Creating a Home Reading Program

This pod cast sparked my interest because of personal experience. As brother is growing i have had many years spent with him struggling to read. often times his teachers would try to enact mandatory reading hrs at home. This seemed to never work with my brother in the past so i wanted to see if there was a new way of introducing it.

I like the idea of the r4. the first 2 sections read and relax are the same as most teachers use, but what i liked about their strategy was reflect and respond. i like the idea of the parent involvmnet as well. i believe this gives an opportunity for the parents to know what is going on and have involvement while the student still gets to decide which book and when to read it as long as it ends up being 80 hours a week. My brother would often lie about his 30 minutes he was supoe to be reading each day. by having the parents enisial the hours the teacher has a better hope for honesty. Also student responses would help the teacher to learn about what the student is interested in, problem areas, strengths and show evidence of improvement throughout the year.

I also like that the students will solely be graded on doing the work not on exactly what the write or how they write it. this exercise is to help motivate students to want to read, not make them feel stressed and unsatisfied with their work. The teachers notes will also help motivate the student though noticing and caring what the child writes about.

I think that having differentiation in the reading program is a wonderful idea. i love the idea of different prompts for the students to choose from as well as having different opportunities for students to work on the R4 if the student doesn't have the ideal parent involvement at home. The student is able to make this reading program fit their needs while still getting the most out of the activity.

RTI and Thoughtful Literacy Articles

After reading RTI Reading, it was clear to see that it is a process that incorporates both assessment and intervention so that immediate benefits come to the student. Response to Intervention uses assessment data to inform interventions and determine the effectiveness of them. RTI is important beacuse it help students sooner rather then later. After the child is evealuated the tstudents education is adabted to their needs. RTI works on a 3 teir procedure; these tiers are presented to the student so that they get the least restrictive environment possible. All students participate in teir 1 but the students will recieve differentiated instrucation byt their regualar classroom teacher. In tier 2 students are given more evidence based interventions that meet their needs, this is done general classroom by the teacher or another teacher who is more able to meet the students needs. At the third and most intensive and evidence based curriculem that is supplemented to support the child. this is done usualy in a resource room, by a Special Ed. teacher or specialist. Students do not need to be disabled to recieve this support, RTI is a way of getting each student the help they need and to create a curriculum that doesn't replace the average students work but supplements it.

"The Assessment of Thoughtful Literacy in NAEP: Why the States Aren’t Measuring Up" is an article refecting the gap in state testing from NAEP. Each test is given as a form of assessment for the state and nation. these scores are suppose to be evidence of what is being taught and what students are primarily struggling with. But each test all though is suppose to measure almost the same thing, show completely different results. This may have to do with the NAEP including much more open ended questions; it requires much more thoughtful responses. The bottom line of these articles is that assessment is important and you want to make sure you are teaching lessons that meet the students' needs and having lessons and assessment methods that show evidence of this.

my question is:
what do you feel is the best assessment technique or way of showing evidence in the most areas?
for example a student is having difficulty in several areas what is one activities that will show results/evidence in each literacy area?

Evidence of assesment

After watching the video, i had a much better understanding of ways to assess key reading elements for each student. The presenter broke each area down into word knowledge, fluency, comprehension, motivation and interests, language, writing and general. After going over the different areas of literacy she explained that its important to measure these areas to know where each student stands. She explained that these assessments should be embedded into the lessons and happen through out the classroom activities, while teaching. Its also important to keep records of what you observe. I think the most interesting part about the video was when the teachers began listing ways and activities that can be done to assess each area. ideas like student teacher confrences, asking questions to students, listening to student conversations, Informal reading invatories, read aload sessions, writing samples and think aloud activites all help give evidence of atleast one literacy area if not more than one.

1. I have many friends and co-workers that are from sdifferent cultures and speek multiple languages. For example, my best friend is from egypt and speaks arabic, my other friend is from bosnia. I also work with many hispanic men at the resturant i work at. At times it is very frustrating becuase when tey switch to their native language and i cant undstand them i want to know whats going on.
2. I do not have experience working with ELLS
3. nor do i have experience teaching with them
4. I believe that since ELL's have a different native language they often have to work even harder to reteach themselves. their brain has to create new connections, sounds and norms. Although they may be a genius, learning a new language is difficult especially later in life. Students will struggle to read and write and will often at times get frustrated.
5. Learning Difficulties would include phonics, fluency, comprehension, frustration, depression from leaving their country or differences pointed out by students may impact students work and progress. Another difficulty could be parent involvement. because the parents might not know the language yet it will be difficult for the student to look for help from home.
6. Ofter times ELL's get extra or outside assistance in the classroom. strategies like cultural awareness, a program where there is a bilingual teacher as well as resource room time helps the student to transition better. Depending on the student these strategies are effective but it is always important to evaluate the student and make strategies based off their needs. not every student is the same. Family and Community are crucial in helping the student. Like i said before it is hard for a student when the parents/ family are further along then the student. The community should be providing resources for both the student and the family in order to make sure they are adjusting and progressing especially with reading and writing.
7. My intervention strategies would be to evaluate the student and come up with a individualized plan to motivate them and help them progress. i would make sure that i am communicating with all colleagues, family and community of any help they could provide.