A Year of Literacy Coaching!

Literacy Coach Institute

2012-01-25T20:15:00.000-06:00

I have just finished round two in Manhattan at the 7th Annual TCRWP literacy coach institute (I went through the first year, too). My head is spinning ... but look out - more lab cycles for reading staff development for K-2, moving readers through levels, and bottom-line walk throughs coming soon!

I love my job!

2012-01-17T21:59:00.000-06:00

This is our second round of 1/2 day staff development ... and I have to say, "I love my job!" I am so lucky to work with some of the most committed educators I know, who are willing to do "whatever it takes" for student learning. I am continually inspired everyday.

Updates!

2011-11-30T22:32:00.000-06:00

This school year has been so busy and I must admit ... "blogging" has been put on the back burner. I am currently pursuing my EdS from The University of Florida - and my fall semester was a doozy! With all of that said ... LOTS of great things have been happening at our school.

Our first grade team is rocking and rolling ... students are blending words, not barking sounds - and teachers are more confident teaching explicit phonics and intervention! Many teachers in grades K-4 have "levelized" their students using Fountas and Pinnell guided reading levels - and kids are really moving! I'm happy to report that the third graders in the intervention groups (from September) have moved from levels F/G to levels K/L, and their wpm have increased from the low 30s to the 70-80s (on grade level text). The fourth grade teachers have worked diligently to plan comprehension in units of study, and I just know that our mid-year common assessments will show big gains! Many of our kindergarteners are reading and writing. And almost all of our kindergarten through second grade teachers have launched "writing workshops". Whew - it makes me tired just listing it all out!

I am currently working with teachers/parents to plan a Family Literacy Night. I will try and post ideas and pictures after our committee meets.

Thanks for hanging in there with me!

“It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end."
~ Ursula K. LeGuin

Third Grade Reading Intervention

2011-09-18T22:26:00.000-05:00

Creating intervention plans for third grade students reading two years behind is daunting ... and the research is somewhat dismal. The likelihood of changing a child's trajectory in third grade is difficult - to say the least. Here is my attempt. I am using the research and methodologies from Leveled Literacy Intervention (Fountas and Pinnell), Fluency (Neuhaus), Words their Way (Templeton and Bear) ... along with ARI lesson templates that follow the gradual release of responsibility. The books/passages come from a variety of places - right now the texts are from Reading A-Z - to me ... easily accessible leveled texts.My plan is to spend approximately 2 weeks on a reading level - mixing in the next instructional level on the last 2 days. There is a mixture of word attack strategies, fluency, comprehension, writing about reading ...I will (try) to keep you updated with results. This week is a transition week - so hopefully the kiddos will be ready to move!3rd - F Intervention 9.12 share.doc 3rd - F Intervention 9.19 share.docx

Pictures!

2011-09-05T15:28:00.002-05:00

Finally ... here are pictures of my classroom. It is "set-up" for data meetings (which begin tomorrow morning)!

Here are "anchor charts" for data meetings. An adapted "TAG Loop" (Targeted Accelerated Growth) and Norms.

This is my desk area.

Just a way to organize the "stuff" ... RTI, orders, data, professional development ...

I have tried to organize materials so they will be easily accessible for teachers ... leveled intervention materials; writing/reading mini-lesson; professional books ...

I still have lots of labeling to do ... but this works for now!

Fourth Grade Unit of Study -- Character Traits

2011-08-03T20:34:00.002-05:00

Planning in units of study is critical to the success of each reader in your classroom. You have to see the big picture in order to plan sequential, explicit lessons that target your outcomes/standards.

Step 1: Unpack your standard. Identify your verb, and then identify Bloom's Level of Taxonomy.
Verb Poster:

Common Core Standard -
RL.4.3. Describe in depth a character, setting, or event in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., a character’s thoughts, words, or actions).

Describe/Drawing On: I'm thinking this is application. Students must describe the character/setting/plot ... but what makes it application is using specific details to support their description.

Step 2: "Sit with the Resources"
This is my favorite part. Pull out all the resources you have that teach this standard. The Alabama Reading Initiative has created some great lesson plans for fourth graders based on the ideas from Harvey/Goudvis Comprehension Toolkit (ARI - Fourth Grade Training). Lots of states release their tests, so I often scour the internet searching for passages that match my standard. Picture books, professional books, adopted reading series (Storytown) ...

Step 3: Plan using the Gradual Release of Responsibility
Think -- I do! (teacher) We do! (teacher/child) We do! (child/child) You do! (child)

Click the link to view a sample calendar for the unit. August Calendar

You will notice the first week is focused on the idea that "Reading is Thinking". So many times our upper grade friends think reading is about the "words" ... so part of our job is to help redefine reading.
Next, lessons are planned that teach students the first part of the standard - describe characters. We lift the level of understanding by using resources that teach students how to use character trait words (other than "nice").
Because students are required to take high-stakes assessments, we must teach them how to understand this genre. The unit begins showing students multiple choice questions that focus on characters/character traits, and eventually moves into open-ended response ...drawing on specific details in the text.

* Teachers also "read aloud" from a chapter book - for example, Kate DiCamillo's Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. During this time, each teacher is able to focus on incorporating multiple deep comprehension strategies, tracking thinking over time (journey maps) ...

