Daily Five
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My classroom is full of students who are learning English as a second language. I have found that The Daily Five program has been beneficial for my students who are learning English for the first time as well as those who already have a firm grasp on the language. The Daily Five program is easily differentiated and allows students to work at their independent levels while providing time for the teacher the work with students individually.
WIthin one literacy block, students are able to practice writing, reading, their vocabulary and are also provided with technology to listen to reading and practice their word work skills.
WIthin one literacy block, students are able to practice writing, reading, their vocabulary and are also provided with technology to listen to reading and practice their word work skills.
Writing
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I begin every Writer's Workshop by modelling what I want the student's final product to look like. I think that modelling is important for my student's as many of them are learning English as a second language and this provides them with a better grasp of what is wanted of them. The modelling process is done as a group and incorporates student participation.
This year I have learned that my students are more enthusiastic about writing when the topic is interesting to them and when a hands on approach is provided. In order to engage my students and excite them about writing we have gone on nature walks, played with toy monsters, danced around the classroom, read stories, eaten Oreos, passed notes, and written to our pen pals in Canada among many other activities.
This year I have learned that my students are more enthusiastic about writing when the topic is interesting to them and when a hands on approach is provided. In order to engage my students and excite them about writing we have gone on nature walks, played with toy monsters, danced around the classroom, read stories, eaten Oreos, passed notes, and written to our pen pals in Canada among many other activities.
Canadian Pen Pals
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In order to encourage excitement about writing and teach the students how to write letters we began writing to pen pals at New Maryland Elementary school in New Brunswick, Canada. The enthusiasm that the students demonstrated was much more than I expected. Instead of waiting months for the letters to arrive, we began a blog to write back and forth much more quickly. Please take a look at our blog by clicking on the link below.
The students have been able to ask each other questions about their homes, schools, teachers, and favourite things. Sometimes I think they forget that they are still learning and doing school work, it has been very successful.
The students have been able to ask each other questions about their homes, schools, teachers, and favourite things. Sometimes I think they forget that they are still learning and doing school work, it has been very successful.
Student Teachers
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The student's morning routine includes writing down a password, which is a different high frequency word everyday, and completing a few math questions pertaining to what they are currently learning.
The students also use the SMART Board to go over attendance, the weather, the date, how many days they have been in school and their weekly classroom jobs.
As the year has progressed the students have taken over the morning routine entirely. A different "student teacher" has the class share their password sentences and answer the math questions and completes all of the SMART Board pages. I have found that having different students teach the class has increased student participation and provided me with time to assess the student teacher's oral skills.
As is the case with most of the learning that occurs in our classroom, the morning routine was modelled many times before the students took over and began teaching each other.
The students also use the SMART Board to go over attendance, the weather, the date, how many days they have been in school and their weekly classroom jobs.
As the year has progressed the students have taken over the morning routine entirely. A different "student teacher" has the class share their password sentences and answer the math questions and completes all of the SMART Board pages. I have found that having different students teach the class has increased student participation and provided me with time to assess the student teacher's oral skills.
As is the case with most of the learning that occurs in our classroom, the morning routine was modelled many times before the students took over and began teaching each other.