What I've Learned as a Reading Interventionist: Year 1

This year I have taken a detour in my teaching journey and moved out of the Kindergarten classroom (hence my poor, neglected blog). It has been a bittersweet time for me. I am in a position now that is more focused and doesn't have the same requirements and demands of a self-contained homeroom. As a result, I am able to focus on my own three precious kids (ages 9, 6, &3) more, spend less outside-the-school-day hours working on school, easily attend my girls' school events, and take sick days at a moment's notice when I'm needed at home. Don't get me wrong, these changes FAR out-weighs any downsides to the position, but I miss my kinders all the same. At certain times during the school year I have missed the milestones, the relationships with students and parents, and the honor of working to provide a wonderful first-year-of-school experience. Watching my students from last year as they have grown through first grade has brought me to tears of pride at times and I cherish the tackling hugs I receive as I walk the first grade halls. 

BUT...

I have learned SOOOOOOOOO much as a reading interventionist (in training)!  Even after 5 years as a first grade teacher, 5 years as a Title I interventionist, and 3 years as a Kindergarten teacher, what I have learned THIS year about reading instruction has shaken my beliefs about reading to the core, and I'm bursting at the seams to share it all with YOU!  I am excited to share some insight on reading instruction based upon what I've learned. I WISH someone would have shared these ideas with ME as a primary teacher. So, this post is meant to kick off a series of posts for parents, homeroom teachers, and interventionists in the primary grades, that focuses on some 

best practices for guiding a child through the wonderful world of learning to read.

Stay tuned for posts on the following topics - 

• STOP saying, "Sound it out!" Posted 4.11.16
• Phonological Awareness in KEY Posted 4.26.16
• I HATE Sight Words! Posted 6.21.16

Do YOU have burning questions about any of these topics?  

Post them in the comments below and I will work to address them!

Be sure to sign up for our newsletter set to launch in April, 2016, so you don't miss a single update AND to gain access to new freebies!  

Now for the fine print...

I'm sure you are wondering where I gained all this amazing insight! Since July, 2016, I have been involved in intensive training in the research-based, Reading Recovery Program that was developed by Marie Clay. According to the RRCNA website, the goal of Reading Recovery is "to dramatically reduce the number of first-grade students who have extreme difficulty learning to read and write." RR teachers work one-on-one with first grade students who are struggling with literacy as identified through assessment data and teacher recommendation. My year-long training has been hands-on in that I have been working with students while learning the program. *Please note that these blog posts are NOT intended to (nor could they) make you a RR teacher, nor should they give you tools that may be mis-used if you are untrained. The RR program is successful because it's processes and procedures are precise and protected. To remain a true RR interventionist, teachers must participate in continuous training and professional development while putting the program into practice. They must be observed and critiqued by their RR teacher peers and their highly-trained teacher leaders.  This thoroughness leads to a program with high fidelity, huge success, and perfected practices. If you are interested in being trained in RR check out the "Training" section of their website or check out how RR can help your school's RTI Program here!

HOWEVER...
Since I am fresh from a primary classroom and my eyes have been opened to new ways to approach reading this year, I just can't keep quiet about some of the things I have learned because I KNOW they will help YOU with YOUR literacy instruction!

Looking for the perfect printable (and online) leveled Kindergarten books for your guided reading lessons? Then look NO further.

Head over to my TpT store for my growing library of printable leveled books for Kindergarten Guided Reading!

The Snow Day Slump

In my experience as an interventionist I studied a lot of data and found that snow days can really have a negative impact on the progress of struggling readers.  All too often kids just sit at home on these days in front of the TV or iPad.  (Unless they have a mom like me who just made her kids turn off all technology and choose to read, write, or draw for an hour and a half... I'm so mean!) 

So, how do we keep those kids from slumping when they return?  

One way is to dive right back into a routine and schedule with lots of opportunities to read and write.  So, I've gathered some resources here for when you have those odd 2-3 day weeks mixed with wintry weather.  

Don't forget to check out my fun snow day freebie, too!

I tried to round up so tried and true as well as some new texts for this list.  

Click the titles to link to Amazon and learn more about each book.

1. Blizzard by John Rocco

2. The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

3. The Snow Globe Family by Jane O'Connor

4. Dream Snow by Eric Carle

5. The Story of Snow by Mark Cassino

6. Snow by Uri Shulevitz

7. Snow Day! by Lester L. Laminack

8. There was a cold lady who swallowed some snow!  by Lucille Colandro

Check out my "Snow Day Resources" Pinterest board for lots of reading and writing ideas especially for snow days!

Enjoy a snow day FREEBIE from my TpT store, 21st Century K, too!

February Currently!

I'm linking up with Farley at Oh' Boy 4th Grade for this month's edition of "currently."