Web Tools: TrackStar and Puzzle Maker

 

The crossword puzzle I based on a 1st-2nd grade classroom in learning the main function of adjectives. I provided either the beginnings of sentence that can be finished with an adjective, or a sentence that has a "fill in the blank" concept that can be filled in with an adjective. This is a fun way to learn that adjectives are describing words. 

The word search I made based on some first grade level spelling words. It focuses on long vowel -e, double -e spelling words. I feel like the word search is a great way to incorporate a fun aspect into the spelling words of the week; a way to get the child more interested in learning and loving their spelling words. 

 Track #460632: Independent Reading for Elementary

Annotated by: Virginia Donohue

1. Independent Reading Area

http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/independentreadingarea

Within the article, the teacher explained how she encouraged independent reading in her

classroom. She gave examples of how to organize the books and folders in the classroom. This
website showed me some possible strategies that I could use in the classroom to encourage
independent reading. This article focused on the grades k3.

2. Supporting Students as they Read Independently

http://www.readwritethink.org/professionaldevelopment/strategyguides/supportingstudentstheyread30817.html

This article is focused on grades k12.

It gives a basic definition of what independent
reading is in all grades. The article lists what the main goals of independent reading in the
classroom are. It also gives some strategies to help support the students.

3. Five Clever Ideas to Spark Independent Reading by Kids

https://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2015/07/22/fivecleverideastosparkindependentreadingbykids/

This article touches on the importance of independent reading disappearing soon

because of technology. The article gives 5 different ideas for how to incorporate independent
reading into everyday curriculum. It has valuable information in that the ideas given are ways to
make in class reading more fun for the child such as contests, book a day programs, and small
in class book clubs.

4. Making Independent Reading Work

https://www.literacyworldwide.org/blog/literacydaily/2016/02/18/makingindependentreadingwork 

Common Core State Standards show that independent reading should be made fun for

students while still incorporating every book genre. The teacher plays the biggest role in
independent reading. This article makes a valid point in saying that a classroom library must
contain a wide range in leveled texts; each child has a different reading level. The article ends
saying that if an independent reading program goes correctly, it could motivate a child to read
outside of the classroom.

5. Selecting "Just Right" Books for Independent Reading

https://www.professionalpractice.org/aboutus/selecting_just_right_books/

This article emphasizes the importance of choosing the right book for the student. It

provides ideas for how to test the children on their reading fluency. The article says that while
reading easy books leads to confidence and fluency, choosing difficult books every so often can
improve a child's reading ability. The article goes into great detail about the ways a book can be
too easy, just right, and too hard.

I did my TrackStar based on the Independent Reading aspect of a classroom. Literacy is  one of the biggest problems when it comes to educational standards; therefore, incorporating Independent Reading into everyday lesson plans/curriculum is a great way to increase these odds. One thing I learned from this research was that the best way to spark interest in Independent Reading is to build a classroom library, make charts for the students to sign when they've finished a book, test their different reading levels, and then incorporate all the reading levels you have into your classroom library. Starting this activity in elementary school can lead to a love of reading, and a lack of dreadful sighs when a teacher pulls out a book in class!