Skip to main content

Blogging Goals 2017

Blogging Goals


A goal this year is to Blog twice a month at least.  So far, I have two written and will try to share more and more.  


Recently met with my PLN and they were asking questions about how we are becoming so successful with the 20 min. Free choice reading in our classes.  This month is the sixth month mark for our campus.  Students read for 20 mins in every READING class each day.  So we have 940  -  7th and 8th graders who are reading 100 minutes a week.  Now you know you may have a few students not reading, but let me explain how I am seeing this change grow.  


More reluctant readers are talking to me about their books, or asking for book suggestions than ever before.  


Summaries about their books have more details suddenly.


Teachers are reading also and talking more about books they have in their classroom or from the library.


Teachers are asking for reviews, one 7th grade class has more than 400 books reviewed since September.  


Students are telling other students about what they are reading.


Readers are coming in, and asking if I have book 2 because this book “could not just end like this.”


I am being asked over and over for a suggestion for a book like _____ the last book they just read.


Also we are noticing tests scores are moving into an upward swing.  For most classes that now teachers are protective of their time for reading.  This isn't the only goal, we want to grow readers this is just a side effect!!


Some of you may get this all the time, but for my low socio-economic we had a lot of reluctant readers.   These students do not come from literate homes, they love the library because they can choose what they are learning about.  


Teachers, use Status of the Class, reviews, signs, book talks, challenges, and goal sheets.  Some issue extra credit for book trailers, some let students read reviews and make a list of books they want to read next.

Try a few of these things to inspire your readers.  Just keep reading. --Donna

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Have a great day, by helping someone else's day be great!

Today was my 17th 'first day' in education. My 11th in public school at Everman I.S.D.  I am learning more and more every day.  The kids make it so much more fun though.  All summer I have been in and out of trainings, with some kids for summer school, and working the last two weeks with adults. Today was better because the KIDS were there. Some were scared and unsure.  Some were angry their sleep was disturbed.  Some were tired of the dress code already, but they were there.  I know in their heads they are saying to themselves, "this year, THIS IS the year I am going to be awesome, I am going to start off on the right foot, and make great grades.  I will be organized.  I will ace every class. Then there are the ones in lines with parents trying to just register and praying they have all the paper work required like at the D.M.V.  The constant paper work that ties us to places and people required to prove something.  I like the kids....

Break Out Your Reading Skills!

 Break Out Your Reading Skills Challenge This challenge will ask our readers to READ a piece of non-fiction.  Then answer 5 questions to get a code.  If they get all 5 answers correct their code should unlock the snack box to BREAK out a snack for you and a friend.  If you get the first 4 answers correct you should have the code to BREAK out one snack for yourself.   So I have three cards of five questions each.  These questions are STAAR formatted to keep it familiar to students, and are based on 7th & 8th Grade reading TEKS. Each question tells you page numbers, so you really don't have to read the whole book but you can read parts of the articles or stories in it to answer the questions.  Like a short article, or quick story, no more than two or three pages each. Students try a story, to see if their code unlocks the lock.  I am using the following non-fiction books: The Queen's Shadow - A Story about How Animals See by C...

It's more than a device...it's empowering.

I saw a Tweet today linked to a blog that gave a teacher 4 reasons how technology can help with classroom management. ( I'm trying to find it again to give credit). But I thought about how my students react to having the Chromebooks in their classrooms.  I have watched this happen in my own class, but when you hand a student a computer, iPad, or tech device, you send a message to this child. “You are worth it.” My campus is a title one district, some students deal with survival more than any student should.  But to some, by having their own device, it sends the message you believe in them. They know you want them to be successful, and you can help them learn needed skills for today's world.  It sends the message, you can be professional, you can learn, grow and we care. This is why students armed with technology are suddenly more engaged, they feel valued.  A valued child can then grow confident and safe making learning easier.  Less behavior problems happen wh...