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Reading First Chatboard

Wanted good nonfiction leveled readers w/Soc. St. themes

by KathyB2ndIA

Jul 2, 2008

For the past few years we have been purchasing lots of good nonfiction leveled readers with a Science theme. Each year we select a different publisher, so that we can have 6 copies of similar topics/themes for our reading groups. Now, we need to move onto Social Studies. The search seems to be more difficult.

What have you been finding?

Karen Time for Kids are really good and they go along with our social studies program.

Jul 23, 2008

KathyB2ndIA Are you referring to the magazine - Time for Kids? Yes, they are good, but we can't buy consumables with our Reading First money. We aren't allowed to have fundraisers for the purchase of magazines either -- new rules from only our district.

It must be books that can be used over and over from year to year.

Thanks for the suggesti...See More

Jul 23, 2008

Response to Intervention, anyone?

by RTI Annie

Jul 7, 2008

Last year was our school's first year at using the RTI process. Anyone else doing such? We are not, however, a reading first school although we "borrow" some practices from them.

BTW, I have read some headlines which have said Reading First did not help as much as originally planned. I was very disappointed to hear this because it does see...See More

Kinder Gal I also read that same article. We are just becoming a "Reading First" school, just having our initial training right after school got out. We had "borrowed" some practices from them prior to this.

I think that there are programs that work for some kids, and programs that do not work. I feel that schools are spending tons of money on progra...See More

Jul 8, 2008

NFM On 7/08/08, Kinder Gal wrote: > I also read that same article. We are just becoming > a "Reading First" school, just having our initial training > right after school got out. We had "borrowed" some > practices from them prior to this. > > I think that there are programs that work for some kids, and > programs that do not work. ...See More

Jul 10, 2008

Praxis II elementary education

by spirit2

Jul 8, 2008

I will soon complete my masters degreee in education. I live in VA where they require you to take 4 state required test. I have taken 3 and passed I have one left. Is their anyone out their that can help me with some advice about passing this test. I am so tired right now from the masters level courses and sick of state test. Is their an easy way t...See More

The first day and week of school

by Kinder Gal

Jul 13, 2008

I am new to reading first. Our first week of school consist of 1/2 day classes. We are instructed to begin our 90 minute reading block on the very first day. What and how do other schools teach RF when trying to get organized that first week of school? (I teach K.)

betsy On 7/13/08, Kinder Gal wrote: > I am new to reading first. Our first week of school > consist of 1/2 day classes. We are instructed to begin > our 90 minute reading block on the very first day. What > and how do other schools teach RF when trying to get > organized that first week of school? (I teach K.)

I would start with t...See More

Jul 25, 2008

Will you cheer or jeer if Reading First is dropped next year

by Wundrin

Jul 17, 2008

Will you miss Reading First if it's dropped after the election?

view previous comments

elaine Could you tell me what you plan to use specifically from the Reading First program? What do you like as far as methods of instruction? Thanks

On 7/31/08, intervention tchr wrote: > Jeer. I am confident some(MANY) teachers will not try as hard to reach > every student. Reading First at least held them accountable for every > child....See More

Apr 4, 2009

elaine If the texts are not GA standards based - are they based on any other standard? Could you tell me a little about the "scripted reading"? Thanks

On 7/23/08, Christina/GA wrote: > On 7/22/08, Tessa- 1st / FL wrote: >> Both. >> >> Jeer because our lit and data coaches have been great. >> >> Cheer because there...See More

Apr 4, 2009

Reading First poll posted by Reading First proponents!

by Let your voice be heard! !They are trying to keep Reading First!

Aug 13, 2008

From Education Week blogs:

State Reading First directors came up with the idea for the National Association for Reading First after learning about plans in Congress to eliminate the $1 billion-a-year grant program, according to Debora Scheffel, who directs the program in Colorado.

The organization will promote inclusion of Readin...See More

Vote in the poll so teachers will be heard, not just RF! On 8/13/08, Let your voice be heard! !They are trying to keep Reading First! wrote:

> From Education Week blogs: > > State Reading First directors came up with the idea for the > National Association for Reading First after learning about > plans in Congress to eliminate the $1 billion-a-year grant > program, according t...See More

Aug 13, 2008

Tessa- FL I really don't think RF was that bad. There were too many tests, and it seemed to be a scheme to make $$$ for the textbook companies (since the selection was such a short list it looks awful fishy), but it comes with $$$ for the school. I know we couldn't afford lit/data people at the RF school I was at without RF. Of course, we probably wouldn't n...See More

Aug 15, 2008

How do you schedule your day?

by first time reading first

Aug 30, 2008

I am having a hard time making out my schedule. Nothing in my day is consistent except for the 90 minutes of reading and 30 minutes of intervention. How can I justify not having recess, social studies, or science and yet teach the standards. This is frustrating.

Tessa- FL On 8/30/08, first time reading first wrote: > I am having a hard time making out my schedule. Nothing > in my day is consistent except for the 90 minutes of > reading and 30 minutes of intervention. How can I justify > not having recess, social studies, or science and yet > teach the standards. This is frustrating.

