[LIT] Adolescent Literacy Discussion

[JudiBortle at aol.com]

I also highly recommend this book.  I learned how valuable it is for  
students to annotate their thinking while reading by using sticky notes.   Many even 
label the reading strategy that they're using on their sticky notes to  show 
me that they understand metacognition.  
 
On another point, I just wanted to share I just got back from the CCIRA  
conference, and I was able to meet Harvey Daniels, Regie Routman, Kyleen  Beers, 
Will Hobbs, Richard Gentry, and Chris Tovani all in one day.  Yes,  it was a 
great day!  I wish that all of you could have been there with me  because we 
would have had so much to discuss!
 
Judi
 
 
In a message dated 2/3/2007 7:40:55 A.M. Mountain Standard Time,  m
gdovey at comcast.net writes:

Bill, I  can't believe I missed the whole discussion! Something came up a
work and I  had to totally focus on that--I didn't even get to print out the
article!  

I'd love to add to your thinking on helping kids with reading  comprehension:
Kylene Beers' book, When Kids Can't Read, What Teachers Can  Do. About three
years ago, a group of us from the lists formed a summer  study group on this
book. It was one of the best learning experiences I'd  ever had and I highly
recommend it. Kylene offers literally dozens of  approaches that work with
kids of all ages whether you're using independent  reading, small group, or
whole-class novels. An example of a techinique  that I got from Kylene;
teaching kids to reflect on what they've read by  filling in the blanks of
this sentence:  "Somebody_____Wanted_____But_____So_______" For example, "Bud
Wanted to  Find His Mother But didn't know where to find her. So he ran away
from the  foster home and set out on his own." or "The librarian wanted to
help Bud  so she let him stay in the library and gave him her sandwich."

One of  the most helpful parts of the book is actually located on the back
cover--a  chart with all kind of strategies under the headings of "If kids
can't do  this, then...." a list of practical step-by-step activities follows
to help  build comprehension, vocabulary and even phonemic awareness for kids
who  need that. I can't recommend this enough, honestly.
Mary 


On  2/3/07 5:52 AM, "Bill IVEY" <bivey at sbschool.org> wrote:

>  Hi!
> 
> First, we finally have snow covering our lawns for the  first time this
> winter. I'd been so focused just on getting snow, I'd  forgotten how pretty
> it is!
> 
> Anyway, I had been  thinking about our discussions of the NCTE article on
> literacy, in  particular about their suggestions on using technology to
> help  stimulate motivation, and on the importance of increasing students'
>  metacognitive skills. Thinking about my school in particular...
>  
> We are all over incorporating technology into our classrooms;  although
> we've backed away from our original one-to-one laptop program  due to
> financial constraints, the kids spend a lot of time  researching, writing,
> revising, and collaborating on projects via the  computer lab we do have. I
> have a school-issued tablet PC, which is  perfect for "Grammar with a
> Giggle" and producing student-generated  evaluation checklists, plans for
> projects, and other collaborative  documents. I haven't used it as much as
> I could as a tool to teach and  practice revision skills, but a lot of
> one-on-one conferencing is  probably compensating for that.
> 
> Where we - I in particular -  could use more guidance is in helping the
> kids become more  metacognitive - self-monitoring and using repair
> strategies when their  comprehension breaks down. Any good advice out there
> on that  point?!
> 
> Thanks!
> 
> Take care,
> Bill  Ivey
> Stoneleigh-Burnham School
> 
> 
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