Lindsay

Donahoo
Article 1: Fluency Report

It was very eye opening to once more read about how often fluency is

neglected in the classroom. This article discussed that a reason for the lack of
fluency being taught is the fact that it must be a part of oral reading and not
individual silent reading. Oral reading and explaining fluency is much more time
consuming and teachers seem to overlook this extremely important element of
reading. As we have discussed in class, fluency is the ability to read a text with
automaticity, expression, rate and prosody. To read a text quickly and accurately
and use expression while doing so, students must have a vocabulary level that
matches the text they are reading. If students are not able to recognize or
comprehend the words in a book they will most definitely not read that book
fluently. A strong vocabulary is so important throughout a students educational
career and beyond. Oral reading is proven to be effective, especially when teaching
fluency and using examples and non-examples. Research shows that when students
read something orally that they have previously read silently that they usually do
not read that passage with fluency. This shows that they arent practicing or
learning how to read it correctly and students comprehend what they are reading.
In my opinion this is just wasted time, because if students are reading silently, no
one is assesses their progress and they may be struggling with the same problems
over and over. I know that silent reading is considered a strategy for struggling
readers, but I have yet to see how it helps them. The goal for teachers with all of her
students is that they are able to read words by sight automatically, and to do that

he/she must take a significant amount of time working with students, whether it is
individually or with the class as a whole.
Article 2: Fluency in the Common Core

Although important and very informative, this article was a review of my

knowledge of The Common Core Standards. If I have learned anything so far in my

Education classes, it is that if we talk about it more than once or if it is drilled in our
heads daily, that means that it is something important and we need to always
remember it. More teachers should embrace these standards, because they seem so
helpful! Especially for new, first year teachers who need an outline of where to
begin. I think they are wonderful, but they must be used correctly and fully. These
standards have been proven by research time after time that they show
improvement year after year in students who teachers implemented them correctly.
They are laid out in a way that is simple for teachers to understand, in a precise
order and even have examples for teachers to follow and lesson ideas for them. I
think that some teachers who have been teaching for a long time may have a hard
time changing their ways of teaching and using these standards. But at the end of
the day teachers should do what is best for the improvement of their students
learning. We have discussed in class the importance of stating our objectives to our
students and I think that if teacher make the objectives clear and reasonable that
these will be goals that they can easily reach. This will make using and meeting the
Common Core Standards a breeze to use because classes will be moving through
each step together with a purpose.

Reading Rockets Videos

1. Early Literacy
Building Strong Vocabulary

A strong vocabulary is so important throughout a students education.

Research shows that students who are have a more advances vocabulary will be
more successful readers and be able to comprehend text more than those that do
not. Also a student has a small amount of vocabulary knowledge this is have an
effect on subjects other than reading. Books are a great way to help expand
students vocabulary. Teachers should take advantage of extra time that they have
to read to students and explain words that they might not normally hear. Dr.
Underbake stressed on this subject as well, and I completely agree that taking the
time to read more advanced books to students would be a wonderful tool to teach
them new vocabulary. Also, we have discussed in class that it might be helpful to
pair struggling students with students who are more advanced with either group
work or stations. This way the struggling students can be exposed to a more
advanced vocabulary and be apart of everyday conversations with a student who
can help them further their vocabulary knowledge. The classroom gives students
the opportunity to hear words that they might normally hear in everyday at home
and expands their knowledge. Such a wonderful position we are put in as educators
to be the ones to help expand our students horizons by broadening their
vocabulary.
2. Fluency
Fluency Rubric

There are many ways to model fluency, but in the one way that I have seen

over and over again is giving a example and a non-example. This video further
expressed the importance of using this strategy, we have discussed it in the
classroom and I have seen it time and time again in clinicals. I saw this modeled in
class when the teacher was teaching about punctuation and how it effects
expression within text. I think that giving non-examples are just as important as
showing students how the correct way to read something would sound. Fluency is
very important and should be taught a little at a slow pace, because students should
know every aspect of what it entails. Non-examples should include choppy
sentences and not emphasizing punctuation. The teacher in the video gave s series
of non-examples that slowly improved until she arrived at the example. She
modeled how the students would be graded on how fluently they read. The
example of fluency should be smooth, emphasizing the punctuation, continuing at
the right speed and expressive.
3. Background Knowledge
Building Background Knowledge

