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Teacher Mailring Center
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Alison - Hi Mary. Is there a topic tonight?
Mary/PA - You can talk about any Reading Recovery Topic you'd like
Mary/PA - I can't stay, I have too much work to do
Gigi/MO - Hello, everyone!!
Gigi/MO - I understand, Mary but we'll miss you!!
molly - Hello Gigi
molly - Are we going to start a discussion?
Gigi/MO - Well, I'm going "behind the glass" on THURS. and my teacher is coming TOMORROW!! Wish me luck!!
molly - Explain what you mean?
Gigi/MO - I'm taking a student to my class to be observed!!
molly - What grade do you teach?
Gigi/MO - I teach Reading Recovery in first grade and then I do a Title 1 program with K and 1 group of second grade.
Gigi/MO - What about you?
molly - I teach Head Start, would you mind explaining what reading recovery is?
Gigi/MO - Reading Recovery (RR for short) is a program designed to help the lowest 20% in reading and writing in the first grade!!
molly - That must be challenging, I have always been interested in reading.
Gigi/MO - It was developed by Marie Clay in New Zealand many years ago and then it was brought to the US!! She did lots of research and developed it!!
molly - Are you certified in reading? masters?
Gigi/MO - I have a BS in Ed.(Elem. Ed. and Spec. Ed.), a reading certification, a masters in curriculum and instruction with an emphasis in reading!!
molly - I have a BA in Elementary Education and working on my masters in Educational technology.
Gigi/MO - Then RR has their own training for a year!! It is training while you teach!! It's a wonderful training as far as reading!! I learned LOTS more through it than any college classes!!
molly - do you have a lot of children in RR?
Gigi/MO - We work one-on-one with 4 students for the first part of the year and then take on 4 more students the second part of the year!! At my school, we have about 40 first graders and so I'm required to work with 8 or more students per year
molly - Are there a lot of teaching opportunities where you live?
Gigi/MO - I do RR part of the day and then do Early Literacy groups the other half of the day!!
molly - hello tyylee
Gigi/MO - I'm not real sure about the teaching opportunities around here!! We didn't have any at my school BUT at the other elem. in our district they had 2 openings!!
molly - That's not many, I know there hard to find in my area.
Gigi/MO - Hello, tyylee!! Mary couldn't stay because she said she had TOO much work to do!!
Gigi/MO - I've been trying to explain RR to molly!!
molly - Are you the only RR teacher?
tyylee - hello
Gigi/MO - I am the only one at my school but then there is another RR teacher at the other elem. in our district!! The teacher there and I trained in RR 6 years ago!!
Gigi/MO - tyylee-Do you teach RR?
Gigi/MO - It seems like I've seen you on here before!!
Gigi/MO - molly,tyylee--Are you there?!?!
molly - Like i said earlier, I teach head start, any suggestions on pre reading skills for my students?
tyylee - we have a strange situation this year. Our first grade classes have dwindled all year and now there are only 26 first grade students for three RR teachers and we have no more children to take. I am losing two children who are moving and there is no one else who needs help. I guess I will just work with some Kindergarten or second grade children and not count them. My TL works in my school with me and we have never had a situation like this before.
Gigi/MO - Read to them, Read to them, Read to them!!
molly - I do, several times a day.
molly - They love to be read to.
tyylee - Our Kindergarten classes are normal size so this is a once in a lifetime problem.
Gigi/MO - WOW, tyylee!! What a deal!! I took a RR student in on a level 14 about 4 weeks ago because she was the lowest one we had!! I think she'll be fine by the end of the year!! We only have 3 weeks left after THIS week!!
molly - Tylee, any teaching opportunities where you are?
tyylee - we have about a month but part of that will be spent testing. The next child in first grade tested at level 18.
Gigi/MO - molly--Do you have any big books that you use during read aloud times?
molly - yes, I have big books
tyylee - Molly, I am in a university town and we have an abundance of people wanting every job opening. People have to drive to nearby towns to get jobs.
molly - The kids have their favorites and know them word for word
molly - What are the levels you two are talking about in RR?
