Week 7 - Assignment 1

What texts and materials do teachers have in their classrooms that support students' development of fluent reading?

There is a reading corner filled with many age appropriate reading materials. Children are encouraged to read as many books as possible. These books are exciting and interesting making it a classroom favorite hangout. In addition there is a vocabulary word wall. Every week we add new words to the wall and encourage students to use these words in their conversations and writings. The students can use the wall as a reference for spelling and meaning.

How do they select vocabulary to teach in all areas of your curriculum?

When the teacher comes across a word in a piece of literature and realizes the class doesn’t understand the meaning she will go ahead and teach the new word. Also the teacher picks words that are commonly used vocabulary that the students can use in speech and writing.

How much time do they allocate to word study?

Word study is incorporated into many aspects of the curriculum and the time allocated varies from subject to subject.

What word study routines do they teach and encourage their students to use?

They teach and encourage decoding and sight words. These methods help students read most words at their grade level. Every day a new sight word is added to the sight word wall and students become proficient in reading and writing these words.

How do they differentiate instruction and tasks based on their students’ needs?

In the beginning of the year there is a formal assessment, based on this the class is put into groups of 3 for reading instruction. This helps students on the same level and needs collaborate while reading.  We also have different ways we allow students to learn by focusing on their needs such as 1 on 1 instruction, fun worksheets and educational games for students that need extra motivation.