We have discussed the importance of building background knowledge in

class and I have seen first hand how important it really is. Every single student is
not going to have the same background knowledge and interest, but it is important
for teachers to tap into what that might look like for each student. Teachers cant
have material that will be interesting for every student every time they read a new
book, it would be impossible. But when reading books to the class as a whole,
teachers can chose a book that a majority of the class will enjoy. Although, if the

teacher is working on reading with an individual student or if students are in

reading stations, I think it would be much easier for students to have access to
books that fit their individual interest. Knowing the interest and background
knowledge of your students is extremely important. Research shows that the
Common Core systematically and initially helps build this background knowledge
very early for students. Over all, and most importantly, teachers should know their
students.
4. Childrens Books
Connecting Books with Life

Once again, this is something we have read about and discussed in class,

because keeping students interested in reading is so very important! Research

shows that making connections with things students are learning about (not just
reading) engages them and sparks their interest more than just teaching about the
subject matter. When you connect a book with real life things and events students
will be much more interested and engaged in the topic. Making connections is so
important when it comes to reading. Reading material should be easily available to
students and they should have opportunities to have hands on experiences with the
books being discussed in class. I have yet to see this in the classroom, but I know
that if I were to experience this strategy more when I was younger that I would be
much more interested in reading to this day. In the world we live in today, books
have to compete with television, the Internet and technology everywhere. Teachers
have a tough task, but it is our job to keep the joy of books alive! I love that

statement from the video and it is so very true. Books open up a childs imagination
a way that a movie just cant do.
5. Assessment
Progress Monitoring at Tier 2

Progress monitoring should be an ongoing process. If progress monitoring is

not done continually, then the school system will not know if the child is improving
and should be moved out of tier 2 or if they arent responding and need further help.
We have continued to talk about expectations for students and goals we set for
them, and Tier 2 students are no exception. Teachers should set high goals for
students, not necessarily unrealistic goals but something for them to work towards
and something that they will be able to reach over the set period of time. Its
proven that when high goals are set for students they will perform better because
they have something to work towards. Students should never be stagnant, because
that is our number one goal as teachers is to make sure they are growing in
knowledge and moving forward. If they arent improving then the teacher should
take a step back and re-evaluate their teaching strategies and/or what should be the
next step for the particular student. I loved the idea of giving informal assessments,
because sometimes I forget that those as just as important as formal assessments.
Conducting Universal Screening

We received a handout/article that discussed the importance of screenings

and how often they are done, but this video expounded on it much more in depth.
Universal screenings should be done at the beginning of the school year, the
beginning of the calendar year and then once more at the end of the school year. Its

important that there are trained professionals that give these screenings. The data
from these screenings are extremely helpful and important to teachers. This video
stressed the importance of the phrase we have discussed in class (almost daily),
data drives instruction! The data that is gained from these screenings help
teachers evaluate their teaching, if they need to change their methods and see the
needs of students individually. Research and common sense shows that the only
way that teachers will see the needs or growth of their students is to continually
screen and assess them.
Running Records

I loved that this video stated that its helpful and important step in students

improvement to let the student set his or her own goals. I have worked with
students in the past and I used the technique that this video mentioned of having a
copy of the text that the teacher is reading from and marking the parts they
struggled with and the ones they read with ease. This was helpful for the teacher I
was observing because she could go back after the student read and informed them
what they excelled at and the things they might need to work on. Not only is this
helpful for the teacher, but it is also helpful for the parent of the student. I have seen
teachers send these passages with notes home on how the student is improving or
things they are struggling with so they can see what their child needs to work on.
They are helpful in conferences with parents or with other teachers when they get
together and talk about specific things their class is struggling with and how to help
improve those skills.

Talk about something that is familiar at the beginning of each session to individual
students.
Guided Reading

I think that guided reading is very important for students no matter what

reading level they are on. Together the class or small group will go through a book
with the teacher cover and the table of contents to the very end of the text. Guided
reading is extremely detailed and is helpful for struggling readers. Teachers may
stop numerous times asking students questions, but asking question specifically for
each student. As we have discussed numerous times in class, a great way to start off
any lesson is with prior knowledge and guided reading is no exception.
With non-fiction students seem to race through the reading. First talk about prior
knowledge. Also after students read anything or learn something in any subject a
great way to organize what they have learned is using a graphic organizer!
Activities
Encouraging Young Readers and Writers

Children like to follow what the adults around them are doing. They take

along the interest of their parents and people around them. When children see what
adults are reading and writing they want to read things related to those same
subjects. They also love to discuss details about things they are reading with their
parents. I know that I have experienced this myself when I was younger wanting to
show my parents everything I was reading or anything I was writing in school. The
class I am with in clincals are the same way, they want to read me every word they
write down because they are so proud of their work.