And I did forget to tell the end of the lesson. I asked the kids to tell what they learned about understanding today. It took a while, but finally one youngster said...reading is more fun when you understand. So true...and a good place to start. :-) Jennifer Palmer Reading Specialist, National Board Certified Teacher FLES- Lead the discovery, Live the learning, Love the adventure. "Ancora Imparo." (Translation: I am still learning.) Michelangelo at 87 years of age
________________________________ From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] on behalf of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Mon 11/17/2008 8:01 PM To: understand@literacyworkshop.org Subject: Re: [Understand] tuning out during modeling OK...I promised to share how this went... We started with a "turn and talk". The kids dutifully shared with each other why thinking was important during reading and how important it was to think while we read. They came up with "it helps us understand." Then, I asked them to think about what it meant to understand. In spite of the fact that we have talked about this before, no one could answer. Now...I could have "pulled an Ellin" here and given them "I know you don't know but if you did know...". Instead I decided to challenge them to find out what it meant to understand during the days lesson. I went back to the last chapter of Horrible Harry that they had read silently. I said that I wanted a volunteer to come to the front to read and I would be the "brain." I would tap the reader's shoulder when I thought of something I needed to share. After doing that, I became the reader and I asked for volunteers to be the brain. A few kids had a hard time...they had only one or two things to share. BUT I did have them all engaged (not just behaving...but engaging!) for a change. :-) We stayed engaged in spite of a lost tooth, 7 grandparents in the room and two other groups going on at the same time in our portable classroom. I think that having the kids model...PLUS a change of approach helped. Thanks Ellin for reminding me to give the kids more control. Thanks everyone for giving me many other suggestions to try throughout the coming weeks. I hold no illusions...we have a long road ahead...but perhaps we have turned a corner. :-) By the way... we need to move to the next chapter on Saturday. Are you ready for chapter four? Anyone have anything in mind to discuss? Jennifer In a message dated 11/17/2008 1:57:43 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Ellin I am going right to third grade in ten minutes and will give this a go! It is American Education Week so I will have an audience today... I like to live on the edge! :-) Jennifer Palmer Reading Specialist, National Board Certified Teacher FLES- Lead the discovery, Live the learning, Love the adventure. "Ancora Imparo." (Translation: I am still learning.) Michelangelo at 87 years of age ________________________________ From: Ellin Keene Sent: Mon 11/17/2008 12:30 PM To: understand@literacyworkshop.org Subject: [Understand] tuning out during modeling I wanted to respond to Jennifer's plea below. I have seen the same thing and have noticed that they are far more likely to tune in when a peer is thinking aloud. I wonder what would happen if you asked kids to do some thinking aloud every once in a while. I know that you can undoubtedly provide a higher level think aloud - which is very important - but I also know how kids respond to other kids. Your sense about what needs to be done in what order is, I'm sure, better than I can grasp from just reading the posts, but I would also consider "co-modeling" with another teacher, if you can swing it so that one of your great colleagues comes into your room. Kids find it fascinating to listen to adults think aloud and share their thinking about books. Just a couple ideas to add to your already rich repertoire!! best, ellin Thanks, Rhonda. I know they need modeling, but they tune out when I model. I feel like the adults in the Peanuts cartoons... you know "waaah waah waaah waah!" :-) That is why I feel like I have to build that sense of urgency first. I am just one more stimulus in their overstimulated little lives! :-O **************You Rock! One month of free movies delivered by mail from blockbuster.com (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1212639737x1200784900/aol?redir=https://www.blockbuster.com/signup/y/reg/p.26978/r.email_footer) _______________________________________________ Understand mailing list Understand@literacyworkshop.org http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/listinfo/understand_literacyworkshop.org
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