Key Vocabulary:
Shared Reading: The teacher and students reading a passage together as a group.
Interactive Reading: A passage is read to students with periodic breaks for discussion.
Choral Reading: A small group of students who are at a similar reading level reading in unison.
Guided Reading: Reading in small groups of students at similar reading levels.
Word Wall: Important words that the teacher has written down and posted on a wall of the classroom.
Mini Lessons: A sort of “subplot” of the lesson plan. The teaching of processes, strategies, concepts, etc. that are all included within the main lesson.
Interactive Read Aloud: The teacher reads the book to the students while the students engage in activities related to the content of the reading.
Concepts of Print: The basics of how print works, such as the direction of the print, letters, punctuation, etc.
Concepts About Words: The process students go through from not knowing what words are, to knowing that words stand for things, to knowing that words carry meaning and build stories, to knowing that words have meaning in and of themselves and can be written, spoken, listened to, and read.
Concepts About the Alphabet: The way that letters translate to phonemes.
Routines to Teach the Alphabet: Any method that can be used for students to practice and learn the alphabet.
Environmental Print: The words around students such as those on logos.
Assessing Concepts of Written Language: Measuring students’ understandings of print, words, and the alphabet.
Emergent Reading and Writing Stage: Understanding the purpose of print and being able to pretend to read predictable books.
Beginning Reading and Writing Stage: Student is able to use phonics to sound out and spell complicated words while being able to write and fluently read high-frequency words.
Fluent Reading and Writing Stage: Student is able to automatically and fluidly read and write while focusing on the meaning behind what they are reading and writing.
Revising Groups: Groups of students working together to improve their writing.
Morning Message: A message that teachers write to their students about what will happen during their day that the students then use to practice reading.
Predictable Books: Books with repetitive sentences that students can pick up on quickly.
Language-Experience Approach: (LEA) The students say words and sentences which the teacher then writes down.
Manuscript Handwriting: Practicing handwriting and proper pencil holding.
Classroom Application:
I especially liked the concept of the morning message. I remember teachers when I was growing up writing down the schedule for the day, but not having us actively read it and comprehend. Once I have my own classroom, I plan on using this strategy, regardless of the age of my students. Even if they are reading fluently, it can be helpful for students to know what to expect throughout their day.
Morgan Wyatt 