Lessons in Early Literacy

As a former middle school ELA teacher, I loved developing the critical thinking and analysis skills of reading, the sophistication of expanding voice and depth in writing, the development of integrated communication skills, often taking for granted the complex work of early literacy learning.  After all, students came to me understanding (for the most part) how to construct words, sentences, and paragraphs.  They came to me with decoding, fluency, and comprehension skills.  My job was to build upon that foundation...but I spent way too little time understanding the construction of those skills.  When I reflect upon that former 8th grade teacher, I wonder how much better I could have been if I understood all the parts that build the whole of a highly literate student.

Kindergarten:

Small group instruction in writing - translating spoken language into print

Small group instruction in reading - fluency practice
A fist pump for a job well done!

Running records...of the 100 words read, teachers gauge accuracy for instructional advancement.

Multi-sensory supports for letter recognition and word construction 

Building word families

Helping Dr. Morgan spell cow

Partner reading - evaluating recipes 

Students with stamina - spending 20 minutes on each reading task while teachers provide small group instruction

Merging writing with social studies as students build a teddy bear city

Students reading aloud

 First Grade:

Using Post-it notes to identify important parts of the story

Running records - recording student accuracy while reading aloud

Students write riddles for their peers to solve

 Third Grade:

"Three Tabby Cats" adapted from Three Billy Goats Gruff, a student-created story complete with editing

A Pictorial Peek Into Middle Schools

Science:  Measuring lung capacity with their own hot air, a balloon, and measuring tape

Science:  Graphing their data in multiple trials to find the mean and draw conclusions

ELA:  using annotation marks to document thinking during reading

ELA:  Post-it notes track student thinking while reading and serve as inspiration for reading journals

ELA:  Book clubs engage students in dialogue about reading

ELA:  A preview of novel choices helps students determine interest for future study, concluding in critical essays on characterization

Math:  Collaborative discussion helps students figure out the mathematical errors

Math:  Real life problems are solved through critical thinking, "Which product is the better deal?"

Math:  Online games help students further their mathematical fluency

Math:  Front Row helps students navigate learning based on current skills

LEAP:  Students apply learning in models of body systems, including coding to demonstrate the path food takes through the stomach

Lindbergh Learning - In Pictures

Word Walls are a key component of our Writers' Workshops

Using anchor charts throughout a unit helps writers when they get stuck

Another great word wall

Students keep track of their writing goals and have them out in front of them during writing time.

Check out this drafting!  

Anchor charts can easily be added on to each day with new content from the mini-lesson

100% student engagement...every student has an instrument!

Clear "I Can" statements help get the lesson started

Each student has a plicker and heart rate monitor assigned to them.  

A 2-dimensional industrial town - it's about to be redrawn...

Step by step directions to modify the town as it expands its industy

You can't see it here, but these students are collaborating to find the correct answer to their missed assignment...they must cite the source of their corrected work.

Bazinga! an engaging and fun formative assessment. Students in this Spanish class work together to get the correct answer. 

Clear learning goals connected to learning activities and assessments with the added bonus of Spanish and English directions

An anchor chart emphasizing appropriate civil discourse

Science notebooking with graphs and foldables

Drawing conclusion in science based on observation and using evidence to support that conclusion

Revising in writing:  each draft is a different color to emphasis the importance of the writing process

Reminding us all about a growth mindset

A class meeting provides closure to the days learning activity

Break, What Break?

Walking through the halls of Concord Elementary, one would never guess that students had just returned to school from a 5-day break.  Rich learning opportunities abound in writing and math as students engage in meaningful work.

5th Grade Writing:  Students collaborated to research an historical topic, ranging from the sinking of the Titanic to September 11th.  Independently, they used their research to write a non-fiction "book."

Multiple drafts demonstrate student engagement in the writing process

Students use Post-it notes to add ideas to their drafts

Revisions are evident with editing marks and taped together paper and index cards for added thoughts

Students create systems to check their work

Peer feedback helps students monitor their mastery of writing skills

2nd graders set personal goals to improve their writing

 2nd and 4th graders spend their afternoon expanding thinking through mathematical processes.  

A first attempt to independently complete a long division problem

Checking for accuracy - students self-monitor their understanding

Using Post-it notes to identify the tens and ones place in double digit addition

Increasing the relevance of math by using students in the word problems

An interdisciplinary connection:  by using Fitbits, students are merging their understanding of physical education topics with their math centers.  Students practice their estimation and addition skills, adding a higher level of depth of knowledge by creating a word problem that merges those skills.

Checking their steps

Making math fun, yet still relevant