North Platte Public School District is committed to improving students’ ability to learn, communicate, and collaborate through literacy education. In first grade we will be using a variety of methods to help meet the Nebraska State Standards. To find a copy of this document please click on the link below.
In our classroom we will have a large block of time called, Reading Workshop. Here’s a little more about that:
Reading Workshop
Learning to read is a joyful experience! We will listen to well-written literature, sing songs, play with words, explore a wide variety of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and rhymes. We will learn strategies for engagement and lots of thinking in relation to the stories.
We will become a reading community!
The workshop time will be structured around a mini-lesson (15-20 minutes), a large block of time to read, respond, and confer (45-50 minutes), and a time to share (15-20 minutes). The readers’ workshop format will provide a framework for both strategy instruction and a gradual release of responsibility for independent, meaningful reading.
The research has shown that active, thoughtful, proficient readers construct meaning by using specific comprehension strategies. We will be learning these strategies in a very explicit manner. The children will become aware of the invisible thinking that helps good readers find meaning with text. In other words, they will think about their own thinking as they read! These strategies are:
1. Activate background knowledge before, during and after reading, make connections to self, text and the world.
2. Create visual and other sensory images during and after reading.
3. Draw inferences to form conclusions, make judgments, and create unique interpretations.
4. Ask questions of themselves, the authors, and the text.
5. Determining importance of ideas and themes in the text.
6. Synthesizing what they read.
7. Monitoring Comprehension and Meaning, using fix-up strategies.
1st grade children need a significant amount of instruction and practice learning how to decode text. We will be spending time each day with “WORD WORK”. Children will learn about letter sounds, and how letters come together to create words. This important work will be accomplished at a different time than readers’ workshop, although the concepts obviously build and support each other simultaneously!
We will also be using the reading series from Macmillan/McGraw Hill. Click on the picture below to find supplemental activities to go with our current book.
Unit 2 Book Three: Stories to Tell.
Click on this link for fluency practice with common sight words.
Here’s my #1 tip . . .
Just read as much as you can!
Read . . . Read . . . Read!
books, magazines, cards, jokes,
poems, newspapers, signs, letters, ANYTHING!Sing and Read Along . . . .
It’s a big world, baby, and you’re little for a little while
It’s a big world, baby, you can fiddle in your own style.
It’s a big sun, it’s a big tree, it’s a big boat, it’s a big sea
It’s a big dog, it’s a big plane, it’s a big cloud, with a little bit of rain.
It’s a big world, baby, and you’re little for a little while
It’s a big world, baby, you can fiddle in your own style.
It’s a big house, it’s a big chair, it’s a big zoo, it’s a big bear
It’s a big street, it’s a big car, it’s a big sky, with pretty little stars.
It’s a big world, baby, and you’re little for a little while
It’s a big world, baby, you can fiddle in your own style.
It’s a small bug, it’s a small shell, it’s a small bird, it’s a small bell
It’s a small cup, it’s a small toy, it’s a small girl, it’s a small boy
It’s a small coin, it’s a small ring, it’s a big world for every little thing
It’s a big world, baby, and you’re little for a little while
It’s a big world, baby, you can fiddle in your own style.
It’s a big world, baby, and you’re little for a little while
It’s a big world, baby, you can fiddle in your own style.
In your own style, in your own style, in your own style, in your own style.
You can find your own stories and songs to follow along . . . .
I have a few links on the my homepage that offer wonderful opportunities for reading fun! There are great online stories you can follow along with the text. You can find some of these at:
To find out more about readers’ workshop try these resources:
7 Keys to Comprehension by Susan Zimmerman and Chryse Hutchins
This book is specifically recommended by our school, Washington Elementary, to help support teachers and parents. We hope to have many copies available to you. Ask me about this great book!
The Reading Lady: Comprehension