Amen. An...See More

Sep 1, 2008

Response to Intervention

by Anita

Aug 31, 2008

Help! My school is implementing RtI this year and I am beside myself. My pricipal says I must teach my entire class (core group) reading at the same time. I have been teaching for 26 years and this method goes against everything I have ever believed about reading instruction. Children need to be taught at their insturctional level. If I teach every...See More

view previous comments

Not in a Reading First School though We don't use the terminology Tier 1,2, 3 anymore. We refer to the categories as benchmark (at benchmark or above), strategic (not quite benchmark), and intensive (considerably below benchmark). The intensive are those who - if after a lot of extra instruction and interventions - do not make adequate gains are likely to be referred to Special Educat...See MoreWe don't use the terminology Tier 1,2, 3 anymore. We refer to the categories as benchmark (at benchmark or above), strategic (not quite benchmark), and intensive (considerably below benchmark). The intensive are those who - if after a lot of extra instruction and interventions - do not make adequate gains are likely to be referred to Special Education after two or three intervention cycles. We give all the intensive students at least one shot of extra instruction for 30 minutes every day - not a reteach of the regular curriculum but a scientifically researched intervention program. Some also join an afterschool program and get a third shot. The strategic students get a 30 minute preteach of the regular program or a scientifically researched based instruction depending on their needs. The reading teachers and their assistants do the second shot with the intensive students. The classroom teacher and reading assistants do the second shot with the strategic.

We all have a reading block of 90 minutes. Thirty minutes of this is walk-to-read (leveled reading) with almost all school personnel having a group - to help with differentiated instruction or multi- tiered instruction. The intensive and strategic interventions were in addition to this.

RtI is a SpEd process. Don't forget that. It's about making sure kiddos have had adequate instruction before they are identified as learning disabled. If, after a lot of good instruction they are still not making it, it's time to dig deeper. It's about doing something better than the discrepancy model which is not scientifically research based.

Has it been a lot of work? Yes. Do I agree with every single aspect? No. I like and support DIBELS testing but I don't think the word use fluency and retell fluency are fair to use in deciding groups. These are pretty weak in my humble opinion. There are areas I still have reservations about in assessment mainly .Has it been overall successful in my school? Oh, my, yes!

I think teaching has gotten very hard. I love, love, love teaching but it is not as easy as it used to be 25 years ago when I started. However, I have to keep in mind the district didn't hire me to do my thing. They hired me to do their thing. Mary On 9/17/08, Tessa- FL wrote: > Hope this hels: > > Tier 1: your normal whole-group thing. > Tier 2: differeintiate (which I still can't spell): > high/medum/low, although I feel like I have 1 low and 2 mediums > this year, and last year low, lower and lowest! For this part we > do a lot of readinga-z, and the low group usually re-reads the > whole group stuff. 10-15 minutes per group. I'll also work on > worksheets with them that the medium groups complete alone. > Tier 3: Not my job thankfully! We have teachers that pull out the > lowest of the low. They miss really useless classes like math, > writing, science, or social studies (because the only important > class is reading, right?) I don't know how we're able to get away > with non-teachers doing the tier 3, but somehow we do. Welcome to > the crazy world of NCLB!

Aug 23, 2009

Jo On 8/23/09, Not in a Reading First School though wrote: > We don't use the terminology Tier 1,2, 3 anymore. We refer to the > categories as benchmark (at benchmark or above), strategic (not quite > benchmark), and intensive (considerably below benchmark). The > intensive are those who - if after a lot of extra instruction and > inter...See MoreOn 8/23/09, Not in a Reading First School though wrote: > We don't use the terminology Tier 1,2, 3 anymore. We refer to the > categories as benchmark (at benchmark or above), strategic (not quite > benchmark), and intensive (considerably below benchmark). The > intensive are those who - if after a lot of extra instruction and > interventions - do not make adequate gains are likely to be referred > to Special Education after two or three intervention cycles. We give > all the intensive students at least one shot of extra instruction for > 30 minutes every day - not a reteach of the regular curriculum but a > scientifically researched intervention program. Some also join an > afterschool program and get a third shot. The strategic students get > a 30 minute preteach of the regular program or a scientifically > researched based instruction depending on their needs. The reading > teachers and their assistants do the second shot with the intensive > students. The classroom teacher and reading assistants do the second > shot with the strategic. > > We all have a reading block of 90 minutes. Thirty minutes of this is > walk-to-read (leveled reading) with almost all school personnel > having a group - to help with differentiated instruction or multi- > tiered instruction. The intensive and strategic interventions were in > addition to this. > > RtI is a SpEd process. Don't forget that. It's about making sure > kiddos have had adequate instruction before they are identified as > learning disabled. If, after a lot of good instruction they are > still not making it, it's time to dig deeper. It's about doing > something better than the discrepancy model which is not > scientifically research based. > > Has it been a lot of work? Yes. Do I agree with every single aspect? > No. I like and support DIBELS testing but I don't think the word use > fluency and retell fluency are fair to use in deciding groups. These > are pretty weak in my humble opinion. There are areas I still have > reservations about in assessment mainly .Has it been overall > successful in my school? Oh, my, yes! > > I think teaching has gotten very hard. I love, love, love teaching > but it is not as easy as it used to be 25 years ago when I started. > However, I have to keep in mind the district didn't hire me to do my > thing. They hired me to do their thing. > Mary

I am so happy to hear positive stories!

Aug 24, 2009

Flexible Grouping Letter to Parents

by Laura

Sep 8, 2008

I am working at a school that is using Flexible Grouping during the guided reading. This is K-2. So, some students from K are going to a 1st grade room, 2nd to a 1st, etc.

I am trying to find a letter to send parents and the rationale behind this. Any advice as to where to look?

Tessa- FL On 9/08/08, Laura wrote: > I am working at a school that is using Flexible Grouping > during the guided reading. This is K-2. So, some students > from K are going to a 1st grade room, 2nd to a 1st, etc. > > I am trying to find a letter to send parents and the > rationale behind this. Any advice as to where to look?

We met...See More

Sep 13, 2008

by Pam

Sep 26, 2008

I am having a hard time getting started on my centers/workshops. Do you have any great ideas?

What is the grade level? nfm On 9/26/08, Pam wrote: > I am having a hard time getting started on my > centers/workshops. Do you have any great ideas?

Sep 27, 2008

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