Blog 8 Reading in the Classroom

Reading in room 119 takes on several different aspects as I have five students and they are all at different levels.  I have a kinder who cannot read at all but can visually point to pictures and say what they mean.  I have a kinder who is just starting to read words and putting them together to create simple sentences.  I have a third kinder who is able to read one word at a time (sight words) but cannot read them in a sentence.  I have a first grader who reads at almost a second grade level but has a hard time comprehending what he has just read and I have a third grader who can read at a third grade level for fluency but is at about a first grade level for comprehension.

I love to read myself, so I am a huge believer in getting all of my students to read and enjoy the act of reading.  I find that these kids have an opportunity to open their world up if they can get the basic principles down of reading.  It will help them along their journey.

I created a plan for each student and am putting it into place now.  I know it's almost the end of the school year but I hope that with the plan in place, parents can continue it over the summer and we can be more effective next year with a more intense plan.

I have my first grader and 3rd grader reading chapter books out loud to me and we share what the story is about and ideas from what we read. I have my kinders following as I read short stories and I send home simple books for them to follow along with parents and answer simple questions on comprehension.

As for common core, no I have not even tried to look any of that up as I want to instill in them first the love for reading and the basics before I begin the lessons through the core.  I feel that with special ed you have to balance and sometimes, side step the core to get what the students really need right now.

I am hoping that our reading specialist can start working with my students if not this year, next year so that we can get them into additional help to get them caught up and on the right track.

I know if I keep working with my students and keep getting my parents involved, these kids will succeed and they will find a joy in reading soon.