Think+Alouds

** Shout Out for the Week **
This week’s shout-out goes out to all of you for kicking off the year celebrating literacy. I saw many good activities and discussions as I wandered classrooms on Thursday & Friday.

** Strategy for the Week – [|Think Alouds] & Model, Model, Model! **
We have high expectations for the students; however, for them to meet those expectations, we must demonstrate the proper thinking process and desired procedures. This will take more than one modeling session, remember to be repetitive and deliberate in your actions when modeling for students. Use positive reinforcements as you see students are “getting the hang of it.”

**Focus for this week's walkthrough:**
Centers/ Workstations/ Small Groups: It is not to early to begin centers and developing procedures for students. Centers should be engaging and worthwhile allowing students to practice and apply skills. If you need assistance in developing centers or need ideas for activities, please let me know.

** Celebrating Literacy! **
During the year, we will be introduced to Common Core. I found this great appendix that has really great information on the Reading Foundational Skills (Page 17-22). This shows the consonant and vowel patterns that students need to know. Although this is intended for K-2, some of our 3rd- 5th grade students have gaps here. @http://www.corestandards.org/assets/Appendix_A.pdf
 * **Consonant and vowel patterns**

This year, we will talk about Reader’s Workshop. Here are some videos of the process. @http://quest.carnegiefoundation.org/~dpointer/jennifermyers/workshopapproach.htm
 * ** Reader’s and writer’s workshop **

**Discussion Question of the Week**
Click the above ** DISCUSSION ** tab to answer. What was the BEST classroom management tip someone gave you?

**This Week’s Blog:** [|The Need to Breathe: How to Develop Urgency in the Classroom]
You may respond to the blog under the ** DISCUSSION ** tab.

//**For those who may need a boost with the lesson plan format, please review the sample. Please note, principals may require additional information.**//