Wow! To say I have been lax in updating this blog is an understatement! One of my 1500 resolutions for the new year is to be better about updating this blog. Of course out of those 1500 I make, I will be lucky if I keep three... but hey! The important thing is the promise that January brings right? So in that spirit, I say, I will blog more. Maybe if I could figure out how to blog using my phone....hmmm... Any who, my plan is to update and add some websites since I am told many of my sites have changed hands, I also want to upload some videos and pictures, but of course I don't have any with me over vacation. I am part of a presentation on Friday January 4th at Bridgewater State so at least I have a timeline to work with. I sure hope this past year has been better to you than it has to me. I suppose every one's year is filled with ups and downs, but I swear, I'm beginning to feel like Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh and trust me, that is NOT me. I wish you all a wonderful year. Thank you to the nine of you who continue to follow me. I promise to be a better blogger in the new year!

Anyone Else's Head Spinning?

Does anyone else feel like the beginning of the year is extra stressful? I mean, I know that September can be nuts, but it always seems that something "extra" comes up. Maybe I'm nuts, but it just seems that way. I apologize for not updating this site in a more timely manner, but life happens. At least, September has come to an end and October is upon us.

As far as workshop goes, we are still focusing on reading to self and reading to a buddy. I have also added listening to reading with the use of Tumblebooks (a computer book library) and the listening center. I have to tell you that I LOVE watching first graders attempt to open tape cases. I am just starting to do a DRA on my kiddos so that I can figure out what their just right level is. This is always a test because this is the first time I pull students to work with them and leave the others to their own devices. Hopefully they have gotten the hang of things enough to fumble through while I read with my students.  I use a system in my room where I wear a lei so the students know to "lay off". This seems to work okay. I also let the kids use the lei when they need a little space from their classmates.

I know I haven't updated my lesson plans and I promise to add the backlog of plans and the current plans. I will get on that this week. Thanks for checking in! Have a great day!!!

Okay, so here we are. I am in my first full week of first grade. Even though I do this year after year after year after year (you get the idea) I ALWAYS forget how frustrating and tiring the beginning of the year can be. Don't get me wrong, the class is great. I have 19 little darlings. I just want them to know and learn the routines and my expectations at the speed of light. I find myself thinking "oh man, I'll never get there this year", but I also know that they always do. I just have to be patient and keep on keepin' on. But....enough about me. You are here to read about workshop set up, and the construction has begun.

So, Monday we began by discussing how to read to self. Right now, my readers only have their Harcourt Trophies basal Guess Who in their book bins. We discussed how to pick a good spot to sit. Students first walked to their spot without books or reading tools (i.e. chairs, cushions, pillows, etc.). We evaluated if students chose a good spot or not. After some reconfiguring, we got our book bins and reading tools and read for 5 minutes. I walked around and complimented students and redirected a few. Overall, not half bad.

Tuesday we had two specials and it was picture day. I swear there is something about picture day that makes the students nuts. We only had a short time for our workshop, but we attempted the same lesson as yesterday. Overall, it went well again. I chuckled though when a few cuties informed me that they had finished their basal. Either they are very advanced, or  I have some work to do. :)

Today, Wednesday, we began reading with a friend. This year I am combining the lessons from the Learning Pad with the format of Growing Readers. So, all of my students read to self first for 5 minutes. At this point, I partnered them up and set the timer for 5 minutes again. It is clear that we need to model different ways partners can read together.  I am encouraging them to use this time to talk about their reading process so that eventually I can have  them write about it. I noticed that some students were "reading together" but they were on different stories and different pages just reading out loud simultaneously. It was cute and reminded me that this will take time. I used the closing line "Readers, I hate to say it, but our reading time is over for today". I was nearly moved to tears when I heard a resounding, "Noooooooooo!" I tell you, there is hope for them yet! During snack time we discussed and modeled how to select a book from our class library.

Tomorrow is Thursday. We will do a repeat of yesterday's lesson. The difference today will be that they have one additional book in their bins. I allowed them to chose one "toughie" book that they can look at. Today we will also select a just right book though it is difficult to decipher just right in September of first grade. For now until I can test reading levels, each student is selecting a red level book meaning a Guided Reading level A-D.

At this point Friday is a dream...no just kidding. The plan right now, is to continue to practice read to self and read with a friend. I am also hoping to go over the 3 ways to read...read the pictures, read the words, and retell the story.

My plan is to go nice and slow until things fall into place.  I will put some videos up tomorrow. Tonight, I am exhausted! I don't know about you, but I LOVE my job!

We begin the year with a little blog construction!

Hello friends!

I am counting down the days until I go back to school. In my last few days, I have been reading a great book that was recommended to be called Growing Readers by Kathy Collins. It is filled with great Reader's Workshop ideas that I am pumped to try out this year.

As excited as I am to go back to school, I am more excited about my new website design from Design by Christi. She is amazing. I am awaiting the new format right now and feel the same excitement for this that I generally reserve for Christmas morning! I know you will love the new design as much as I do. For those of you who are lucky enough to have not seen the old design, I will include a photo for posterity.

Amazing what she did huh? If you are ever thinking of starting a blog, use Christi. She is wonderful. Trust me, I knew nothing about blog design! You can find her site at http://designbychristi.blogspot.com/

Let the construction begin!

Well, I bit the bullet. I have a blog. Not sure who will want to read and or follow this, but here goes.

I teach first grade and began Reader's Workshop last year. It was the first time in my teaching career that teaching reading made sense. I LOVED it!!! Even better, my students LOVED it. Prior to Reader's Workshop I used a basal which I supplemented with Guided Reading. I must say I am a convert and I am out to convert others to join me in my Reader's Workshop endeavor.

 I was skeptical to try this with first graders. Much of the content seemed a bit complex for them, but we did it anyway. And guess what??? Yep, they did great. I figure they may not get all the ins and outs of questioning, inference, etc. but they get that reading is awesome. This is an important lesson for first graders to learn.

So, my plan right now is to document how I get my workshop set up from the get go. Yes, I plan to show the good, the bad, and the ugly because we teachers know that a real classroom contains all of these things.

I hope that maybe you will follow me through the construction process. Currently, I am the only one in my building doing Reader's Workshop, so I would also love advice from anyone who is more seasoned than I.

I will also post any items that I currently use in my first grade workshop and include websites that I have found invaluable this past year. Of course keep in mind that I have NO idea how to do this yet as this is my first blog.

Happy reading!
Very truly yours,
Jennie