EDLI635 Theory and Practice of Literacy Instruction

The Running Record assignment was an interesting experience, as recorded in my reflection here . After the initial running record assessment, including the story retell form to assess comprehension, I was able to determine a specific area to help the reader with a customized mini-lesson .

This is my comprehension strategies lesson plan focusing on using the main idea to improve overall comprehension.

View my lesson here .

K-W-L charts are a great way to introduce a new topic. It helps students connect the new material to previous knowledge so they don't feel completely lost and are better able to comprehend the lesson. It also gives teachers an inkling to where the students are holding at the beginning of the lesson, as well as providing a means of self-assessment for students at the end of a lesson or unit to see how far they've come (Shaaban, n.d.). I would implement this strategy in my classroom for these purposes, as well - pre-assessment and self-assessment. This lesson is an example of how to use K-W-L charts in the classroom. References: Fisher, Frey, & Williams (2002) Seven Literacy Strategies That Work. Educational Leadership. Vol. 60 pp. 70-73 Shaaban, K. (n.d.) Assessment of Young Learners. The English Teaching Forum, Bureau of  Educational and Cultural Affairs

1) All words can be categorized into three levels. The first level encompasses all familiar words most children already know. These words obviously don't have to be taught because children automatically pick them up as they learn to speak and build their vocabulary. The second level indicates words that are a bit harder but come up a lot in books, the news and daily conversation that children should learn and know. The third level are unique words specific to certain disciplines or highly technical in nature and don't necessarily have to be taught as part of vocabulary instruction, but rather students will learn them as they come up in different subject areas. The ELA teacher should focus on the second group since students are not so familiar with those words but it would certainly expand and enrich their vocabulary. 2.   "Chunking" is a great way of decoding unfamiliar words. Instead of isolating each letter, students who have advanced beyond the initial early ...