletin board came out!  

My Classroom

Figured I would give a little tour of my cozy little reading room and how my class is set up at the moment.   






Haiku

Monday, September 26, 2016 No comments

I am a little behind, but I am in the process of finally setting up my classroom Haiku website for parents and students to follow me on and keep up to date with what we are doing in reading.  

My Cute Little Reading Room

Sunday, September 25, 2016 No comments

I have the smallest little reading classroom, but it's so cozy and home-like/welcoming, I love it and so do the students.  I have a book corner, a flexible seating area for independent reading and a welcoming guided reading table with my favorite... sunflowers!  


Independent Reading




Independent reading is the big push within our district and I think it's so important.  All children need to be reading.  We can teach strategies, but unless they are reading choice books that they truly love and can appreciate, they will never grow and succeed.  While independent reading I confer with my students.  It's ok if you haven't read the book they are reading.  As long as you know the genre and ask genre based questions about the text to allow yourself to see if they are reading with understanding- that's most important.  






Positive Mind, Positive Vibes

I have always told myself, thinking positive allows for positiveness in your life.  Last year at work they started discussing growth and positive mindset for the workplace and classroom.  It's what I have always done and now it's amazing that everyone is trying their hardest to have a growth mindset and be a part of the energy bus.... Stay positive in the classroom and your positiveness will rub off onto your children. 




Christmas Board

Monday, September 5, 2016 No comments
The children did a writing activity where they discussed their favorite Christmas book. Look…. We even have REAL Christmas lights on the board! How neat?!?!?!  

Summarize

Summary Outline – TpT – Check out my teacher made worksheet on TpT for summarizing.  I use this with my little ones when learning how to figure out what happened first, next, then & last.  This is a good, basic graphic organizer before writing a paragraph.  Hope you enjoy it! 
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Mrs. K 

Exit Tickets

Exit tickets can be found on my TpT site! I print them in color, laminate, place Velcro on the back and use them over and over again!
Exit Ticket Pic
 Enjoy! Hope they come in handy.

Reading Apps

Take a look at these great apps available at iTunes Store. Most are for phonics, but if you look at the right sidebar of my page you’ll notice the picture that says, “Epic!” – click on it and it’ll bring you to a really cool link for books. Your child can make an account, read or listen on audio and it keeps track of what they’ve read, how fast they read it, etc. Enjoy!
PicCollage (1)
Phonics Genius
Phonics Awareness
Bongo Spelling
Simplex Spelling Phonics
Hairy Letters
Word Wizard
*Also- Check out another WODNERUL site for parents and teachers.  Reading Rockets is really resourceful. 
Reading Rockets – Phonics App Suggestions
Please look on the right sidebar of my page as well and try out the site Epic! – it’s really amazing for your young readers! 
Mrs. K 

Fundations I Can Statements

Fundations Level I I Can - Redone 1.29.16- PREVIEW TpT
I just re-did the Level II I Can Statements on TpT!!!!  Check it out to get the updated version! 
Enjoy :) 
Mrs. K

Video Shorts and Graphic Organizers

I finally finished!!!!  Please see my TpT posting on Graphic Organizers/Video Shorts to go along with it.  
Video Shorts and Graphic Organizer- Klein's Class
My 6th graders LOVE these.  Whenever I start a new comprehension strategy I always introduce it with a Pixar Video Short to go along with the strategy we will be discussing.  While they are watching the Video Short, they take notes on the graphic organizer and we discuss it in depth after.  
This really makes them look at it differently and breaks up the monotonous of just reading a passage or book and learning that strategy.  They then will know how to apply it to the different text types that we do with that strategy.  
Enjoy!
Mrs. K ♥

Valentine's Day Bulletin Board

My colleagues who are in the reading department with me, we came up with this months bulletin board together. This month was a fun one and the children LOVED IT!!! We made word clouds hearts with adjectives of someone special in our lives! They came out AMAZING!!!!  

