One of the most effective ways that I've seen to increase reading proficiency is to target a child's instructional reading level. It's much more effective to scaffold them up than to start at the goal and push/pull them through frustration level reading when they are "behind" where you think they should be according to their age/grade.
I found Reading Workshop a la Nancy Atwell
The trick to their growth? Focused reading in their instructional reading level. During Reading Workshop the kids were strewn all over the room, under desks, in corners, and some actually in chairs :). I taught them how to select books at their targeted instructional level. I went around constantly listening to them read and asking comprehension questions. They knew to start vocalizing (reading aloud softly) whenever I approached them. Then I would either move on or ask questions. We had questions that were general to the class for them to respond to in their notebooks regarding the particular book they were reading. It was glorious! Seriously!
At other times they could read whatever they wanted (during SSR or after finishing work early), but during Reading Workshop they only read books at their individual instructional levels. At other times they could also talk while they worked (you should have seen 'contract time' or cooperative group activities!) but during Reading Workshop it was truly silent reading with no distractions for an extended amount of time.
There are 3 basic reading levels:
- Independent
- Instructional
- Frustration
This fits within Montessori (in my humble opinion) because once you test and show the child how to select books at their instructional level they are empowered and can move forward on their own as they are ready. You provide the prepared environment of appropriate books and they can select them by choice. That said, I also firmly believe that books of interest, regardless of reading level, should also be available - they just serve a different purpose.
To find out the reading levels there are several Informal Reading Inventories that you can use. I will post some resources in my next post. And yes, YOU can do this! :)
What's Cookin'?
Another cracker recipe (1 C yogurt; 3 C flour; 1/2 C butter and salt):
http://nourishedkitchen.com/homemade-crackers/
Oldest dd is in the middle of making a blueberry pie. She's adjusting a recipe from Whatchagot Stew by P.McManus
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