Here are three more cards to add a little variety to learning new vocabulary in guided reading sessions.

Download my Vocabulary Detective cards – set two.

When taking guided reading sessions I was always trying out new strategies. Here is my first set of Vocabulary Detective cards. They are designed for teachers to flip through when planning guided reading sessions to ensure they are using a variety of strategies for exploring vocabulary. Download the first set of cards from the Vocabulary Detective section of my website.

One of the great things about working in so many schools is that I get to meet some really talented teachers. Sometimes I can convince them to make their resources available to the world. Tonight’s reading comprehension resource comes from a particularly talented STLD (Support Teacher Learning Difficulties) who works tirelessly to bring the joy of reading to her students.

Thanks a heap sister!!!

Reading Comprehension – Interpretation Question Stems

Here is the first installment of my ‘Hidden’ Question Stems from the Three Level Guide comprehension strategy. This resource covers ‘Inferring Word Meaning from Context Clues’ as well as having a few ‘tips and tricks’ for young readers. I’ve made the resource available as a Word document so you can add your own stems as well as a Acrobat Reader file in case you don’t have Word.

Cheers

Adrian

PS I’ve also added a Youtube video that might be worth a look if you are new to teaching the skill.

A friend of mine recently asked for a few ideas on using ‘synchronous communication tools’ for her personal professional development. (Ok, it’s a Uni assignment rather than a general inquiry)

Firstly she cooked up a nice lunch and poured out some wine. (Always a good start to any professional development session!!!) We signed up for Twitter as CINDY BURGE,  installed Twitterfox and threw it out to the Twitterverse to welcome her. Which they did. Thanks all!

Next we installed Second Life and I took her around the ISTE Island to check it out and do a few screen dumps. She had a little trouble sitting on the chair (not the wine) & I hooked her up with the ISTE website. We then headed off to the Discovery Educator’s Network Second Life blog for a bit of a look around. After that I mentioned Jokaydia as an excellent resource to explore on her own time.

Lastly we dropped all the screen dumps from our session into Comic Life as a creative way to demonstrate a little of her learning.

Now her challenge as a second year uni student is to build her personal learning network to a point where online tools become a natural part of her learning. AND… the same goes for ALL teachers who don’t laminate their lesson plans

Every week I get requests to create resources for people. This week I’ve had 23 requests to get the ‘Hidden’ question stems for the 3H strategy online.

Tonight I’ve started drafting, ‘Inferring Word Meanings From Context Clues’ and aim to have it online by next Sunday.

cheers

Adrian

The most popular downloads were -

1. Printable Snakes & Ladders – this is a blank template for making reading games.
2. Change 3 - a printable word card game for learning about long vowel sounds.
3. 4 in a Row - a printable word game that kids love. Includes a blank template.
4. 3d Shape Game - a printable concentration game that focuses on the properties of 3d shapes.
5. Reciprocal Reading Cue Cards – my modifed teaching prompt cards for this powerful comprehension strategy.
6. ‘Here’ Question stems – for the 3 Level Guide Reading Strategy
7. Place Value Charts - (I really should finish the decimals charts)
8. The T Puzzle - a problem solving activity but please stop asking for the answer. I’d hate to rob you of the ‘A-ha’ feeling
9. Square Pyramid Net – I’m sure this was all the Uni students out on prac
10. Phonics Posters – A Few Things for Word Walls
11. Symmetry Webquest – A Visual Reference for Learning About Symmetry

I’m thinking that this translates to a lot of time saved by teachers and a fair amount of learning of skills on the part of students.

Today I finished off my collection of ‘Head’ questions relating to author’s intention and purpose.

Feel free to print them out and slip them into the pigeon holes of those who you think can use them.

cheers

Adrian

Three level guides (also known as the ‘Here, Hidden, Head’ reading comprehension strategy) are a huge part of my group reading sessions with students.

I’ve had the ‘here’ questions stems available on my website for a while now and recently I’ve had a few emails requesting the ‘head’ stems. So here they are! I’ve just uploaded a collection of thinking stems that focus on character.

The question stems are now available for download as a Word or Acrobat file over on my site.

cheers

Adrian

There are 3 pages of prompts available here so feel free to download them as a little professional development on knowledge based questions

One day soon I’ll find my prompts for the ‘Hidden’ and ‘Head’ aspects of of the strategy

cheers

Adrian