I'm Back - Reading Rubric Freebie!

You may have been wondering what happened to me and why I've haven't blogged in two months!  Kindergarten.  Kindergarten happened to me.  I moved from second grade to Kindergarten this school year, and I have been CRAZY BUSY.  I always heard Kindergarten was in a world of it's own, and now I am in that world.  Less grading, more creating.  Less independent reading and writing, more directions. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.  And the list continues.  The good news?  I really am loving it so far.

So in hopes that my readers will forgive me out there... here is a freebie!  I created this Independent Reading Rubric last summer and put it on my blog for free through email.  With this new school year, I have been getting a lot of requests for it, so I decided to spruce it up and offer it for free in my TPT store.

Click on the picture to get your free copy!  Then check out some of my other new products.

Questioning Strategy & Bookmarks

Last week we began our Questioning reading strategy.  I use the Reader's Workshop model in my classroom and study the seven comprehension strategies.  For one of our earlier lessons, I used the book It's Mine by Leo Lionni for sharing questions before, during, and after our reading.  On the first day, I showed my students the cover of the book and had them share any questions about it.  Some questions were, "Is it funny?" "Is is about frogs?" and "Are the frogs friends?"  I recorded their questions on post-its and wrote their name on them to give my students ownership.

The next day, I read the book to my students.  Every couple of pages, I stopped and recorded more student questions.  Once again, I put these on post-its and stuck them to our anchor chart.  Some questions were, "What does quarrel mean?" "Why did the island get smaller?" and "Why are the frogs yelling?"

On the third day, we came back to the book and discussed how sometimes we still have questions about the book when we are finished reading.  I recorded student questions and put them on the anchor chart.

We are now working on another anchor chart with a different book.

As I was going through my file on Questioning, I found some good stuff that I haven't really used.  I was also randomly thinking about how my students are LOVING their chapter books and don't have enough bookmarks to hold the spots in the multiple books they are reading.  So I made bookmarks to go with our Questioning unit.  Check them out... and grab yourself a free copy if you think you can use them.

Get a copy!

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Reading Rubric for Independent Reading

I created a Reading Rubric awhile ago for my students to use during Independent Reading time.  I wrote about it in this post.  I've had a lot of great feedback on it and a lot of people asking for a copy... which is great!  I'm glad that I could create something so useful for people.  I've recently been asked to change the wording a little so I thought I would make another version in case others want it as well.

This is the original version that I use in my classroom.  I like it this way so that I can read it to my students like, "Shining Stars can... Read in a silent or whisper voice," etc.

Reading Rubric 1

Here is the new version, written in first person.

Reading Rubric 2

If you are interested in getting a copy of either one, comment below with your email address or send me and email letting me know!

**Update: I have added a FREE new version of my Reading Rubrics to my TpT store.  Check them out here!

My Neighbor's Dog is Purple - Visualizing

We just finished up Visualizing in our classroom.  We didn't spend too much time on it since my second graders seemed to grasp the concept pretty well.  And of course they enjoy sharing the fun images they create in their minds!  One of the activities I had my kiddos do was to draw their mental images after reading My Neighbor's Dog is Purple by Jack Prelutsky.  If you haven't heard it, you need to find it.  I actually found the idea online last year and of course it's on Pinterest.  It's such a fun poem that is PERFECT for the visualizing strategy.

First, we read the poem together (minus the last two lines).  Then we read back over it and underlined the words that stuck out and helped our mental images.

Then I had my students draw the mental images they had about the poem.  After independent reading, we came back together to add the last two lines to the poem.  My kiddos went crazy when they heard the last two lines... it completely changed their mental image!

I had my students go back to their page and create their NEW mental image after hearing the ending to the poem.  Here are a few examples of my students' work:

Reading Is Thinking!

As part of my First 20 Days of Reader's Workshop at the beginning of the year, I did a lesson on "Reading is Thinking."  You can read more about how I do the First 20 Days in my classroom here and here.

We talked about how we are always thinking about books before, during, and after reading.  I modeled my thinking during a read aloud and had my students share their thinking.  Afterwards, I had my students complete the Reading is Thinking page to show the thinking they did as they completed their Independent Reading.

Here are some examples of their work!

I loved this one! They sure to do like those Magic School Bus books!