 
Mrs. K 

Leveled Literacy Intervention

Hello! 
I figured I would write a little bit about the program I use with my students, so if you’re a parent you’re able to see what your student does with me throughout the week and if you’re an educator you are able to see how I implement the program.
The LLI kits support below grade level students who struggle in reading and writing. They are not for whole class lessons, but rather small intimate group settings, no more than 4-6 students in a group.  There are different colored kits (orange, green, blue, red & gold).  I have the green and blue kits which are for levels 1-3.
Leveled Literacy Intervention is a scientifically-based program that works with struggling readers so they are able to reach the level they need to be on.  The program is fast paced and provides students with comprehension, fluency, writing, phonics, & vocabulary throughout each lesson.  The majority of the program focuses on fluency and writing.
As mentioned above, I work with the green kit (1st grade) and blue kit (2nd-3rd grade).  There are 110-120 or so lessons in each kit.  Each lesson has 4 colored copies of the book and 6 black & white copies (take home books) or each book.
The program supplies canvas bags with a spot that fits an average sized index card in it perfectly which I place their name on to take their black and white copies of the book home to read and return.
The teachers manual walks you through each lesson verbatim, but on TpT I purchased the lessons printed out on single pages that I placed in a binder which has made it a lot easier with planning.  There is also aPrompting Guide and resource book: When Readers Struggle: Teaching That Works which are available in the kit.   The Prompting Guide is a great tool to use because it targets reading behaviors and gives you word-for-word what you are able to say to guide your student.
Each lesson takes about 30 minutes to teach.  The kits come with a large variety of high-interest texts: fiction, non-fiction, classic tales and series books (Meli, The Fun Club, etc.).  Each level has 10 lessons that are numbered.  The even lessons introduce the New Book (on their level) and the odd lesson is book on their independent level to build fluency.Slide2Slide1
I set my week up in 3 days.  I see my students 3 times a week/30 minutes a session.
I needed to figure out a way to touch upon each part of the program that works best for me and my students.
On my board (so the students can see the schedule as well and get used to the routine) I have a 3 day schedule:
Day 1: Reading Schedule
Re-read quietly – 5 minutes
Goals – 1 minute
Phonics/Word Work- 5 minutes
New Book – 15 minutes
Letter/Word Work – 5-10 minutes
Exit Ticket
Day 2: Testing Day Schedule 
(While I am calling 1-2 students over to do a reading record)
  1. Re-read quietly
  2. Unfinished sentences in Writing Book
  3. Word Bags (the word cards – quiz a friend, play memory)
  4. Worksheet on Table (one of the fold sheets if unable to get to the day before)
Then I continue with our independent reading book for that day following the teacher’s manual.
Day 3: Writing Day
In their writing book (LLI comes with red, yellow and purple writing books with blank pages in it – the colors mean nothing other than allowing the children to have a choice and the blank pages which are for beginner writers to use.  It allows them to not get distracted and concentrate so much on filling up the lines, but rather to be concious of placing the print on the page rather than just filling up the lines.  When finished the story or sentences they wrote can be easily read without the distraction of any lines on the paper).
LLI Schedule

Let’s get into the different pieces of the lesson now….

Phonics/Word Work: 
This is a quick piece before starting the book for the day.   Students are explicitly and systematically taught during this part.   The kits provide, Alphabet &b Consonant Cluster Charts (we just do all of our work in our writing book not to waste more paper), poems,  letter and word games, and lists of suggested words (what I send home in their ‘word baggies’).  I like to try and incorporate magnetic letters with cookie trays, children going up to the board to write, highlighting in our poem book, and using colored pens in our writing book.  There are many great apps that work on phonics as well (see my previous post).
New Book: 
This is when the instructional leveled book gets introduced to them.  I always discuss the cover photo, genre, title and then do a picture walk stopping at words I think may be difficult for them while discussing the spelling rule for that word and definition.  I then give a book to each child and have them use my whisper phones that I made.  NO ROUND ROBIN READING (where you go around and each child reads a page in the book)  it DOES NOT build on fluency and because of the constant picking of names and changing rate of reading the comprehension is then lost.  I LOVE whisper reading.  I start my group off at different points, so they aren’t hearing each other read at the same point, and they use the whisper phones that magnify their voice into their own ear.  I am then able to hear each of them, stop them to ask questions individually and they know instead of interrupting to ask what a word is, they point to it and look at me.  Don’t popcorn read in small reading groups!  It just doesn’t work and is outdated.
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Writing:
LLI has a writing component.  It is split into three different ways to teach writing: interactive, dictated, independent.  I like to switch it up, or do even more then one way at a given time.
*Interactive writing:  This is when we work together.  The children write on chart paper, or the board and we compose sentences, or a story about what was read taking turns and brainstorming together.
*Dictated writing:  This is when I say sentences and they write it down on their own.  Some students have a difficult time hearing all of the spoken words and putting it down into their writing book.  I realized using a manipulative of some sort to have them put it down for each word they hear in the sentence allows them to make sure they aren’t missing a word.  I like them to also listen to the sentence first and visualize it, then if they need to place the manipulative down, then write.
*Independent writing: This is when the student write on his/her own in their writing book.  They usually do this mostly on testing days while I am doing reading records with other children.  This allows me to see their growth throughout the school year.
Mrs. K ♥

