Recap of this week

In addition to meeting the classroom teacher at the school site, I have been preparing the materials and learning how to best record the readings. With this I can have the materials, iPods, ready for use this week!

There is also good news about having a voice variety in the readings. My boyfriends mom offered to help with some of the recordings and I am so thankful. I was not going to ask for any help initially but she insists! I believe the variety in voices will be welcomed by the students.

I have 2 boys and 2 girls in the initial group.  These students read above the 2nd grade reading level and need to have some inspiration to go and pick up books thats are challenging or at least near their reading level. My original focus was not on differentiating above grade level readers, but as an educator I know that having additional resources for the above grade level reader is key to their success too.  It is always hard when below grade level and struggling readers get pulled out and work quite often in small groups to additionally provide great resources for your at or above grade level students. I must never for get that all students require and are inspired by the special resources you provide and equip them with.

Language acquisition comes through experiential learning and having the audio as well as discussions about authentic children's literature. However, beginning readers who need more inspiration to read children's literature books will enjoy this process of listening and discussion too. I hope to be adding a second group of students to the program after about 1 week. Initially, I will be tracking the interest and ability to follow instruction and be self lead throughout the discussions and time together. The more productive they are independently, the better I will feel about adding another group of 4 to concurrently be working productively while I monitor the learning and discussions.

Today I hope to accomplish:

• Completion of the introductory Mini-Lessons
• Prepare the Introduction & Participation Letters (Parents, Teacher, Administrator and Students)
• Create Literature Discussion Cards
• Sort through books and label by reading level.
• Create an annotated bibliography of all books.
• Locate a small flip video camera to document with in addition to my photo camera. 
• Select a traveling case for all project materials to be transported daily. 

I will follow up on my progress and findings!