Gigi/MO - tyylee--That's wonderful!! Mine situation was back in March and my TL and I thought that was TOO early to take a K student!!
tyylee - In RR books are leveled 1-20 according to difficulty. We want first graders to be at levels 12-14 mid year and at least 16-18 at the end of the year.
Gigi/MO - molly--When I go into the K classes, I often use big books!! I show them things like where to start/stop, punctuation, high frequency words, etc.!!
tyylee - I teach my Kindergarten students to 1-1 match and to read patterned books.
Gigi/MO - tyylee--I'm going "behind the glass" on THURS. and my TL is coming TOMORROW!!
molly - Thanks for the input, tyylee and Gigi
tyylee - I hate BTG even though my TL works in the room with me daily. It is the hassle of getting a child there and back that is the biggest headache.
Alison - Hi everyone, I know I'm really late, just got off the phone. I was wondering if I could get some insight and suggestions. This is my training year. I've noticed lately that several of my students are reversing words, i.e. said Mom, for "Mom said". It's really messing up their running record scores. Most of them did not do this until lately. Should I be concerned?
Gigi/MO - I hope I chose the right student to take!! The one I chose is kinda quiet and it is the one that is my lowest right now!! She's gained so much BUT I don't know if she will make it out or not!!
molly - What is a TL?
Gigi/MO - TL is a Teacher Leader!!
molly - Well, nice chatting with all of you, thanks again for answering my questions.
Gigi/MO - Alison--I know it messes up the running records BUT as far as getting the meaning, I think they probably are!! Nice talking to you, molly!!
tyylee - I like to take the lowest child and try to get imput from the other teachers about what they see as the next steps to work on with that child. That way it isn't a wasted effort for me or the child.
Gigi/MO - I hate it when the substitute A for THE of vice versa!!
tyylee - Alison, that often happens when a child starts reading fluently. Just point it out to the child a few times and kid them about not making silly mistakes and usually they will be more careful.
Gigi/MO - Guess I can't really type tonight--I meant i don't like it when they confuse THE and A!!
Gigi/MO - I know that the A and THE thing doesn't affect the meaning but it does mess up the rr!!
Alison - Well, that's good news. Both children who have started doing this have had a very difficult time making progress. I thought it might be a good sign in a way. Thanks for the reassurance.
Alison - Gigi, they mix up A and THE and IN and ON now too. Guess, we will have a little talk tomorrow.
Gigi/MO - tyylee--I guess I'm wanting more help with my student that I'm taking on THURS.!! The other teacher is taking someone that will make her look good (level 18 last week) but she usually takes her hard ones!!
tyylee - My lowest child does it too but I usually ignore it since there are more important things to focus on right now. She has a difficult time focusing on words and sounding through them but her comprehension is terrific.
Gigi/MO - Well, I need to go and eat a bite and then prepare for my TL!! I can't imagine teaching in the same room as my TL!! I'm sure it would make me a better RR teacher!!
Alison - tyylee, you are right. Thanks for the reminder. They are both working hard on more important issues. Thanks for the reminder. There goes the phone again. Goodnight all.
Gigi/MO - Gotta go!! See you another time!!
tyylee - I have enjoyed having my TL with me. When I get stuck on With a child I ask her to read with him/her for a day and give me suggestions. Also I like listening to what she is doing and using that as a reminder to myself of what I should be doing that I am forgetting.
Gigi/MO - Sounds like you have a great working relationship!!
tyylee - She is a wonderful person, never critical, always positive and helpful!
tyylee - I need to go for the night. Good luck with your BTG
Gigi/MO - That is wonderful!! Mine is pretty encouraging also!! Even after 6 years, there are times I just don't feel like I know what I'm doing and I get in ruts!!
tyylee - Me too!
