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| Reading and Writing ...It's as Easy as PIE! |
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| In our first grade classroom, there are many different ways that I teach children to read and write. Because each first-grader is developing his/her literacy skills at a different rate, using many different techniques to teach reading allows the teacher to individualize instruction and adapt teaching to each student's needs. |
| Reading - PUR Books Soon your child will be taking home a PUR book in a gallon-size ziploc baggie. The PUR books are your child�s instructional reading books that are assigned according to his/her reading level. Please make sure your child reread these books at home on a daily basis. Please make sure your child returns his/her PUR book on a daily basis. It�s very important that the books are returned so that other children can take them out and enjoy them as well. A new book may be checked out as soon as the first book is returned. If by chance a PUR book is lost or ruined (they belong to the school), a new one will need to be ordered. You will be contacted with the name of the book and the company telephone number so you can reorder a new book for the classroom collection. I understand that books do get lost. Just be careful if you can. Further information reguarding PUR Books will be sent home to you! |
| Reader's Workshop Reader's Workshop is a time for children to read and explore books on their own. The children will be able to select their own books to read for pleasure and enjoyment. This is usually a 15 to 20 minute block during the school day where children will have time to read on their own. Before beginning Reader's Workshop, the children will learn how to select books that are right for them. This workshop is a quiet time for the children. |
| Guided Reading Groups Reading in first grade is set up to meet each child's individual needs. However, it is still important for children to learn from each other. Guided Reading Groups are done during Balanced Literacy time (centers). Children may be grouped according to their reading level, or based on a reading skill that needs to be practiced. Group members rotate several times throughout the year. Children read books with me and then practice reading them with you at home. |
| Writer's Workshop Writer's Workshop is where children are able to write, illustrate and publish their own creative stories into books. I usually begin Writer's Workshop in January. This allows me time to explore important writing skills with the children before they are asked to write on their own. During Writer's Workshop, the children will be writing their own stories and sharing them with me. We will be editing some stories together. When a story has been edited, the children will be typing their story into a book on the computer. Then I will print it for them, they will illustrate it and finally it is shared with the class in "Author's Chair". It is a fun and exciting process for the children! |
| Other Writing in the Classroom The children will be working on many other forms of writing practice in the classroom this year. They will practice their writing in their School Journal. This is where I get to work with them on specific writing skills such as spacing, punctuation, forming letters correctly and sentence structure. The children will be able to write about anything they choose in their school journals. It's a great opportunity for me to observe their true writing skills. We will also do Interactive and Shared Writing. The children will use dry erase boards and markers in these activities. As a class, we will generate sentences about everyday classroom activities or specific themes we are studing and write our sentences together. This is another opportunity for the children to practice their writing skills and for me to teach them "What good writer's do!" |
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