Anchor Charts: Starting Read to Self

Hello Readers!  

I hope everyone is off to a fabulous new school year!  I wanted to share how I normally start independent reading.  So, for the past couple weeks I have been filling the students' book boxes with leveled paper books.  These books can be from Reading A-Z, paper books from your reading program, self made, whatever you can find but try to make them very read-able for your kiddos.  After you have about 5-6 books, have a mini lesson on Read to Self.  This lingo came from the Daily 5 initiative but I have my own spin on centers.  I do really like the language of Read to Self though.  Easy, concise and kids can visualize it.  



First, I bring everyone to the carpet, I take chart paper and create a "T" chart.  We discuss all of the things the kids should be doing during read to self:  sitting where they cannot touch another student, reading books from their book boxes (reading can mean using the pictures to invent a story), quiet, comfortable, whisper reading, etc.  Then we talk about what I am doing:  working with students.  

After the chart is created, we practice this activity each day. I started the first time with a 4 min block of time.  In Daily 5, it says to stop the students and revisit the anchor chart if someone gets off task.  I believe that disrupts the kiddos that are working hard so I independently visit the off take child and review the chart.  Each day I add a minute or two to our time until we get to 15 minutes.  We revisit the anchor chart each day for the first 3-4 days and then as needed.  It is also posted in the room after the first few days.  

And now you have indpenedent readers at any level!!  

As the year progresses, I also have a mini-lesson on "Just Right" books from the classroom library.  You can either have students add these to their book boxes or have these books as an additional choice during this time.  

I hope you try Read to Self and see all of readers start blooming like I have!  

Classroom Reveal: My first blogpost!!

So excited for this journey!!!

Welcome to my blog!  

I am a 1st grade teacher in Troy, OH who has a passion to share ideas.  

In my spare time, I help with dog rescue.  I brought my doggie-lovin' heart into the classroom and wallah!

These are laminated squares outside of my classroom that are attached to the tack strips.  I put clothespins on them to switch out hallway displays quickly and easily.

These are cubbies for my kids but also are used for storage.  Each bin is labeled with the items that go inside.  At the bottom are any papers that I use consistently throughout the year.  I can copy in advance and the kids use the bins as a shelf.  

I got the blue shelves from Walmart and the multi-color drawers from Target.  

My reading corner: tried stools this year from IKEA (Thanks Mrs. DeCarbo!)  The kids are LOVING them!  Paper letters are stored in the red little drawers to use during reading groups; posters help with decoding and the caterpillar shows word families.

Chapter books and book boxes:  They are actually shower caddies!  I turned a wooden paper sorter sideways and wallah!    

This will be my work board for Literacy Collaborative (AM Reading) and Daily 4 (PM Math)

Calendar:  I LOVE to incorporate a new thing each month to continue challenging kiddos during our time here.  

Behavior Plan:  All children start on green.  The system is fluid, so even if he/she moves down- they can always earn their way back up!

Drawers for needed copies throughout the week!

Math manipulatives and School/Home Folders:  labeled so that children can grab independently and a place in the morning with everything goes as well as any copies that I need to send home get put (so I don't lose things)!

Thanks you so much for visiting my blog!  I'm super excited to start sharing my knowledge and ideas as well as learning from others that post/share!