Read Aloud...

..... one of the most important parts of our kindergarten day!

Every minute of the kindergarten day is important - like snapshots of learning throughout the morning and afternoon.  I work very hard to  keep instruction fluid, and concise and build a flow throughout that day that connects the learning.  I teach small group interventions that are targeted to the specific needs of my students, but everyday...more than once usually...we take time to share text together when we all come together to listen to the Read Aloud selection of the day.

Recently, we have been reading books written and illustrated by Mo Willems.  My students and I especially love the Gerald and Piggie books. 

Last week we read We Are In a Book!  It was such a magical moment.  My students come from many different literacy experiences and language backgrounds, but as we read this book, everyone giggled. I am so blessed to get to do this job everyday.  I have learned so much from them.  Mainly, as I watch each one do the hard work that it takes to be a reader, we are also all reminded about how much fun it is to learn to read.

Everyone...no matter their backgrounds...found joy in this book...and unity was apparent in our thinking and love of reading.

until later~

b~

Obvious to you....

...amazing to others!


I love this perspective.  It's just normal for everyone to believe that their thinking isn't really anything special.  Hmmm...how do we help change that for these little people who are going to change our tomorrow?

until later~

b~

Kids can sometimes surprise you...

...and they usually do :)

I have a unique program in that students transition into the foundations tier 3 intervention when their struggle with literacy becomes significant enough, that we see their needs can be best met by another half day of school.

We are continually monitoring students progress across the district and teachers contact me when they get new students who may need a quick assessment or need intervention.

So last week, I got this phone call from a teacher about a new student in her classroom. After meeting with a teacher, and the other resource support teachers who were also working with this student, it was decided that the child would be placed in my program. Those who currently were working with this student had some big concerns... mainly with motivation. Their perspective was that this learner didn't connect with other students and was not interested in their help. I have to admit that set my mind to thinking, and  I attempted to establish a plan to engage this student in learning the letters, sounds and, most importantly, the importance of taking the opportunity to hear others and be heard within our literacy setting.

I titled this blog..."Kids can sometimes surprise you..." because this new friend did. When this student arrived the first day on the bus, the student was hesitant, but engaged. This child is just completing their second day in my setting and is talking with the other students, making friends, reading during read-to-self time, participating in whole class activities and seems extremely content to try things and ask questions.

Sometimes it takes a little time for kids to understand that when their parents tell them they are starting in a new classroom and they are going there everyday...they meant it. New school environments can be daunting for anyone. Perhaps these few weeks in a new classroom in the home school was just the time needed to observe the lay of the land before jumping into the learning.

I am so excited to be working with this early learner and to help this child see them self as a reader and writer.

until later~

b~