This is a picture of a literacy chart that my MT uses when we work on daily 5. Each student has a nametag and then each differernt colored slip of paper (red,orange,blue,purple,and yellow) indicate a different literacy task that the students should be working on. This is a good way to mix up what students are doing on a daily basis and to add a bit more variety to their literacy learning. I also think it is a good tool because students are able to refer back to the chart to see what they should be doing. This helps them stay on task better. I would modify this a little in my own classroom though. My MT does not sort these and change them from the day before until reading time. This means that every day and the start of language arts the students are sitting waiting for about ten minutes while she is switchin what each student should be doing. I would definitely do this either at the end of each day or in the morning before students arrive. This would be a better use of time and wouldn't waste the literacy period time that has been allowed. I think that this idea could work in a classroom but it does not seem to be working to its fullest potential in my placement. I would recommend it only if a person is able to be really organized with it, otherwise it is just a waste of valuable time.

Literacy Resource

This is a picture of the back of my fifth grade classroom. This is where most of the kids read during "read-to-self" time. There is a carpet and a few bean bags in which the students take turns using. The literacy resource I would like to highlight in this picture is the classroom library. This is about half of the classroom library. There are buckets that have specific genres. Besides having the usual genres such as Science Fiction, African American Literature, etc., my MT has books separated by author and book series as well. She has the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, Babysitter's Club, Jerry Spinelli, and so on. These are not only books that fifth grade students enjoy, but they are being made available for the students.
When you think of being in an urban school, it is known that resources are low and aren't always readily available, the fact that this teacher has a huge library in her classroom with current books that are interesting to many of the students is quite incredible. If a student likes reading books by the same author, there are options. If the student likes reading a certain genre, there will be books available for those students as well.
Although I think this is a very important literacy resource for the classroom, I believe that this classroom library could be used much more efficiently. If the students had time to look for books and "check them out" in the classroom library for their read to self time, that would be more useful. I often see the students reading the same books over and over again during their silent reading time. I also feel as though she should have checked their books out to see what kind of reading level the books are, and if they match up to the students' proficiency level, their read to self time would be utilized much more efficiently. I think that my MT should keep track of the students' books that they use, as well as give the students' time to find a new book. I also think that daily, during read to self time, my MT should take 5-10 minutes to read with a student and ask questions such as, "What has happened so far?" "Why did you choose this book?" "What types of books do you like to read?" "What do you predict will happen next?" Then, I think she should recommend a different type of book that challenges the student and maybe takes them out of their comfort zone so they can get a new perspective on literacy.
All in all, I think that this classroom library has a lot of potential for students to move up in their reading levels, as well as enjoying literacy.

Literacy Resource

I apologize ahead of time, I completely forgot to grab my camera before I left, so I cannot show a picture, but I will add one later!

The literacy resource in my classroom that I find most interesting and helpful is the daily bookbags my students are given. At the beginning of the year my teacher read with each of my students and gauged their reading level. After that, my students were all given a bag with their name on in and within it was two or three books that fit their reading level and would be a sufficient book for them to read. Each day, the students are to bring those book bags home, and read them with their parents or guardian and get a paper signed that they had done so. The students are asked to bring the book bags back every day so my mentor teacher can replace the books with new ones. I find this system to be very helpful and great to get parents involved.

The book bags are a huge help because the students do not always get an extensive time of focused reading in class where they can practice and improve their skills. Also, having the students work at home with their guardians gives the guardian an idea of where there student is ability-wise and where they should be. There are a couple flaws to this, however, when it comes to involving guardians. Many times students will claim that they had nobody to read with, or parents will just sign off saying their students read when they actually did not. This process requires a commitment from the parent, teacher and student to complete all of the reading.

I would highly suggest this process as well as use it in my own classroom. The students love to receive new books daily and get excited to go home and show their family how much they can read. It really does help the students improve greatly and become more excited about reading. The only modification I would make to this is really insisting that the parents help out, or make sure there is someone, even a sibling, who would be willing to read for a few minutes with the student. Otherwise, I think this is a great idea!

Literacy Resource

This is a picture of a literacy resource that the students in my classroom use everyday. They are known as literacy boots. This is a great resource that my students have to help them in increasing their literacy abilities. My students use their literacy boots during an everyday activity known as "daily 5." During their daily 5 time they are assigned to either read to self, read to someone (which is only reading to one partner) or write. Inside each literacy boot, are several books that are "just right books." These books are specifically selected by my mentor teacher and are switched out every other week. Each boot has 5 books in them that are at the students’ specific literacy level. My teacher determines my students' literacy levels through ongoing assessments like running records, and reading street assessments, which is the reading program that the school utilizes. The reading street assessments are done each week based on the words that were learned that week, where they have to read about 10 words and then read 4 sentences. Then based on those assessments and the running records my MT determines what level each of my students are at and what books go into their literacy boots. There also is usually one slightly higher book in their boot to challenge their reading abilities. Each boot also has a composition notebook, which they keep in their boots to practice writing. The students can draw and write. This is a great way for my teacher to see their writing progression and each day during daily 5 she usually meets with 1-2 students to have them show her their writing so that she can see and gauge the progress they're making.

This enhances my students' reading skills both because they have books that are appropriately picked for their level and because they have at least one book that challenges their reading levels. This can help my students because it ensures that they are actually reading rather than just flipping through the book because they can’t read it, and it also allows them to move up in reading when they are ready. It also helps my teacher gauge their writing abilities and helps them to practice writing and expressing themselves, and telling stories.

I definitely would utilize this method in my own class if I had young readers and would recommend this system to a teacher to use. I think that it is a great way to help kids read through choosing level appropriate books, and maintaining that they are actually reading. I would make a few changes to the program to strengthen it however. For one thing, I think that it is important that you allow your students to have a voice in what they read. So every two weeks instead of me choosing the books, I would have my students chose their own books to go in their boots that are from a pile of books that are pre-determined and level appropriate. This way I am still in control of maintaining that they chose the right books but they get to have some freedom in choosing what they want to read. I also would have my students not only bring me their writing each week, but also their challenging book and have them read it to me to see where they are at in regards to being ready to move up a level or not. That way I can ensure that they are enhancing in their reading through a third check. I also would have my students at any time of the day that they finish their work early or don’t have something to do, to grab their boots and read from it. That way they are constantly practicing. I definitely will use this system in my class someday and really see the value in this resource.