Kids are usually quite comfortable by the ending of the year. These books have all become the class favorites. Taught many, many skills and strategies through carefully planned mini-lessons in Guided Reading and Writing Blocks. This year students have learned to make predictions, plan with graphic organizers, brainstorm the K and W for a KWL chart, do a picture walk, review vocabulary, make connections with what they already know about the topic, and set a purpose for their reading. These are life-long skills.
Helped students collect many new words through their vocabulary study and their word play.
Many of these are permanent words now in these kids' vocabularies. Replaced lists of spelling words with teaching kids HOW to spell. Now these students have a life-long strategy for spelling words that they want to write. They rely upon their knowledge of patterns, context, and visual and auditory cueing systems. Organized writing folders so that each child could participate in the Writing Block workshop approach with independence and confidence.