Comments by Rachel Riendeau Most recent public comments by Rachel Riendeau https://nowcomment.com/users/136250 Agreed! Sometimes in the reading segment of my class, I'll give a small group a passage and then have them choose the words from that passage that they want to learn more about, rather than teaching them beforehand out of context. https://nowcomment.com/documents/347781?scroll_to=3076817 https://nowcomment.com/documents/347781?scroll_to=3076817 Fri, 09 Jun 2023 15:12:46 -0400 Yes! If you want a read-aloud to introduce this idea, "The Word Collector" by Peter Reynolds is amazing! https://nowcomment.com/documents/347781?scroll_to=3076816 https://nowcomment.com/documents/347781?scroll_to=3076816 Fri, 09 Jun 2023 15:09:56 -0400 Whisper phones are basically PVC pipe pieces where students are able to hear themselves as they "whisper-read" something to themselves. They're awesome for beginning readers! https://nowcomment.com/documents/347388?scroll_to=3076351 https://nowcomment.com/documents/347388?scroll_to=3076351 Wed, 07 Jun 2023 20:58:49 -0400 I love the point the author makes that sentence stems not only increase students' ability to write, but their confidence, too! https://nowcomment.com/documents/347388?scroll_to=3076350 https://nowcomment.com/documents/347388?scroll_to=3076350 Wed, 07 Jun 2023 20:57:06 -0400 Assessing is hard! https://nowcomment.com/documents/347388?scroll_to=3076349 https://nowcomment.com/documents/347388?scroll_to=3076349 I've taught math in small groups before, which is helpful because then you can take anecdotal notes on which students are getting a concept, which ones aren't, and which ones are able to go above and beyond. It feels a lot more "process-oriented," too which is nice. Wed, 07 Jun 2023 20:52:18 -0400 My students struggle with this step, too. I think one thing that helps in early grades is using hands-on materials. I had students revise opening sentences by stapling flaps to their papers. It was a small revision, but it introduced them to the concept. https://nowcomment.com/documents/347388?scroll_to=3076348 https://nowcomment.com/documents/347388?scroll_to=3076348 Wed, 07 Jun 2023 20:50:19 -0400 Great explanation! https://nowcomment.com/documents/347388?scroll_to=3076346 https://nowcomment.com/documents/347388?scroll_to=3076346 I love thinking about it this way - that when teaching writing, we're teaching thinking. Just like students need to give evidence when talking about a book, they need to give evidence and details about their thinking in other content areas too. Wed, 07 Jun 2023 20:44:14 -0400 I agree with you, Amy! I have many students who often tell me, "I did it in my head." I think there are so many benefits to having students hear their peers, though, especially as they tend to use more "kid-friendly" language and vocabulary. https://nowcomment.com/documents/347388?scroll_to=3076345 https://nowcomment.com/documents/347388?scroll_to=3076345 Wed, 07 Jun 2023 20:42:06 -0400