In readers' workshop, we've started our guided reading groups. Here is a description of guided reading, from the Fountas and Pinnell Blog (literacy gurus!) :
What is guided reading?
Guided reading is a teaching approach designed to help individual readers build an effective system for processing a variety of increasingly challenging texts over time. Using benchmark assessments or other systematic observation, the teacher has determined the approximate instructional reading level of each of the students. The teacher forms a temporary group of students that are alike enough in their development of a reading process that it makes sense to teach them together for a period of time. In selecting a text for the group, the teacher uses the level designation; thinks about the strengths, needs, and background knowledge of the group; and analyzes the individual text for opportunities to support students' successful engagement with the meaning, language, and print of the text. The teacher uses the text to help the children expand what they know how to do as readers.
In writers' workshop, we are working on adding detail to our stories to make them COME TO LIFE!
In science, we have switched gears. Our red wigglers will continue to be an important part of our classroom throughout the year as we watch them turn food scraps into lovely compost soil, but while this is happening we will study a variety of scientific topics. Our latest topic? OWLS! We've started a KWL chart to help us organize our thoughts and wonderings about owls.
We've read a few books about owls, one realistic fiction and one an informational text, to help us answer some of our questions about these mysterious animals.
We studied the calls of different owls, and compared how some are alike and some are very, very different. Visit http://www.massaudubon.org/owls/ to listen for yourself!
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