We put it on our Reader's Workshop bulletin board!

We are now discussing Metacognition in our class where we are reviewing "Reading is Thinking."  I saw the "Reading Salad" idea on Pinterest (which linked back here) and thought it might be something worth trying.

This is not my picture.  Here is the source.

We did that today.  I made it interesting by asking my kiddos if they liked salad, which surprising they all raised their hands.  Hmm, I didn't eat salad until I was about 16... is that weird?  Or they could be fabricating their little hearts out as seven year olds sometimes do. :)  Anyway, we talked about what kinds of things they like on their salad... olives, dressing, cheese, eggs, tomatoes.  The Reading Salad idea uses lettuce and tomatoes.  I then did a read aloud and we stopped before, during, and after our reading to share thinking aloud.  As students shared their thinking, I added "tomatoes" to our salad bowl!  I think the kids really enjoyed it!  I'll try to post a pic in the next few days.

Reading Anchor Charts

Last week, I posted an update on how I begin Reader's Workshop in my classroom.  I said I was going to post some anchor charts that I make as I teach Reader's Workshop to my kiddos.  So here we go!  And no, I am not one of those awesome teachers who make the fancy anchor charts, I just don't have the skills!

What Do Readers Read

Easy, Just Right, Challenging Books

How to Gather on the Rug

The kids are really the ones that tell me what to put on our chart, I just try to guide their thinking.  I think it's important for them to see that their thinking is important by recording it and hanging it up in our room.

I might be breaking some kind of fire code by hanging up the charts on my window blinds, but it's the perfect space!

And I have to share a little bit about my weekend........

We celebrated our one year anniversary in downtown St. Louis this weekend.  We went to the St. Louis Arch... it was my first time and my husband's first since he was a kid.  So incredible!  The top tier of our wedding is defrosting in the fridge... we'll be trying it out tomorrow!

First 20 Days of Reader's Workshop Update

I've been meaning to update my First 20 Days of Reader's Workshop post, and I just never did.  My plan was to include my actual lesson plans for each day.  I also noticed that I've had a lot of readers read my Reader's Workshop post so I wanted to be sure to update you all.  As I started the first 20 days in my classroom this year, I knew it was going to be a little different and I would have to be flexible.  You see, I am use to teaching first graders, and now I am in second grade.  My second graders seem to just get things a little easier and quicker.  They've also already heard some of this stuff from their teacher last year, which is great!  So I have had to rearrange some of my beginning of the year lessons.

You can see my previous post here.

This is how I rearranged it to fit my students' needs this year.

Day 1 - How to Gather on the Rug; Readers Read Every Day

Day 2 - What is Reader's Workshop; What Do Readers Read

Day 3 - How to Take Care of our Books; Introduce Classroom Library

Day 4 - How to Preview a Book

Day 5 - 3 Ways to Read a Book

Day 6 - Making Good Book Choices (Just Right books); How to Put Books Away

Day 7 - Why Readers Abandon Books

Day 8 - Book Boxes

Day 9 - Reading Rubric

Day 10 - Reading is Thinking

Day 11 - Talking and Sharing About Reading

Day 12 - How to be a Good Listener

Day 13 - How to Use Anchor Charts

Day 14 - Solving Unknown Words

Day 15 - Reading Spots

Day 16 - Buddy Reading

OK, I know that doesn't make exactly 20 days, but this is how it works for my kiddos and my classroom.  I had to break apart some days that had two lessons and combine some lessons into one day.  Through my researching and experience with Reader's Workshop, there are several more lesson ideas that you could incorporate into your first 20 days.  Here are some more ideas:

Fiction vs. Nonfiction

Book Recommendations

Small Group Expectations

Real vs. Fake Readers

Reader's Toolkit

How to Turn and Talk

Reader's Response Journals

Book Hospital

How to Change Books/Book Shopping

I still plan to incorporate some of these additional lessons into my Reader's Workshop, but we just aren't there yet.

We just finished my planned first 20 days, and I finished my Fountas & Pinnel Benchark Assessments with each student.  So next week, I will begin my Guided Reading Groups.  We are also moving on to an author study.  In the next few days, I will be posting the Anchor Charts we've created during our first 20 days, so be sure to check back.

