| Teaching & Learning Mrs. Annie Croak, 6th & 7th Grade Literacy |
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| Goals: *All students will be immersed in a print-rich environment, including classic and contemporary children's literature, informational texts, and poetry. *All students will take an active role in developing an action plan to become excellent readers and writers. *All students will increase their reading level by at least one whole grade. |
*All students will be immersed in a print-rich environment, including classic and contemporary
children's literature, informational texts, and poetry.
It is my goal as your child's Literacy teacher to make sure they are surrounded by words on a regular
basis. With 1,082 books in our room, there is something for every reader at every level! Organized
by genre, your child will learn to find books based on interest. While many classroom libraries are
leveled, actual public libraries and your favorite book store are not. In my class, your child will
learn the appropriate skills to choose a book that is interesting to them, while not too difficult or too
easy. Your child will find books that we (adults) read as children, new award winners, and books
based on their favorite TV shows. You may ask your child where his/her reading textbook is...the
answer is: it is stored in my classroom. The textbook offers some great stories. In my previous
years, however, I have learned that it is very difficult to foster a love of reading with a textbook.
Therefore, we spend most of our time reading novels and other trade books.
*All students will take an active role in developing an action plan to become excellent readers
and writers.
*While searching for a textbook alternative, I came across a program developed by Gail Boushey and
Joan Moser, called The Daily 5, which is similar to the Reader's Workshop model of Literacy
Instruction. The Daily 5 was originally created for primary classrooms, but I have adapted it to suit
the needs of my middle school students. During the Daily 5, students are able to choose reading and
writing activities that interest them. In addition to interest, students choose activities that help them
practice skills and strategies we learn on a daily basis. The foundation of our program is student
choice. Students who are given a choice of activity are more likely to stay on task, and associate
reading with a positive experience. These choices include: Read to Self, Listen to Reading, Buddy
Reading, Work on Words, and Work on Writing.
It is during this time that I work individually with students or with small groups. Gail Boushey and
Joan Moser also created an instruction program based on a series of strategies that fit into four main
categories: Comprehension, Accuracy, Fluency, and Expand Vocabulary. This program is called The
Daily Cafe. After initial assessments and conferencing with your child, he/she will discuss his/her
reading goals with me. Together we plan for action. Each student will help choose one of the CAFE
categories to be their main focus during their Daily 5 activities. As we learn more strategies for
these categories, they are placed on the CAFE board, where students can access them at any time.
The board is available in a prime classroom location for student use.
Small groups are pulled based on strategy. Students reading on different levels can be pulled in the
same group, because they are working on the same strategies. While they may be reading different
books (at their instructional level), they all practice using universal reading strategies that will
ultimately help them become a better reader.
When working on their Daily 5 choice, students will practice their CAFE strategies as they work. A
student who works on words might manipulate letter cards to spell words with similar prefixes. A
students who listens to a book on CD might be hoping to improve his fluency skills. When a student
comes across a new and interesting vocabulary word, she may write it on a word card and place it on
her own word wall. Students practicing the same comprehension strategies can choose buddy reading
and coach each other through a difficult section.
*All students will increase their reading level by at least one whole grade.
While many students come to me reading on or above grade level, it is my goal to help your child
reach his/her fullest potential. Regardless of your child's ability, we are always striving for
greatness. Students leaving my classroom in June should be reaching their goal of increasing their
independent reading level by at least one whole grade.
Boushey, Gail, & Moser, Joan. (2006). The Daily 5. Stenhouse Pub.
Boushey, Gail, & Moser, Joan. (2009). The CAFE Book. Stenhouse Pub.
Boushey, Gail, & Moser, Joan. (2009). The CAFE Book. Stenhouse Pub.
| For more information about our classroom, please click on the navigation tabs at the top of this page. |
| "That some achieve great success, is proof to all that others can achieve it as well." -Abraham Lincoln Dear Families, I have created this page to inform you of my personal goals as your child's teacher. It is my duty to make sure that each student is given an opportunity to reach their fullest potential. Here is a glimpse of how I aim to reach my goals, and help my students reach theirs. |