Thank you for your advice!

I will check out that book. I just looked at it on Amazon - it
looks like it will be very helpful.

The class is language arts. In our district we incorporate
reading and writing into this one 50 minute class. We are only
responsible for the reading portion on the state achievement
test though.

We are using the McDougal Littell anthology. We started off with
Thank You M'am and moved on to A Retrieved Reformation. We
started the year reviewing story elements and then applied them
to these two stories. The copyright on our series is 1997
though!! We are in serious need of an update, but we are of
course lacking the funds.

I can also looking into using some of our audio TAPES! Ha, they
are so old they are still cassette tapes. Thank you.

On 10/08/09, Sara wrote:
> You're teaching reading or language arts? Have you read
> Mosaic of Thought? It's an excellent read and will help you -
> I highly recommend it.
>
> I do this - I start with an easy read. That wouldn't be O.
> Henry. If you have weak readers or those whose comprehension
> skills are not strong, stick to contemporary books while
> they're comprehension skills build.
>
> Get some short stories on tape - NPR has a series but I don't
> know if they're for sale. www.listeninglibrary or some book
> stores. Try Ray Bradbury's collection of short stories on
> tape and everybody can listen to a story. Listening is a
> skill they all can benefit from. Discuss the stories as you
> listen to them.
>
> In short, there are a few things that can be done that will
> work for both lower and higher, stronger and weaker.
>>
>> I am at a loss for how to differentiate their work. I am
>> looking for some tips on how to help them with reading
>> skills.
>
> Everybody should be reading 15-20 minutes every day (at home
> at night?) in an individually chosen/assigned book. The
> weaker readers need to be reading 2 years BELOW their
> instructional level to build fluency. The book should be easy
> for them to read.
>>
>>>
>> Does anyone have any tips on how to focus on the
>> comprehension skills with this group? I have no specialist
>> for this class so I am becoming VERY FRUSTRATED, VERY
>> QUICKLY!!
>>
> You can break them into groups but I usually choose an easier
> read book for the first book of the year but one with a
> profound message. The Giver. The Breadwinner.
>
> You can set the weaker readers to reading silently and have a
> literature club of the stronger readers and discuss a
> different book with them that they've been assigned
> separately.
> Good luck.
>> Thank you

Share This Post | Report This Post

Next Post >>

Posts on this thread, including this one