Let me know if you have any comments/questions!

First Grade Pacing Guide (Storytown + CAFE)

2011-07-31T22:23:00.000-05:00

This is a working document! We will be adding Station Ideas and CAFE connections as we go ... enjoy!

First Grade Pacing Guide

Coaching the Writing Workshop

2011-07-23T23:39:00.006-05:00

A few years ago, I attended the TCRWP Literacy Coach Institute. During this institute, I studied how teams of teacher cohorts developed their craft through "active" lab cycles. Teachers are paired with the same learning partner throughout the lab (much like a writing partner during writing workshop). The lab is designed to follow the gradual release of responsibility - with teachers having multiple opportunities to practice the pieces of writing workshop in a classroom. *This lab is designed for first and second grade teachers who are just beginning to dabble in Lucy Calkin's Units of Study for Primary Writing.
Logistics! There are 8 teachers on each team. We will use 1 classroom (approximately 18-22 students) for 30 minutes.

I have added links and images for the Lab Site Guides and Agendas, as well as a conferring handout. Make sure you click the links to see full versions of each guide on Google Docs.
Don't hesitate to leave questions/comments. I would love your feedback.

Lab Site Guide ... Graphic Organizer

Study Group Agenda

Writing Conferences - Research and Compliments

More First Grade Planning ...

2011-07-18T20:34:00.010-05:00

Here are some of the documents that were created after first grade summer planning ... schedules, sample phonics plans, sight word inventory ... the BIG Curriculum Map and intervention schedules coming soon!

The Sight Word Inventory is a compilation of the Kindergarten Harcourt Storytown Sight Words and Fry 25.

Sight Word Inventory - Teacher Copy

Sight Word Inventory - Student Copy

The workshop schedule blends Daily Five, CAFE, and Harcourt Storytown.

Workshop Schedule plus ... 1st Week of School!

Phonics - Week 2 (Short Vowel A)

Expanding Vocabulary doesn't begin until week 3 - so week 2 has an extended phonics time to teach procedures for decodable books.

* During Week 2 "Decodable Books" - Follow Daily 5 Focus Lesson 3
Day 1: Review how to sit during partner reading (EEKK) Daily 5 - p 63
Day 2: Model and practice how partners read using the same book. Daily 5 - p 64
Day 3: Model and practice how partners read two different books. Daily 5 - p69
Day 4: Create I-chart for where to sit in room during "Read to Someone". Daily 5 - p 70
Day 5: Review of charts. Model and practice "Coaching or Time". Daily 5 - p 73

I promised pictures!

2011-06-30T21:31:00.001-05:00

Well ... I was just able to "unload" all of my things into the new classroom. It's enormous ... and I can't believe all of the storage! I LOVE it. These are my "before" pictures. Not sure how long it will take me to have "after" pictures. Here are some possibilities:

Zone 1: Writing Workshop
I'm thinking some funky labels for the outside of the upper cabinets that list the professional materials stored inside.
The cubbies are adjustable so I can store writing materials, benchmark papers ...

Zone 2: Response to Intervention/PST
Each of the side boards are bulletin boards. I am thinking a dry erase calendar on one side for meetings - with current research articles/helpful tips on the other side.

More storage!
... (Yes, that is my sweet precious trying to "escape" Mommy's classroom!

I'll keep you posted!
Thanks for hanging in there with me. Summer is always a little crazy!

First Grade Summer Planning ...

2011-06-29T00:09:00.002-05:00

One goal for "First Grade Summer Planning" is to create a phonics pacing guide, following the Harcourt Storytown Progression. No two readers are alike, which is why we will "Round Up" multiple resources (decodable books/texts, multisensory word work, differentiated learning stations ...) to target instruction.

Click on each LINK to view complete documents.

Explicit Phonics Lesson Plan Template

Weekly Phonics Template

Phonics Binder Cover

Literacy Coach Classroom Design!

2011-06-10T14:48:00.006-05:00

I cannot wait to begin setting up my new classroom! (All nine years are sitting in my living room as I type!)

I am one of the "lucky ones" with a full-size classroom to design/use for student intervention, data meetings, professional development, and more... I like to think of my classroom design in terms of zones.
1. What is the zone's purpose?
2. What is going to be happening in the zone?
3. What resources/materials are needed to make the zone effective for student/teacher learning?
4. How does this zone support school goals?

Zone 1: Launching the writing workshop!
One of our school goals might focus on increasing purposeful student writing - writing in response to reading, writing across the content, and launching a school-wide writing workshop.

Zone 2: Response to Intervention (Problem Solving Team)
I am a member of the RTI/PST. My room will be used for team meetings. I want an inviting meeting area for teachers and an area dedicated to intervention strategies.

Zone 3: Reading is thinking!
Working with all readers is part of my job as literacy coach. This zone will serve multiple purposes ... housing book tubs organized by reading strategy for teachers; mini-student library; materials/manipulatives used for multisensory language instruction; ...

More zone ideas and pictures coming soon!

My "theme" colors this year are going to be black, white and pink - with a splash of green! I hope to create a sophisticated and fun space to work with teachers! Here are my first decoupaged wooden letters. I think I'll use these on my door.