READING and WRITING OPTIONS

Reading Options: Reading to Self or Reading with Someone

During Read to Self or Read with Someone, students select BIG BOOKS, POSTERS/CHARTS, and CLASS BOOKS when. The books they select to read are "Just Right" books - - at or below their independent reading level. Every once in awhile, I allow students to select books that are above their level (animal nonfiction books are very popular choices!). In the beginning of the year, our Reader's Workshop minilessons touch on reading strategies, behaviors, and expectations. Students are encouraged and expected to apply what they learn about during Reader's Workshop minilessons during their Reading Options time. Below you will find several ideas for Read to Self and Read with Someone materials, activities, and resources.

Leveled Emergent Reader Books one two three four five six seven eight nine ten eleven twelve thirteen fourteen fifteen sixteen seventeen Our books are leveled by color to correlate with the Fountas and Pinnell leveling system and also by number to correlate with the Reading Recovery leveling system.
Classroom Books I don't allow students to select from these until we have "discovered" the categories they have been sorted into. We do this as a class, add the book bin label, and then they are allowed to browse from them AFTER we do the "Just Right" books mini lesson. NEXT SUMMER - -I plan on LEVELING all of these books based on the F&P and Reading Recovery leveling systems! Am I crazy? Or What? Click Here for more "Classroom Books" information and ideas.
Read Around the Room Click Here for more "Read Around the Room" information and ideas.
Easy Reading Flat and Flip Stories
Familiar Books from Previous School Years I gathered a class set of the K shared reading books that my students should be familiar with from last year. Maybe your 5K teachers would be willing to part with some of their titles if they are not using them at the moment? Worth the try!
Seek & Find Books I've found that my students really like these! Especially my non-reader. They were surprised to learn that it is OK to read these types of books and that they were "building their stamina" (and eye muscles) by reading them!
Wordless Books My school library had about 50 wordless books. A nice variety. I bet they don't get used much, so I hope to keep them for as long as possible. We don't have due dates, but if a teacher is looking for a book, the librarian will come searching for it!
ABC, Number, Shapes, Colors, Words, & Other Concept Books Again, these books may be selected after we've explored and labeled the bin, and after the "Just Right Books" mini lesson.
ABC, Number, Shapes, Colors, Words, & Other Concept Reading Rings Click Here for more "Reading Rings" information and ideas.
ABC, Sight Words, and Classmate Name Charts These are in their browsing boxes from the start. Just another great way to review sight words, names, and letters!
Poetry, Songs, Rhymes Charts; Class-Made Books; and Student-Made Books
Student Newspaper Publications: KIND News - - Big News for Kids - - (know of any others?!?!?! - - contact me!) Our class receives a subscription to the KIND News newspaper. After using them in class, we slip them into our Browsing Boxes.
Student Magazines Our class receives a subscription to National Geographic KIDS magazine. After using them in class, we slip them into our Browsing Boxes. Scholastic News Time For Kids National Geographic For Kids Chickadee Chirp Click Kids Discover Ladybug Highlights For Children High Five Ranger Rick Your Big Backyard
Pointers You can find great pointers at the Dollar Tree store. I find them in the party section (drink stirrers).
Class Browsing Boxes/Bins Storage Area & Student Browsing Boxes/Bins The cart/bin system above is called the "Leveled Reading Browser Cart" manufactured by Copernicus Educational Products Inc. GOOGLE it to see which companies have it for the best price! Click Here for more "Browsing Boxes" information and ideas.
Check for Understanding Check Marks I emailed BAYER WOOD (I've purchased items from them before) and they agreed to trace an cut these for me. I sent them the pattern. It was roughly $10 for a set of 20 check marks. I've told them that some of my "online teacher friends" might be contacting them to special order their set of wooden checkmarks. They are a friendly company to work with - - great communication and excellent, speedy service!
Readers' Theatre Scripts (with a partner only)
Poetry
"Read Me a Book" Activity Click Here for more "Read Me a Book" information and ideas.
Sequence a Story, Song, or Rhyme Students sequence storytelling magnets and use a pointer to "tell a story". Add these storytelling magnets to the book, or related books as an after-the-story reading response extension. Have students use the magnets to respond to the story/stories they've just read and then write about it.
Pocket Chart Stories, Rhymes, Chants, Songs, and Poems Shared reading poems, songs, and chants can be printed on sentence strips. Students then use the sentence strips to reconstruct the poem, song, or chant. To differentiate, or as a writing extension, have students copy the song/poem/chant/story in their learning log. To store the sentence strips, I hope punch each set and then hang them on 3M "Command" hooks near the pocket chart center. Pocket Chart Pointers Copies of Poems, Songs, Chants from Shared Reading
Sentence Strip Stories Students use a pointer and read sentence strip stories, utilizing picture cues when necessary. After students have had exposure to sight words and working in small Guided Reading groups and in larger Shared Reading experiences, I introduce this task: Gather students at the pocket chart. Distribute sentence strip stories to students. Demonstrate how to display them in the pocket chart. Model how to use a pointer to read the sentence, pointing to each word, and using the picture for visual cues when needed. Calling one student to the front at a time, have them place their sentence strip story into the pocket chart and read it with a pointer. Show the class the container/drawer/bin where the activity will be stored. Have students place their cards into the drawer. Remind students that when they go to the Pocket Chart Literacy Corner, they may do the activity. Pocket Chart Pointers Sentence Strip Stories: .doc .pdf [print, cut sentences apart, laminate, trim lamination] The activity is stored in a vinyl [plastic] pencil case. I've purchased these pencil cases Target, Wal-Mart, Office Max, Office Depot, Walgreen's, etc. The container is labeled with a sticker that indicates where the item belongs (pocket chart corner), and with a title, and picture of what the activity is. The pencil case is then stored in it's own drawer of a Sterilite storage unit that is located on a shelf next to the pocket chart.
Felt Board Stories Students sequence felt pieces and use a pointer to "tell a story". Add story felt sets to the book, or related books as an after-the-story reading response extension. Have students use the felt pieces to respond to the story/stories they've just read and then write about it. Felt Board Pointers Pieces for Story Sequencing and Retelling: http://www.thefeltsource.com/ http://www.storytellingfun.com/index.php http://www.glitterfulfeltstories.com/index.cfm Labels for Felt Board Storage (Size AVERY 8163) CDs of stories/songs/rhymes to match/go with Felt Board Sets: I burned all my Little Boy Blue Songs/Stories/Rhymes to ONE cd and put that CD into the felt set folder - - I did this for all my felt board sets (Little Bo Peep, Five Little Pumpkins, Little Red Riding Hood, Three Bears, etc!). Instead of reading the book and then responding using the felt pieces, they could listen on the CD player while re-enacting with the felt pieces.