Day #12

"I'm on CHAPTER NINE!" He exclaims to me as her turns the page and smiles very big.  We are all onto chapter books this week and a couple students smile as they follow along while one is laughing out loud. It is really great to know they have retained their interest in reading over the spring break.
I mentioned in my last post that being able to share their voices and experience is very important as they develop their inquiry and comprehension skills.

TODAYS AUDIO of the LITERATURE DISCUSSION:



When I completed todays Listening to Literacy Grow group I was approached by another parent back in their home room class. She was very curious and asked to see the blog and hear what we were doing daily. I was able to share with her their interest in reading and the routine we have set up to utilize our time best when together.  Like myself in the beginning, she did not think it was possible or at least she never read a book herself as she listened. Once I had the computer turned on and the blog open she was immediately interested in having the Listening to Literacy Grow web address to utilize the sites I have discovered and included in the left column. She has 2 sons and hopes this will help them strengthen their skills and love for reading. I hope she checks back in and lets me know how her sons like using the audio while reading at home.

The groups were combined today for a total of 6 students. This went very well as you can tell by the recording. I am very pleased to have figured out a way to get their voices on this blog. I will try and record smaller groups so that you can hear the depth and interest of each student more. When we are in larger groups there tends to be a few students that wish to talk the entire time and a few that are left in the back ground. Taking turns helps them to all get a chance to speak. I feel that the openness to express at anytime and the casual and accepting community they have created is really shinning through at this stage of them working together.

I learn as I grow and develop this blog and am happy to share with anyone how easy this really is. Just email me for my hints and tips.

Day #11 April 2, 2010

We had a parent visitor to our group today and with her was the younger brother of one of the students. This was the perfect opportunity to allow the brother to utilize an ipod and read a picture book. With the students getting setup and me introducing the concept the young boy we were off and reading.  The smile on the brothers face was memorable. He felt like one of the 2nd graders and it surely showed! This was not our 1st parent visitor but all three have actually been very impressed at how the students manager their time and the abundance of pages they read through daily. I am going to be following up to inquire about the motivation to read more at home with the program and its concept of improving the love for reading and fluency of developing readers.

I have attempted to record some more converstaions and discussions this week, but am finding the students demeanor changes with a camera present and they begin to loose their attention. Although this demonstrates their comfortability with one another it is difficult to understand. I will try and incorporate a podcast recording into the blog posts when we return from spring break. I am eager to share their discussions of the literature with you.

Well, next week is spring break so we will return with progress on April 13, 2010. Have a great spring break students!