[MOSAIC] (mosaic) fitting it all in

[RICHARD THEXTON]

We also have kids who can't read the HM below level books.  Do you have a book room with leveled texts available for your use with small groups?  Sounds like you need to drop down some levels in order to find their instructional level.  STAR is really not a great indicator of their true reading level.  It certainly doesn't allow you to hear what strategies they are using at point of difficulty or how fluent they sound.  Do you have DRA kit or a  Rigby Benchmark kit available?  If so, I'd use that and take a running record on your strugglers.  If not, I'd gather some leveled readers and take running records until you find the text reading level that is 90-94% accurate, with good comprehension and fluency and being instruction there.  You are exposing them to grade level text thru the reading of the story in the basal, but to teach them to really read, you are going to have to get them into small groups where instruction is delivered at their instructional level.  
  Kelli

RR1981 at aol.com wrote:
  
In a message dated 9/16/2006 8:49:23 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
kelli-n-rick at sbcglobal.net writes:

We realize that we have to supplement using other read alouds and much more 
thinking aloud of our thinking in order for students to grasp the comp. 
strategies. Also, we have to supplement with Guided Reading Groups because most 
students cannot read the story in the basal independently. (another quote by 
Dr. Cooper) We are using the basal to expose them to grade level text, but 
teaching them to read in GR



I have students who can't read some of the leveled texts independently as 
well. Our district mandates a minimum of 30 whole group instruction-according 
to my district these are the activities that I am permitted to do during that 
time.

1. read aloud
2. shared reading
3. teach skills and strategies
4. phonemic awareness- K-2
5. phonics/spelling lesson
6. vocabulary
7. mini-handwriting lessons-builds fluency according to the district
8. mini interactive editing lessons

Then I am required to have 60 minutes of small group instruction. I have 
divided my class into three groups based on reading ability-we use the STAR at 
the beginning of the year to help us decide where to put everyone. Students 
meet with me for 20 minutes-this is when we preview the vocab reader, read 
the leveled reader, discuss the reader, complete comprehension questions about 
the reader and continue to model the different reading strategies. Then 
studetns go to the thinking lab-for the low and middle group they continue with 
what ever they had done with me. They might read the leveled book with a 
partner, etc. Then they go to the "By myslef" station which is where the 
independent literacy stations are located. We have four stations per week, each 
student completes one station per day. We don't rotate on Fridays. That day 
is for spelling and reading comprehension test as well as conferencing about 
station activities completed. Also, those students who don't complete a 
particular station have time to do so.


I too am rather frustrated, only about 3 or 4 of my 15 kids read at grade 
level, yet I am stuck with this basal filled with material they can't read 
independently.

Rosie
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