Reading Without Limits Book Study--Week 1

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.

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.

Organized Partner Talk

I went to an awesome afternoon of professional development on Wednesday.  I had the honor of observing one of our premier Kindergarten teachers, Steven Hinkle, during shared reading and got to conference with some of his kids.  After our observation, we were able to sit down and reflect on his lesson and he was able to share some of his tools of the trade!  Here is one of his recommendations that really hit home with me and I plan to try it this week:

Steven recommended using a 1 inch cube for the first partner to use when talking because it is the perfect size for a little hand.  He says that he taught his students to pass the cube to make sure that both partners get to talk.  Students can only speak when they are holding in the cube!  Each student starts his/her comments off with "This is what I remember...."  Awesome!

After giving each partner time to talk, he asks 3 questions:

1.  Did you talk?
2.  Did your partner talk?
3.  Did you listen?

The visit to his classroom made me want to teach Kindergarten....almost!

Comprehension and Fluency, Annoying Cinderella, and a FREEBIE!

The new push in my district is to 'teach within the text, 'teach about the text' and 'teach above the text' in order to improve comprehension.  They even flew Irene Fountas in the train the administrators.  The two books below have become a literacy reference for the many that are striving to put best practices into their classroom and improve both fluency and comprehension.  I have to tell you that I have only read the book below and it is jam-packed with theory and practical application and more ideas than you can try in one year!  The yellow book was recommended to me by a friend of mine and I hope to get this one as a 'summer read'....yes I confess, I am a book junkie.  But, it has served me well!  One recommendation I have for all teachers that use Pinterest--start a board based on good reading materials that are based on best practices to spread the wealth of knowledge that all teachers need!  You can even go back through my posts and pin the ones I have reviewed in earlier posts to make it easy!

Comprehending and Fluency Fountas and Pinnell K-8

Comprehending and Fluency Foutas and Pinnell K-2

Comprehending and Fluency Foutas and Pinnell k-2



Have you been to goodreads.com??  Apparently everyone but me has!  But just in case you haven't, you might want to check it out.  It is a haven for the constant reader!!

My team and I are just now ending our unit on Cinderella Around the World. I LOVE this unit!  I am so sad to see it drop down to the first grade teachers.  My kids have had a blast and I plan to write the unit up more formally and share all of the great ideas my team has had.  Today, we read Seriously, Cindrella is  Sooo Annoying and my kids loved it!  They were very upset that Cinderella was portrayed as a lunatic...one of my students described Cinderella as 'muy loco' today.  He was not happy about it!  So apparently some of my boys have grown quite fond of 'Cindy' also!

Until tomorrow!!!