Got Me Thinking

Once again I'm joining Kimberley from First in Maine to talk about Catching Readers Before They Fall.  I wonder if we've convinced anyone yet to read this book?  You can visit Kimberley's convincing thoughts by clicking on the above graphic.

Chapter 7:  I Thought I Knew How to Teach Reading, but Whoa!

What got me thinking...

"When working with students in beginning-level texts, you may think there are not many things to discuss.  However, we encourage teachers to have conversations with children around these simple patterned texts."


I am guilty of simplifying my conversations with groups of students who are reading beginning level simple patterned texts.  "I am laughing.  I am running.  I am crying.  I am..."  You know the kinds of texts I'm talking about.  The above statement sure left me feeling convicted about my watered-down conversations.  I am doing children a great disservice by not inviting them into deeper levels of thinking and comprehending regardless of the simplicity of text that they need.  Mental note:  fix that.

"By the beginning of first grade, phonemic awareness instruction should only be targeting those children who still need it." 

This thought has me thinking too.  I like to naturally imbed phonemic awareness into reading and writing, but for the first month of school, I also spend ten to fifteen minutes almost every day practicing phonemic awareness skills in hands-on, fun ways.  Do all the kids need this?  It depends on the class, but the answer is typically no.  Mental note: think about this. 

Thanks Kimberley for letting me share how this book is making me think outside of my comfortable box.