Sharing reading successes and choosing stations

Last week, many students came up to the interactive whiteboard to show how they are using various strategies when they are stuck on a word. Technology can be so helpful for students to "show off" what they can do! Students also began choosing their literacy stations this week. We end each Reading Workshop time with literacy stations, which is one of the times I meet with small groups and individuals for further literacy work. Students can stay in one station the whole 15-20 minutes or go between different activities. The stations that were open last week were writing, art, poetry/song, listening, computer, word work/abc, library, and puzzles/games. It went very well, and students loved having choices.

Demonstrating a reading strategy--in this case, it was reading all the way to the end of a word.

Listening station has been popular. I hope to get MP3 players for this station, which will allow students to listen to books and other forms of literature individually (and in a format that more students are familiar with in the 21st century!). Currently, students are listening to books on cassette tape. 

Many students choose to make black cats for our classroom windows. We read the book Boo to You! by Lois Ehlert, which was a great literature connection. I hope to read Moonlight by Cynthia Rylant next week, another book about a black cat.

At the art station, students have to read the printed directions to create a project. 

Some students decided to visit the puzzles/games station this week.