As part of my push in work as a Literacy Specialist, I get to push in to two first grade and two kindergarten classrooms for Reader’s Workshop. The purpose of this push in work is to support small groups. The classroom teachers and I plan which groups each of us will take and at this point in the year, we know the readers pretty well, and know where they need to go. We find time to quickly connect and collaborate to target strategies and work for each reader. On my first day of the week in any given room, I am usually pulling the groups. On day two, I meet with individual readers, I call it “check in day”.
Today was a “check in day” in Leigh-Anne’s first grade classroom. I started with Michael whose goals are around print work and did a quick running record and comprehension check. I was able to watch him use multiple strategies and I witnessed the habits he is developing as a reader.
I moved on to Jesse. Jesse’s goals are around comprehension. During our small group last week, we talked about in the kinds of books they are reading, they need to pay attention to what characters say and do. “What characters say and do lets the reader know how they are feeling.” I told them. I left them with a post it reminder of the thinking work they needed to be doing.
So today, on “check in day”. I asked Jesse to bring his book and the post-it I had left with him. The conversation went like this:
“So, Jesse, can you tell me about this post it. Can you tell me about the kind of work you need to be doing in the kinds of books you are reading.”
“I need to pay attention to what the characters are saying and doing so I can understand the book and the characters.”
“Can you show me a part where you did that work?”
He flips through the book. I watch and wait.
“Here the mom says “Don’t put your feet on the sofa!” It has that exclamation mark so that means she yelling and she’s mad.”
He turns the page.
“And here, mom says, “No loud noise!” She’s yelling again so she’s mad. It keeps happening again and again. She’s really mad! And, Finley is not a good listener.”
“WOW. Wait a minute. You are telling me that if you pay attention to what a character says and how they say it, you can also learn about another character?”
“Well yeah! Mom kept yelling, she was mad, and it’s obvious Finley isn’t a good listener.”
“That is pretty cool, Jesse. You took something I taught you and you made it your own, you grew it!”
He smiled looked at me with wide open eyes and said,
“So, what you saying is that teachers tell us things and then we can, they expect us to add on?”
“Yes, Jesse, when you add on, when you grow what we teach you, that is the best kind of learning.”
Your naming for Jesse, the work he was doing as a reader, lifted him up. I could picture him sitting a little taller and the smile. You noticed and that matters.
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So, when we read your posts, we shouldn’t just read them and follow them, we should try to add on? I really like the word “grow” in your comment to Jesse. He took the seed and planted it in his mind, but his mind made the seed grow. When you do that kind of thing with a small group, you make it seem so simple…but I know it isn’t.
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I can picture the excitement and awe in Jesse’s eyes when he says/you write “So, what you saying is that teachers tell us things and then we can, they expect us to add on?”
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The dialogue is spot-on, and oh, if only all children knew they should reach beyond!!
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I love adding on….sometimes people ask me to stop. I love your anecdotes!
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This conversation says so much – about Jesse and about the kind of teacher you are.
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Love this slice for so many reasons! You brought us into the moment, AND you shared a fabulous teaching experience! The dialogue captured so much of the excitement and pride in that moment!
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You skimmed over just an important part where you plan with the teacher and have established relationships with the kiddos. That’s no small thing.
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We all have so much to bring to what we read. I learned that too late. Your students are blessed to have you.
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What a lovely slice, great observations from Jesse (I have to admit it makes me smile when kids can so readily relate to a mum getting mad at someone!!) and the benefits he gained from your lesson!
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You said exactly the right thing at the right moment. Naming what he was doing was the catalyst to that excited revelation. What a beautiful example of teaching in action.
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