Balanced Reading- in guided reading, I see the comprehension strategies utilized in the early part of the year. Shared reading- tea hers could model navigating complex text. Independent reading- I see literature circles in place.
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Mary Blackburn
4/29/2013 07:18:36 am
I see that guided, shared, and independent reading should all work together toward the teaching focus of the lessons for the month. This will give the student many opportunities to experience the highlighted lesson.
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Danielle Jones
4/29/2013 07:33:29 am
I see that guided reading and shared reading are important pieces. I see a large call for independent reading and a push for holding the students accountable for their reading. The overview also expressed the importance of including a balanced literacy approach in all areas of instruction.
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Lauren Baer
4/29/2013 08:28:23 am
I think Calkins emphasizes the importance of students learning through a variety of opportunities, which is how MRI has already helped structure our reading/writing block. I am wondering how this will pull more into the content areas though. Also, I know that I personally want to do more reading aloud to students throughout the day.
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Kendall Bennett
4/29/2013 01:24:10 pm
Looking at the components of balanced literacy as it is describe by Lucy Calkins, I see that she stresses the importance of using read-alouds to model the behaviors students should demonstarte during their independent reading. The last paragraph on page 11 where she is talking about using read alouds for book talks, then opportunities for students to read text within content areas, and practice reading text well. This made me think of the layout of many of Linda Hoyt's Interactive Read-Alouds.
I feel that it will allow us as teachers to show students how to go deeper and "think" more about their text (i.e. modeling what it might look like to have a conversation about the book). I also noticed that, like Lauren had said, the overall layout and schedule will look a lot like MRI--with several more read-alounds across all genres.
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Lindsey Arnall
5/1/2013 02:05:56 am
Balanced literacy is a combination of shared reading, read-alouds, and independent reading. All elements are essential to achieve a balanced literacy model. Balanced literacy includes writing workshop as well, where students will write in the genre that they are reading. The writing component also includes spelling, grammar, paragraphing, ect.
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Betty Teel
5/1/2013 12:19:46 pm
A balanced literacy program, of course, stresses the need for a "variety of different opportunities to learn." This includes shared reading with think alouds and modeling, guided reading, writing, time to read to self, and vocabulary. Calkins emphasizes especially reading (independently) stamina, writing about reading, and vocabulary instruction.
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Kara Kennedy
5/6/2013 12:56:28 am
There is a huge accountability piece for students' independent reading. This may be difficult to implement reading logs at home, especially with South families as we do not get the same level of support from parents. I have not personally done reading logs, so this will be a good change for me. I know that the accountability piece has been missing in my classroom, and I look forward to implementing it.
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Alyssa Blake
5/18/2013 03:17:45 am
I agree with Kara Kennedy in that the independent reading accountability through home and school logs will be a huge change from this (my first) year in 4th grade. It seems difficult to be hyper aware of the reading rate and level variations of all of my students to the extent that is described, but I can absolutely see the value of this information. I also like how students should be looking for patterns in and critically analyzing their own logs and the logs of peers. Setting the culture for this activity in the classroom early will make this successful. As far as balanced literacy, I also agree with all of you. This curricular plan focuses on balanced literacy as much as, if not more than MRI. I am definitely excited to incorporate more modeled read alouds than ever.