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Home : 2001 : November : 17

Interview
By Cindy

Questions:
1. What is your belief regarding reading instruction? I believe that having a balanced literacy classroom is the key to reading instruction. The heart of a balanced literacy program is guided reading in which
each child is taught reading at their instructional level. This is a very important piece in teaching a child to read.
2. How have you evolved over the years as a teacher of reading? Yes! Experience, professional conferences and graduate classes continue to strengthen my classroom reading instruction.
3. How do you:
-teach children how to write or use the writing process in

your classroom? I teach first and second grade multiage. In my multiage, I begin with my first graders by reviewing how to form the alphabet. The second grades are off with my team teaching partner writing in their draft books. Although the first graders are practicing letter formation, they too write in their draft books. The key to my writing workshop is that I MODEL for my students what I expect them to do in their draft books. WE WRITE DAILY. About three days a week I model different genres (forms) of writing or review a genre we have already learned. My students see me brainstorm and then begin my rough draft. The children also publish their pieces about three or four times a year. My lowest student, I publish for them daily.
-connect reading and writing in your classroom? By publishing for my lower students, I am helping them see they words correctly when they reread their entry. The rest of the children read their daily entries to a friend and on occasion sit in our author’s chair to present to the class. Once the children publish a piece, they are tape recorded and their book and tape go into the listening center for all to enjoy.
-teach spelling? What is your program? Our district is currently working on developing a program by using a pre/post test and using instructional strategies to develop our students spelling achievement. Making words (sorts), learning word “chunks” (at, ack,etc…) and using a word wall are some of the pieces we are using to teach spelling.
-teach phonics? What are your beliefs about phonics? I believe in order for a child to truly learn phonics skills, you have to make the experience “connected” In our classroom we teach phonics through word study, shared reading and writing and interactive writing as a whole class. Guided reading is a powerful place to teach small group phonics skills as well.
-teach word identification? Guided and Shared reading, word study, word wall and interactive writing
-define comprehension? How do you teach children to comprehend text? Comprehension is the ability understand the written meaning of the text. I ask questions to pull out their comprehension. I also do activities such as book reports, story maps, Venn diagrams and lit circle activities all of which are wonderful ways to teach children to comprehend text. I also teach my student comprehension through read aloud and shared reading.
-teach vocabulary? Guided reading, Read aloud, shared reading, making words and word wall activities.
-encourage children to love to read? I believe that “attitude” is very important when trying to encourage a child to read. I give my lowest readers a lot of reading experiences at their level to feel success. I also send home book bags for them to share books that they have learned to read at school. They love to do that!
-meet the needs of diverse learners? Guided reading is a wonderful way to meet the needs of diverse learners. I hold daily “flexible” guided reading groups. The children move up levels as they are ready!
4. What materials do you use to teach reading? (a basal, trade books, etc.) Our district has a leveled book room reading books from different companies (Wright group, Rigby, etc…) I use those books and the guided reading books that I have purchased as well. I do use chapter books as my students are ready form them.
5. Do you have any helpful hints for me regarding Reading and Writing instruction? Investigate Balanced Literacy if you have not already. A GREAT book is Apprenticeship in Literacy by Linda Dorn, Cathy French and Tammy Jones. Visit classrooms who are using balanced literacy.