I posted before - I thought. Forgive me if there's a double!
I'm teaching 6th Language Arts. I haven't taught this subject for about 10 years, and I need some help. Teaching writing has never been my favorite thing to do, and I feel I don't teach it very well.
Usually, I have the students do some writings at the beginning of the year and then assess where we need to go from there. My problem is where do I start to make the writing more meaningful? It seems that the assignments I've given in the past aren't meaningful enough to the students.
I teach elementary gifted and I'm in charge of our building's independent readers program. For the past 4 years, I have used Follet's TitleWave website to level my books. Recently, our new librarian introduced me to lexiles. I have read the online information and sent for the free materials (which have not arrived yet!)
Here is my dilema...
When going back and lexiling my classroom library, I have noticed that with some titles, there is a discrepancy between the follet level (given as grade level such as 4.5 or 5.0 or YA) and the lexile number.
In the past I've used the numbers as a guideline for challenging reading. Students in 4th grade can read anything but the 6th grade only material which deals with more mature topics. Fifth graders cannot read books below a 5.5 level and sixth graders must read above a 6.5 level.
Now I see that some of the books that I have labeled as challenging but appropriate for everyone are lower lexiles than books that I have labeled as not appropriate for 6th grade readers.
Has anyone used aims web for assessing reading and/or math skills? I'm thiking about purchasing the tests for my class, but don't know if it will be worth the money. The web site is [link removed].
On 5/22/08, JP wrote: > Has anyone tried Let's Go Learn's DORA? Diagnostic Online > Reading Assessment. It is also web-based and measures seven sub- > skills of reading! They also have a math assessment that is > great- basic math skills and pre-algebra. Their website is > [link removed].
I posted this very early in the school year, I think most of you were still on summer vacation. Is anyone using the Voyager Universal Literacy reading program? Are you having success with it? I teach second grade and I am am having the following difficulties: *Non-readers are not given the chance to learn letters and sounds, just repeat the words that I read, such as camouflage and biography. *I have more nonreaders than readers (12 non, 7 barely read, and 3 are almost on-target) so NO work gets done in the stations. *There is not a language component. My children still cannot write sentences.
Due to time constraints and having to teach all the other subjects, there is no time in the day to teach language. I currently only get half the math time that I should. Please don't ask me to call my union rep, because there is nothing that can be done. I am not trying to make the situation better for me, just trying to teach my children and help them learn. Thanks!!!
I used Voyager when I taught first grade in GA with lots of success. I don't understand why you have so many non- readers in 2nd grade. Did they have Voyager in first grade or is this your school's first year implementing? I've found if they have the program starting in Kinder they are much more successful. So if your school is just beginning, you should see more success later. I know that this does not help you with where you are right now though.
On 9/19/05, KB wrote: > I posted this very early in the school year, I think most > of you were still on summer vacation. Is anyone using the > Voyager Universal Literacy reading program? Are you having > success with it? I teach second grade and I am am having > the following difficulties: *Non-readers are not given the > chance to learn letters and sounds, just repeat the words > that I read, such as camouflage and biography. *I have more > nonreaders than readers (12 non, 7 barely read, and 3 are > almost on-target) so NO work gets done in the stations. > *There is not a language component. My children still > cannot write sentences. > > Due to time constraints and having to teach all the other > subjects, there is no time in the day to teach language. I > currently only get half the math time that I should. Please > don't ask me to call my union rep, because there is nothing > that can be done. I am not trying to make the situation > better for me, just trying to teach my children and help > them learn. Thanks!!!
Voyager is the most boring reading program on the market. It does not teach reading comprehension. I am in a district where most of the schools have to use it. Our school was lucky enough not to have to use it. When I get a kindergartner or first grade student from a Voyager school I cringe!! They read words. They have no comprehension skills at all.
On 9/17/06, SCteacher wrote: > On 9/19/05, KB wrote: >> I posted this very early in the school year, I think most >> of you were still on summer vacation. Is anyone using the >> Voyager Universal Literacy reading program? Are you having >> success with it? I teach second grade and I am am having >> the following difficulties: *Non-readers are not given the >> chance to learn letters and sounds, just repeat the words >> that I read, such as camouflage and biography. *I have more >> nonreaders than readers (12 non, 7 barely read, and 3 are >> almost on-target) so NO work gets done in the stations. >> *There is not a language component. My children still >> cannot write sentences. >> >> Due to time constraints and having to teach all the other >> subjects, there is no time in the day to teach language. I >> currently only get half the math time that I should. Please >> don't ask me to call my union rep, because there is nothing >> that can be done. I am not trying to make the situation >> better for me, just trying to teach my children and help >> them learn. Thanks!!!
I posted this very early in the school year, I think most of you were still on summer vacation. Is anyone using the Voyager Universal Literacy reading program? Are you having success with it? I teach second grade and I am am having the following difficulties: *Non-readers are not given the chance to learn letters and sounds, just repeat the words that I read, such as camouflage and biography. *I have more nonreaders than readers (12 non, 7 barely read, and 3 are almost on-target) so NO work gets done in the stations. *There is not a language component. My children still cannot write sentences.
Due to time constraints and having to teach all the other subjects, there is no time in the day to teach language. I currently only get half the math time that I should. Please don't ask me to call my union rep, because there is nothing that can be done. I am not trying to make the situation better for me, just trying to teach my children and help them learn. Thanks!!!
Hello everyone! I am currently a student at Austin Peay and for one of my education classes we are supposed to choose a type of software to use in the classroom for what ever subject we choose. I was wondering if any of you knew of any really fun software that goes helps 2nd graders on their story comprehension and checks for understanding after reading. I want something that teaches them, but is fun at the same time. If any of you have recommendations then please help me! Thanks!
I'm teaching English in grade 5-6 and 8 in Sweden. I found a couple years ago reading assignments with grammar on the internet. I made cards to work with from them. For example; "Pick 10 nouns from your book and write them in both singular and plural" The students read easy fictional litterature and then choose assignments to do to each. This worked fine, but I haven't used them for some years and when I went looking for them now I can't find the, so I thought I'd go looking for new ones on the net, but that was a harder task than I thoght it would be. Has anyone found anything like this out there?