A Glimpse into "The Next Step Forward in Word Study and Phonics" by Richardson & Dufresne

My goodness! After reading The Next Step Forward in Word Study and Phonics by Jan Richardson and Michele Dufresne, I think I've just discovered the jackpot of word study resources. This professional text has an abundance of tips, explicit procedures and hands-on activities to implement word study and phonics with students. Richardson and Dufresne state, 

As you work with your students, we hope you discover the same pleasure and success we have experienced in our work with teaching children to be better readers. We also hope we have provided you with useful tools to support you in helping your students become joyful, engaged readers (p.198).

Let's take a peek at the Table of Contents. You'll notice the word study resources support a range of readers, including those working on Pre-A skills through readers achieving skills at Level Z. When you turn the page just beyond the Table of Contents, you'll discover the particulars contained in a set of videos the authors have created for educators. Since this book supplies a link to an online, password protected site, you'd be able to access the content within the videos, in addition to a large number of downloadable materials. 

Below are images of what the online site has to offer. Each tool you'd need to implement word study in small groups is provided, as well as pertinent information to strengthen your practice and grow as an educator.

I'll leave you with a few quotes to give you better insight into what the book offers. I highly recommend you own the book. If you're anything like me, you'll read, highlight and tab the book, then refer to it again and again when planning for small guided groups. 

• Word study goes beyond the rote memorization of letters and sounds. It teaches readers how to apply their knowledge of letters, sounds, and words in order to read and spell (p.9).

• Word study, including phonics, should be taught in small groups and based on the developmental needs of individual students (p.13).

• The key phrase is "developmentally appropriate," not one size fits all (p.13.)

• It doesn't make sense to teach word study the same way to every child (p.16).

• Emphasize meaning and practice flexibility! (p.21)

• Spelling a word is not an efficient way to learn sight words. In fact, it will slow the rate at which students acquire them. You want students to remember sight words as one complete unit (p.29).

• It is important for students to understand, from an early age, that what they read must make sense. As students read, prompt them to use what they know about letters and sounds to help them make sense of the text (p.100).

• A goal of every guided reading lesson is to teach students how to use their newly acquired word study skills while they are reading and writing (p.237).

• Create a love for reading by knowing your students' reading interests. Each day students should read books they select themselves (p.170).

• Learning to read does not need to be a drudgery. The biggest message we want to leave you with is that learning should be joyful (p.198).

Check out #NSFWordStudy on Twitter for more information. :)

Thanks for taking a peek and if you're interested in snagging a free copy, leave a comment below to be entered in a giveaway!

Sight Word Entry Codes for Practicing Sight Words

Sight Word Entry Codes. Ever heard of them? I learned of this idea back in October of 2016 at the Illinois Reading Conference, but figured it's better late than never when sharing an idea, especially when I'm seeing my students' instant sight word recognition sky-rocket and hearing visitors to my school positively comment on it. I've already shared the idea on my microblogging accounts back in October (Twitter and Instagram), but am now just sharing it with my blogging PLN. #whoops

If you already follow me, you are aware I'm a Reading Specialist working with struggling readers, mostly in the younger grades. Many times, the lack of a solid sight word bank is what prevents my students from reading fluently. Of course, there are other factors, but practicing sight words is tremendously helpful. 

The gist of this idea is that students are assessed on their sight words, then given daily practice of three to six words they struggle with by using *entry codes*. Students must tap and accurately read the words in any order on their entry codes before they are allowed to enter the room. (Support is allowed, when needed!) Once the students master the sight words on the entry codes and in their reading, the codes are updated to a new list. I've even had students master all of their sight words, so their entry "requirement" is to give me a fist bump for a job well done. It's a simple way to strengthen their sight word foundation. 

I realize this idea may be a tad overwhelming for a classroom teacher of 28 students, since I mostly pull groups of 3-5 students at a time. Yes, having so few students reading their words before entry to the classroom is definitely more manageable. However, if you are a classroom teacher, an idea is to switch up the name of these codes (Starter Codes?) and place them on a table top flip chart. When pulling small groups of students, have them read the words before starting their rereading of familiar texts. If you are a Kindergarten teacher, entry codes of letter naming and sounds are also an option. Just some thoughts. :)

Since I began implementing this idea back in October, I've altered the format of the codes. At first, I had a full sheet of paper with 6 sight words on a themed-image for each month. For example, I've used clipart images of pumpkins, turkeys, pine trees, snowballs, hearts, shamrocks and now bunnies. I have since downsized the codes to a half sheet of paper, as well as added the students' faces using fun FREE apps that go along with either the holiday or season. You'll see the progression of the entry codes in the images below. 

Some of my *fist bump* kiddos!

So, there you have it...another simple idea to help support your students with sight words.

Happy Reading!

May Currently: Word Work, Wish Lists and Touchtronic Letters, Oh MY!

Happy May!  I loved waking up this morning feeling rising temperatures, seeing a bright sunny sky and hearing little birds happily singing.  Ahhh, just the way I like it.  What a beautiful welcome to the month.  It's also a great day to link up with the fabulous Farely over at Oh Boy 4th Grade for another edition of Currently.  Thanks for hosting! 