And a random side note.... we celebrated my father-in-law's (still so weird to say that) birthday last night.  My contribution was cheesy hashbrowns and red velvet birthday cake!  My hubby's family LOVES red velvet cake and it's his dad's favorite.  Unfortunately that's about the only flavor cake I won't eat.  So no cake for me, but that's OK.  And the hashbrowns are always a hit... so yummy!

Tarra and Bella - Friendship Read Aloud

So I was really planning on posting about Curriculum Night since it is tomorrow for my district.  But of course, I forgot my camera and wasn't able to take pictures of the activity my students did to prepare for it.  So I will push that aside and post about it in the next few days.

But I think I owe you all a post, anyhow.  Today I read Tarra & Bella to my students.

 It was kind of just a spur of the moment read aloud, although we are talking about friends and friendships in class with it being the beginning of the year.  A friend I used to teach with gave me the book as a gift a few years ago and I can't believe I had never heard of it before.  It's such a CUTE book and it's a true story!  It's the story of an elephant and a dog that are best friends!  How adorable, right?!  When I showed my students the cover, they asked if it was a true story and when I said yes, they were amazed and couldn't wait to hear it.  When I read it to them, there were even some "awe's."  After we read it, I showed them the video of the story that was aired on CBS News.  It's basically the same as the book, but the students loved actually seeing the elephant and dog in the video.

Check out the video here!

Such a cute story!  The dog has actually died since the book and video came out.  It's included in the link above.  I just kept that from my kiddos, I didn't want them getting sad!  If you haven't read it... you need to!

Reading Rubric

Yesterday, I posted about what I do for the first 20 days of Reader's Workshop and how I have it planned out so far for next year.  I dedicated two days to teaching a Reading Rubric to my students.  This is how students will be held accountable during independent reading time.  Once it's taught and appropriate behaviors are modeled, students are expected to be "Shining Stars" each day.

If you would like a copy, comment below and include your email address.  I will email you a PDF file!

Thanks!

**Update: I have added a new version of my Reading Rubrics to my TpT store.  Check them out here!

First 20 Days of Reader's Workshop

I've been doing Reader's Workshop in my classroom since I began teaching.  But I've done different variations of it.  I've done literacy centers, stations, guided reading, and conferring with students individually.  At my current school, we are given the ability to do what we think is best for our students.  I have seen a mixture of Reader's Workshop and the Daily 5.  It seems like the Daily 5 is the trend right now.  I would like to learn more about it and see if that would work for me and my students.  But for now, I am doing Reader's Workshop in my classroom.  I do a mini-lesson, then the students practice what we learn and then read, and then we have sharing/reflecting time.

What I wanted to share today was how I do the first 20 days in my room.  The first 20 days are how you introduce your reading procedures to your students during the first few weeks of school.  I found some information online about it, but I mostly use resources from professional development workshops I've attended in the past.  I've always done the first 20 days in my classroom, but I would wait until school started and then get out all my handouts and pick which "lesson" I wanted to do that particular day.  Since I have so much time on my hands this summer, I wanted to plan ahead by going through all my resources now and planning which "lessons" I want to do when school starts.  I am working on writing out actual lessons for each day, but for now I can share the topics that I'm planning on teaching and in which order.

Day 1 - How to gather on the rug; Readers read every day

Day 2 - What is Reader's Workshop; What do readers read

Day 3 - How to take care of our books; Introduce classroom library

Day 4 - How to preview a book; 3 ways to read a book

Day 5 - Making good book choices (Just Right books); How to put books away

Day 6 - Why readers abandon books

Day 7 - Reading rubric

Day 8 - Reading rubric

Day 9 - Reading is thinking

Day 10 - Thinking and talking about reading

Day 11 - Good listeners/sharing

Day 12 - Book boxes

Day 13 - Reading spots

Day 14 - How to use anchor charts

Day 15 - Solving unknown words

Day 16 - Solving unknown words

Day 17 - Buddy reading (EEKK)

Day 18 - Buddy reading (EEKK)

Day 19 - Reading toolkit

Day 20 - Review

That's how I have it planned out so far.  Some other topic ideas for lessons are:

Fiction vs. Nonfiction

Small Group Expectations

Book Recommendations

Are there any important topics I'm missing?  Do you have something about the first 20 days you want to share with me?