DERADO'S DETAILS
TDS Newsletter, November 2013
Let's Talk About Writing...
Writing Supplies Station
Anchor Charts nearby teach toward independence
Variety of book lengths available to students
Have You Tried...A Poem or Passage of the Week?
During our most recent district professional development we discussed using a poem or passage of the week in place of Daily Oral Language and Daily Oral Reading. A poem or passage of the week should only be a five-to-ten minute lesson. Teachers could use this to launch their writing-reading workshop each day. Poems of the week could also be used as morning work and then discussed at Morning Meetings.
Benefits of using a poem or passage of the week:
- Reading and discussing great poems and passages helps students to gain perspective on their identities and to make sense of the world while sharpening skills as critical readers and intentional writers.
- Poems and passages can be used as a common text for students and teachers so that a piece of literature can be discussed together.
- Sharing poems and passages allows for acquisition of literary element vocabulary.
- Poetry and passages can be used to help students understand powerful language, to understand how punctuation gives voice to writing, and to understand staying on topic.
- Poetry and passages can be used to reinforce grammar skills, to notice spelling patterns, and to practice comprehension skills.
- Studying poetry helps students love it while learning life lessons.
How Word Study & Grammar Instruction might flow across your week:
Although there is no one right way to use a poem/passage to support Word Study and Spelling Instruction, here is one sample structure for a week in a primary-grades classroom:
Day 1: Read the poem for comprehension and overall meaning; pick out word wall words
Day 2: Reread/retell poem; study word patterns and word families
Day 3: Study poem for "ways with words" (sensory words, nouns, adjectives, etc.)
Day 4: Study poem for punctuation
Day 5: Study poem for craft and structure
Click on the two links below to view a poem of the week video and a sample lesson plan.
Upcoming Professional Development
My Tentative Schedule...
SCE in the morning all week except Wednesday
BSE in the afternoon all week except Wednesday
Durbin all day on Wednesday
After school meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday
For the week of Nov. 4th:
SCE in the morning on Monday, Thursday, and Friday
BSE all day on Tuesday and Thursday afternoon
Durbin in the afternoon Friday
All day HSE 21 meeting on Wednesday
After school meetings on Tuesday and Thursday
For the week of Nov. 11th:
BSE all day Monday and Thursday in the afternoon
SCE Tuesday morning, all day Wednesday, and Thursday am
Durbin all day Friday
TDS Meeting on Tuesday afternoon
After school meetings on Tuesday and Thursday
For the week of Nov. 18th:
SCE all day Monday and Thursday in the morning
BSE Tuesday morning, all day Wednesday, and Thursday pm
Durbin all day Friday
Principal's Meeting on Tuesday afternoon
For the week of Nov. 25th:
SCE on Monday morning
BSE on Monday afternoon
TDS and Focus Group meeting all day Tuesday