Listening: I take pleasure in listening to my students work collaboratively with one another while participating in word work activities.  They have come a long way since the beginning of the year.  I'm so impressed with their progress.  We've had fun reviewing blends and sight words this past week.  The kids love playing Pop for Blends to practice beginning blends.  I found the plate idea for word work on Pinterest. (You're the best, Pinterest!) :)

Loving: I love Teachers Pay Teachers.  My collection of goodies to support my Guided Reading groups sure has grown over the past few years, thanks to TpT.  I delight in creating TpT products for my students and sharing them with teachers, but when I don't have the time to create, I definitely support my fellow TpT sellers by spending, spending, spending.  I'm grateful for you, TpT sellers! Anyway, I've been trying to organize my baskets this week, and have come to the realization...I need more baskets and shelves!  (I haven't shown you my other shelves, since I'm still trying to organize those.)

Thinking: I can't believe it's time for the F&P Spring Benchmark Assessment already.  Our fantastic Literacy Coach, Courtney, prepared a testing schedule, as well as organized the F&P assessment boxes to pass out to the classroom teachers.  Starting next week, I will be joining Courtney and (my former blogging partner) Nancy, in assisting the teachers with the testing of 500+ students.  Benchmark testing, here we come! :)

Wanting: Ever heard of Junior Learning Touchtronic Letters?  I hope to acquire those for my little friends!  I'm seeing posts blowing up all over Social Media this past week.  I'm learning from teacher bloggers and Instagram friends how wonderful and engaging they are for students.  I think I am going to have to add those to my Amazon cart! 

Needing: (I'm needing Touchtronic Letters, but I'll pick a different one.) I'm needing to become a super hero.  Is that possible?  If I were a super hero, I'd be able to accomplish my want-to-do list in a fraction of the time it would take the average person.  I usually finish my to-do list filled with household chores in a timely manner, while my want-to-do list sits on the back burner (scorching itself).  One thing I want to do is read...uninterrupted ...for more than ten minutes per sitting.  I have many titles of professional books I desire to read.  I've purchased (and loved reading) Beyond Leveled Books and Teaching for Deep Comprehension.  

But recently?  My "wish list" of professional books has grown...very quickly.  Nonetheless, my time to sit down and read them is almost nonexistent.  

The reasons my time is almost nonexistent are ones I wouldn't change for the world.  I get to teach adorable kiddos all day and then get to come home to very sweet twin super heroes, as you probably already know if you follow my blog.  There doesn't seem to be room enough for one more super hero in our household right now.  I guess I'll put my decision to become a super hero on the back burner, too.  :)

Summer Yes, Hopes and Dreams: I certainly am looking forward to summer!  My YES is learning from professionals at the Literacy Retreat 2015 in June, and of course, experiencing TpT 2015 Conference in Vegas in July for the first time!!  I can't wait to meet some of my Social Media friends there!

My HOPE is to do lots of vacationing with my family in many various places around the states.  My DREAM is to read books uninterrupted for more than 10 minutes per sitting, as I mentioned above. ;)

Thanks to Kimberly Geswein for the fonts and to Farley for hosting another Currently!

  

Calling All Teachers! Want FREE Sight Word Resources for Students and Parents?

Looking for a site that provides amazing, FREE resources to support your students' sight word fluency?  Well, I'm here to share with you a site called sightwords.com.  Ever heard of it?  

This site encompasses a variety of tools for you to use in your classroom with your little readers and parents to use at home with their children.  According to the site, the available resources "combine the latest literacy research with decades of teaching experience to bring you the best methods of instruction to make teaching {sight words} easier, more effective, and more fun."  How can you go wrong?  

If you're in need of quick and easy, printable sight word flash cards, look no further.  You may choose from Dolch or Fry sight words, the most common Dolch nouns, as well as customizable words your kids need to practice.  Depending on your needs, the cards are available in different sizes and formats.  They're so easy to implement with individual students for independent practice or in small groups.  I printed and laminated Pre-primer through 3rd Grade Dolch Words, then placed them on rings for an easy-to-grab tool.   

My students enjoy using The Reading Speedometer  
 with the flash cards to practice their sight word fluency. 
Thanks Playdough to Plato! :)

In addition, there are a variety of games available for students to play, including Snakes and Ladders, Sight Words Parking Lot, Sight Word Bingo and more.  Each game board is customizable.  You can choose Dolch or Fry words from any and all levels to make the games differentiated for your groups.  You also have the ability to create game boards with your own selection of words to practice vocabulary from various stories.  If you are in need of support, video tutorials for each game are available for teachers.  My little ones especially love Snakes and Ladders. :) 

In my opinion, here is the best feature of this site: videos explicitly demonstrating sight word lessons and strategies.  When parents ask, "How can I help my child at home?", you can share this site with them!

Hope you find this site as useful as I do.  If you're looking for multi-sensory techniques to help your students learn sight words, click HERE.   

Thank you to EduClips and Emily Education for the clipart in my photo collages and happy Tuesday! :)