Reading Levels

I use the Fontas & Pinnell (F&P) Reading Level Chart.  This chart is great because it breaks the school year into quarters and where your child should be at those months.
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This one below is a little different than the one above.  This one has each month of the school year, not just broken into quarters.
PM_by_Instuctional_Text_Reading_Level
Mrs. K 

Read Across America

I made four worksheets for Read Across America, celebrating Dr. Seuss’ birthday this March!  I took four of his books:  
Mr. Brown Can Moo!  Can You? 
There’s a Wocket in my Pocket
One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish
Green Eggs and Ham
Dr. Seuss
I took words out of the first couple of pages of each of the books and left blanks for the children to be creative and come up with their own Dr. Seuss writing to go along with the book of their choice.   This wasn’t fully my idea at all.  My wonderful partner actually came up with the idea, I just created the sheets (that you can find on my TpT store).  
Enjoy!
Mrs. K 

Evidence Based Terms

I am starting to finish up non-fiction summaries with my 6th graders.  We have been reading the passage, Lights! Camera! Invention by John James.  This passage is all about Thomas Edison and the inventions he has made.   It’s really engaging and the sixth graders love when we read this passage.  We have been discussing what goes into writing a non-fiction summary and using a graphic organizer to help us out before we begin to write.
After we finish this strategy, we will be moving on to text evidence.  I had found a great anchor chart on another blog, but re-wrote the sentences and changed some things around to my liking.  I also made my own text evidence charts to go along with it that you can find on my TpT store if you’re interested!
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Mrs. K 

Lyrics for Comprehension

I have been working day and night on getting together “Lyrics for Comprehension” for my 6th graders.  I am using the common core standards so they can be combined with other lessons in the classroom that are being taught in reading.   Each song lyric has a graphic organizer and questions to go along with it.
Example of Lyrics for Comprehension
I really feel that practicing comprehension strategies through song is an amazing way to allow students to really be engaged in the lesson.  Sometimes it’s really difficult to find reading passages that are of high interest.
This packet isn’t complete yet, but once it is, I will update this post and give the link to my TpT store to be able to purchase it.  Much research has been done showing that children learn comprehension strategies through music.  Think about it – it’s no different than a poem, but it has upbeat music to go along with it to keep them engaged.  Plus, it’s different.  It’s not the ordinary, so they are always excited for some music whether they are familiar with the songs or not.
It truly is a MIX of music…
1.Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World 
2.All I Want is You
3.You’ve Got a Friend in Me
4.Hall of Fame
5.Lean on Me
6.Better Together
7.Mean & Roar 
8.Forever Young
9.It Won’t Be Like This for Long 
10.Shake it Off
Mrs. K 

Give a Book, Get a Book

give a book, get a book
I will be placing a basket of gently used books outside my classroom door.  Students will be encouraged to trade books.  They will bring in a gently used books that they no longer want and place it in the bin.  They will then pick out a new book they would like to take home to read.   This will allow students to be submerged in a whole array of different children’s books! What a great way to share books! 
Mrs. K