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Craft lessons

I have really enjoyed having the lessons right here for me.  We have focused on beginning, middle and end this week and so far so good!  My very favorite part that I have read is the just one thing that they shared on page 110.  I am learning that ( even though we should already know) that the more that we read and write with children the better readers and writers they become!!

Craft Lessons

Wow!  What a super few pages!  I loved having so many ideas right at my finger tips!!  I started today focusing on writing what they would say and it made a tremendous difference in one child! It was unbelievable!  I have in my plans to do the minilessons on beg. mid and end right after spring holidays!!  I want to go back through these pages as I am doing plans for the rest of the year.  What great ideas!!!  I am loving it!

Craft Lessons

I am excited about this book also!  What good choices that were made!    I have wanted to learn about writers workshop and now here I am.  I like thinking about conceiving, crafting, and correcting.  It gives me direction to give them.  I also felt comfortable to hear that most children find the hardest part of writing is correcting.  They just want to go straight to the finished project. I also was struck by how many decisions a good writer learns to make on their own.  Best practice says that children should be responsible for choosing their topic and this book agrees. We spend alot of our time in our class talking about books.  I am excited to continue reading so that we can write even more. 

Fish Sticks

I am sorry that I was out so sick last week and did not get to enter my comments!  I have completed the book and once again, I have enjoyed what I have read.  I have taken part in so many changes throughout my years as an educator.  It was enjoyable to read such simple but good ideas.  I was amazed at the great ideas that Takara had to share.  Rhonda was lucky to have such hard working and top quality people on her side to picl up and keep the ball rolling when her stepdaughter died.  I beleive that with the simple ideas of how to talk to one another that you could make the change stick.  I enjoyed this book.  It seems like a good one to have around to read over again occasionally to help refresh your memory.  Using the techniques from the Sushi restaurant could help us keep change in place and positive.

Fish Sticks

Once again, I feel fortunate to have another good book to read!  Fish Sticks is easy to read and I am hoping full of good ideas!  I have enjoyed the first 37 pages.  I am excited and interested in the connection between the Sushi restaurant and making change stick!  So far it has started off as a good story and I can see that there will be a connection between business and schools.  I look forward to my next pages assigned.  I think that I'll have alot more to comment on once we start hearing how she will be helped.

Reading Workshop

I have completed not mastered yet, a few student conferences.  I was pretty pleased with the turn out and I think the children will really begin to enjoy the one on one to discuss their books.  I have taught the 5 finger rule to most of them this week.  I really enjoyed having the list of ideas about how to solve certain problems that they may be having when choosing or sticking with the books.  I am concentrating on building up my library.  I like for them to have a great deal of choices.  We also tried the book responses this week different than we have in the past.  It is amazing how well you really can teach reading when you focus and do a few minor yet very important things!!

Reading Workshop

Since I had workshops up and running I have worked hard to do a Read Aloud each day.  I have loved it!  It has been fun to choose a good book to share and it has given me another opportunity to read.  I have pulled a lesson out of each book and tied it into the standards.  I have really focused on chapter 4 on mini lessons.  I am trying to follow the exact guidelines that they provide.So much of this book is what I have been striving to do.  It is really helping me put it into action.  I had started doing conferences but I wasn't sure exactly how.  GPS training yesterday was on conferencing and with this information I am working on really fine tuning and putting what i have learned to work.

Reading Workshop

I was excited about the book that 1st grade began with.  I have been hearing about Reading Workshop for a while now and I have been trying to implement it to the best of my ability, but I did not have any directions in hand.  I am working through slowly, but I have already read the book.  I am now going back to take each area one step at a time.  I have small groups in place and have.  They work really well.  I do guided reading in small groups and I have some independent reading going on during this time.  I began today doing a Read Aloud and plan to do that each day.  I love having so many suggestions and tried and true ideas at my finger-tips!  I am planning on interviewing and conferencing with my children about how they feel about reading and what type of books they like to choose.  So far, so good!  I am excited.