| Exploration | | | | adventure. They will be exploring reading. Have a |
| Star Gazer's Guided Reading Kit follows the | | | | discussion about what people need when they are |
| philosophy behind guided reading. This month, we will | | | | exploring something for the first time? Make sure |
| be speaking about Exploration as a key theme to | | | | students know what exploring is. Make a class list of |
| teaching students how to read and to do it well. | | | | what you need when you are going on a trip. |
| Close your eyes and try to remember back to when | | | | Things that could be listed would be luggage. Tickets. |
| you learned something for the very first time. It | | | | A place to go. Somewhere to come back to. |
| could have been the first time you tied your shoes | | | | Someone to help you on your way. |
| or the first time you learned how to take care of | | | | Post this list on the wall. |
| the cat and had to do it all by yourself. Never mind | | | | Physically anchoring the reading experience: |
| the first time you learned how to say 'I'm sorry' or | | | | Have the students make something to remind them |
| the very first day you were allowed to go to a | | | | that they are going on an adventure. Craft stores |
| birthday party by yourself. | | | | are great for ideas. Some common choices would be |
| Do you remember the fear? Do you remember the | | | | a magic wand, a star on a stick, a small bag with a |
| anxiety? Do you remember puzzling out what could | | | | special item tucked in or a painted rock. |
| happen in the absolute worst scenario? When the | | | | Show and Tell: |
| moment finally arrived for you to let go of your | | | | Bring in one of the books you learned to read first. |
| mom's hand, do you remember the thrill of just going | | | | Remind them that you once were a reading explorer. |
| with the moment and trying your best? What | | | | Have them ask their parents when they learned to |
| happened after was of course exploration in the | | | | read as a take home assignment. |
| truest sense...no different than a space pioneer or a | | | | Have them make Reading Helpers: |
| researcher looking for the cure. And as I say to my | | | | Cut out a square in a piece of paper, big enough for |
| children, "today we are going to do something | | | | students to focus on on one word. Students can use |
| different. I know you have the hearts of explorers, | | | | this to learn that in reading, we look at one word |
| the feet of adventurers." | | | | after another. |
| Sometimes as adults we forget that children are truly | | | | Tell it like it is: |
| innocent beings that we as the adults often guide | | | | Let them know it is great to make mistakes when |
| children unwittingly through about every first | | | | reading words. Just by the fact that someone |
| experience until they get the hang of it. There is | | | | stumbles over a word, the rest of the students will |
| nothing more destructive to children than to be | | | | know what that word is. Tell them to always try |
| completely left alone without training wheels on these | | | | their best and the rest will come. |
| first experiences. | | | | Engage students in learning words right away: |
| So now, imagine you are a child again and your | | | | Send home copies of the Memorize These Words |
| teacher is at the front of the room telling you first | | | | sheets for parents and ask them to cut and |
| about the sounds letters make and now you are told | | | | decorate all of these flashcards. Give them an |
| that you're going to be reading. Imagine the fear. | | | | envelope to put their masterpieces in and give |
| Imagine the anxiety. Worst case scenario, what if all | | | | students a chance in class to learn these key words. |
| the kids in your class learn how to read but you're | | | | By following some of these tips, you can make |
| sitting there without any idea of what is going on. | | | | reading what it truly needs to be with all the subtitles. |
| We have to entice students to open up their minds | | | | I thank the amazing teachers I had in my early |
| and be explorers. How do we do that? | | | | schooling and you'll be thanked to for making reading |
| Here are some practical tips to make it all come | | | | an exploration. |
| together for your reading explorer or explorers. | | | | Remember: "Today we are going to do something |
| Discussion: | | | | different. I know you have the hearts of explorers, |
| Verbally tell them that they are going on an | | | | the feet of adventurers. |