The Basics of Shared Reading

Shared reading is a highly beneficial way to spend 10-15 minutes of your instructional time daily. Shared reading is a time in which the teacher and students read an enlarged text at the same time (choral reading).  Often the text is written on chart paper or projected by some means.  It is important that the …

Have We Gone Intervention Crazy?

In our zeal to support all students in reaching grade-level goals and passing state tests, we may have lost sight of what the most important activities students should engage in while at school.  We have increased the amount of test prep activities, increased the number of assessments given and even increased the number of students …

The Power of Shared Reading for English Language Learners

I have recently had the pleasure of working with a beautiful little girl who moved from Puerto Rico to the United States almost 3 months ago.  She is able to read and write on-grade level in her native language and appears eager to read.  When I see her with her classmates she is not interacting …

Kindergarten Letter Knowledge: Predictor of Future At-Risk Readers

According to Richard Allington's article What At-Risk Readers Need "the one-third of entering kindergartners who don't know all their letter names are likely to become the one-third of 4th graders reading below the basic level." Explicit teaching of letters is a necessity for students who enter Kindergarten with low letter name knowledge.  Kindergarten teachers can …