Hi, everyone! Thanks for stopping by to participate in this GREAT book study! Today's post is going to start with an introduction and some housekeeping. First, I want to let you know that I have ADDED a new title to the blog and we are now officially Charts 'N' Chit Chat. We have a new address on the web: http://www.chartsnchitchat.com and a new website on Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/chartsnchitchat.
Here is the schedule we are going to be following. You will see that today that we are just getting started and we are going to become familiar with some outside resources that may assist us with the book study. But first, here is our schedule:
Feel Free to Pin This!
If you haven't purchased the book you can find it at Amazon! Just click on the link below and you can go straight to the book to purchase it.
Here is the schedule we are going to be following. You will see that today that we are just getting started and we are going to become familiar with some outside resources that may assist us with the book study. But first, here is our schedule:
If you haven't purchased the book you can find it at Amazon! Just click on the link below and you can go straight to the book to purchase it.
Just click here to purchase!
OUR FIRST QUESTION
WHAT WILL I GAIN FROM TAKING PART IN THIS BOOK STUDY?
First of all, you will gain some resources (those are call freebies in a blogger's world!!!), lots of knowledge, a large base of 'internet friends' that have the same struggles as you, and tools for your reading toolbox!!!
QUESTIONS TO PONDER:
Here are some questions to think about and to respond to in the comments section later on:
1. What are the limits your students face when learning to read. How did these limits get placed on them? What do you plan to do about these limits?
2. Who is Maddie Witter and why did she write this book?
3. Go to this WONDERFUL BLOG and explore. Tell us about it!
4. Did you know that there is a website for the book with resources? Tell us about it!
5. Did you know that there is a Facebook page just about the book? Go like it! What is being said on the FB page?
6. In the preface of the book, we learn the purpose of the book. What is the purpose of the book?
7. What do you think of the terms 'mild, medium, and spicy'? How are they used?
8. In the preface, we learn what we need to do to help struggling readers. Choose one to discuss. How do you or how do you plan to make this happen in your classroom?
9. What is the Reading Without Limits mission and how can it apply to you, your children, or your students? Why is it important?
10. In the introduction we learn about the components of a strong reading program. What are they? Which one are you struggling with? Do you have a plan to improve it? Can we help you come up with a plan to improve it?
11. Take a look at the Reading Checklist for Part I. Can you check those items off? Do you have plan ready that will make you and your students stronger?
12. Why was this book chosen for this summer's book study?
Here is a button for you to use on your blog if you would like to incorporate your thoughts into a post:
Thanks for dropping by...don't forget to pick a question or 2 and discuss them in the comment section! I can't wait until next week when we really get to delve into the book even more! Also, for next week, read Chapters 1 and 2 and look for some great freebies!!! Also, thanks to 3AM Teacher for the use of the cool orange shell background.
Love the idea for a blogger book study! :) So glad I found you through the giveaway! Happy to be following :)
ReplyDeleteAmelia
wherethewildthingslearn
I'm glad you found me too! I love the name of your blog!!!
ReplyDeleteThe purpose of this book is to help all readers to become lifelong readers, not just improve their reading skills. The book is set up to help teachers to included strategies to help their readers. Just reading the introduction has me rethinking my set up for next year already.
ReplyDeleteOne of the struggles I want to help students with is the informational/nonfiction reading during shared reading. I am going to try to incorporate more Science and Social Studies reading into my Language Arts block to help build their skills.
I am loving this book already!!!!
One of the successes we had with informational reading was linking it to our writing. For example we read LOTS about weather/storms and then form small groups. The kids then make feature articles starring their storm such as tornadoes or thunderstorms. We also did the same with a spring study on birds. The kids make a hardcover book about their chosen bird during our study. I teach 2nd grade and the bird book has become a "rite of passage" for second grade!
DeleteKari, have you seen the new Lucy Calkins Writing Units? There is a whole information unit on writing up Lab Reports....sounds like you would like it!
DeleteThanks for including RWL as a book study! I'm happy to answer questions, and you can reach me directly at witter.maddie (at) gmail (dot) com
ReplyDeleteMaddie
The purpose of "Reading Without Limits" is to be a guidebook or map to lead children to their highest level of thinking. Maddie and other teachers in this book want to create lifelong, independently motivated learners. They share their strategies with us because they want ALL children to succeed.
ReplyDeleteI agree with all of the things mentioned to help struggling readers, but I especially feel that frequent and specific feedback is so important. Children and adults alike need to be told on how to improve things that they are struggling with. When we provide feedback, not only do we look at the child, we need to reflect on our instruction.
I am loving this study and this book! I think I am going to learn a lot. I am going to blog about it now!
-Tasha
ATenderTeacherforSpecialNeeds
Awesome!! I am with you on the frequent feedback. One problem is that I give my kids feedback, we work on it, but then the parent never knows where the weaknesses are so I need to work on some sort of form for that, I think.
DeleteGood idea Jennifer! I am working on coming up with some sort of weekly communication form to send home at the end of each week. It'd be good to have maybe one strength and one weakness on there. I like to start things like that out positively, so they do not think I'm out to get their child! :-)
Delete-Tasha
ATenderTeacherforSpecialNeeds
That is a great idea. If you come up with something and do it on google docs or something, I can link it on here with the next book study post on next Wednesday....You can put it on your blog and I will link to it! Just let me know!
DeleteThank you!! I started last night and completed it this morning. I felt like that was a form that needed to be made! When I create the blog post, do you want me to just e-mail you the link?
DeleteYes, that would be awesome! jennh13 at aol com
DeleteI have started the book and I am confident that this book will help increase the reading levels & continue to foster independence in my firsties! So EXCITED!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat type of reading program do you use now?
DeleteDo you think this book is applicable to pre-k and kinder?
ReplyDeleteProbably not. I'm very comfortable with it as a second grade teacher as it pulls in a lot of information from a lot of different sources, but the author hasn't specifically address Pre-K or K. For that, I would go to Debbie Diller, probably. She is an excellent author to help get Pre-K and K classrooms set up. I know that her math stations are excellent. If you scroll down to the bottom of the page there is an Amazon box. Just put her name in and her top sellers will pop up for you to click on. Another good book would be the guided reading book by Jan Richardson. Good luck! If I can help you, let me know.
Delete