The Apple Doesn't Fall Far From the Tree

"The Apple Doesn't Fall Far From the Tree," A classic quote that gains a whole new meaning after parent-teacher conferences. For purposes of confidentiality, let's just leave it at this... there was a lot to learn! Like my Cooperating Teacher said, conferences are always exciting because you get to meet the parents and talk to them about their "special person." Meeting the parents makes you think about that child in a new light. Conferences are long days... thank goodness for yummy treats waiting in the teacher work room.

I also attended a Reading Recovery meeting with my Cooperating Teacher this week. I watched her teach a lesson behind the glass. This is a nerve wrecking process for the teacher but gives everyone great insight into the early literacy behaviors of the student.There are two teachers that do lessons behind the glass during each meeting. The rest of the teachers observe the lessons and note the behaviors of the students and actions of the teacher that are contributing to the success in reading or lack there of. Afterward, they go over the notes taken during the lesson. This turns into a group discussion about what can be done during daily instruction that will most benefit the child and increase their reading level. The whole meeting was a great experience and showed me what it really means to be a life-long learner!

I have started meeting with my own small groups of students during the morning while my Cooperating Teacher teaches Reading Recovery. I developed these groups after talking to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade teachers about students who were not receiving Title I services but could use some extra literacy support. In the afternoons, I teach the Title I groups.

This week, my first grade group worked on making sure the words they said matched the word on the page of the book. They also do writing and word work. The students seemed to like the word ladders and word sorts. By working with word families, I have already seen an increase in the writing vocabulary of these students. In one of my second grade groups we worked on the non-fiction genre. We also played games to increase word recognition. My other second grade group worked on comprehension by acting out the book, Stuck in the Mud. We also did a Reader's Theater of Curlylocks and the Three Bears. This book is a twist on the classic, Goldylocks and the Three Bears. The goal of this activity was to increase reading fluency. We talked about how good readers have expression, accuracy, and an appropriate rate of reading. After many times practicing the play, the students got to perform for one of the paraprofessionals.


I am enjoying helping students become better readers and writers.  All teachers are accountable for student learning but I feel the pressure more in Title I.Title teachers are accountable for making sure all students are reading at or above grade level. The classroom teachers, parents, students, and administration are all counting on you. If the student is not making progress it is not the student's fault; it something you are doing. Title teachers constantly monitor, assess, and adjust their instruction in order to meet the needs of their students. In Title it is hard to plan for the upcoming week because daily information should be guiding instruction. A side note, my conducting and analyzing of running records has gotten much better, and quicker too! Marie Clay is no longer my worst enemy. (For all of you non-literacy folks Marie Clay, pronounced Mar- e,  is a literacy guru. She developed the Reading Recovery program. She developed the Running Record system that is used in Reading Recovery and Title I.)

I do enjoy working with struggling readers and giving them the tools to be successful in and out of the classroom. Looking at Title I vs. Classroom teaching, I have decided I would like to do both during my time teaching. I don't want to do Title my whole life and I don't want to be a classroom teacher the entire time either. There is something to love about both jobs. I hope to experience the joys of each job during my teaching days.

Teaching Tip: "ALWAYS BE NICE TO THE JANITOR AND THE TECHNOLOGY PERSON. YOU WILL NEED THEIR HELP MORE THAN YOU KNOW."