"The typical reading range in a fourth grade classroom represents a reading comprehension grade level equivalency ranging from 1.3 (first grade, third month) to 12.6 (twefth grade, sixth month. That's a range of over 11 grade levels."
--Firmander, J.M., Reis, S.M., Sweeney, S.M, Reading Comprehension and Fluency Levels Ranges Across Diverse Classrooms: The Need for Differentiated Reading Instruction and Content (2012)
--Firmander, J.M., Reis, S.M., Sweeney, S.M, Reading Comprehension and Fluency Levels Ranges Across Diverse Classrooms: The Need for Differentiated Reading Instruction and Content (2012)
Individualize to Maximize Learning
Meet my Language arts gurus!
Gail Boushey and Joan Moser (aka "The Sisters") are elementary school teachers and co-authors of The Daily Five and The Cafe Book. I've learned a lot from these ladies about developmental learning, about maximizing time for reading, and about cultivating language arts in the classroom.
The most important thing that I've garnered from their approach are workable strategies for individualizing and managing reading for every student. I've taken many of their language arts strategies , and adapted them to develop Daily Science Three and Daily Math Four and to individualize my social studies through literature programs. That gave me a big head start on infusing Common Core standards into every discipline.
I also infuse strategies such as read alouds and literature circles to hone critical thinking skills. In addition to reading fluency and reading comprehension skills, I zero in on specific common core standards and specific critical content each week.
These teachers have a vision. They articulate it clearly, and back it up with sound research. It's made a tremendous difference in the way I choose to teach and in my ability to maximize growth for each and every student in my class. And isn't that what good teaching is all about?
The most important thing that I've garnered from their approach are workable strategies for individualizing and managing reading for every student. I've taken many of their language arts strategies , and adapted them to develop Daily Science Three and Daily Math Four and to individualize my social studies through literature programs. That gave me a big head start on infusing Common Core standards into every discipline.
I also infuse strategies such as read alouds and literature circles to hone critical thinking skills. In addition to reading fluency and reading comprehension skills, I zero in on specific common core standards and specific critical content each week.
These teachers have a vision. They articulate it clearly, and back it up with sound research. It's made a tremendous difference in the way I choose to teach and in my ability to maximize growth for each and every student in my class. And isn't that what good teaching is all about?