Vocabulary

After rethinking my guided reading groups, I have decided to focus more on vocabulary! Sounds scary, right?  My goal is to not only be able to use these words and understand them throughout the week, but to truly be able to use them in their daily conversations and journals. Kind of a tall order, but why not have big goals and expectations?

I found a fabulous resource from Fun-in-first.com.  Jodi has monthly guided reading stories that already have three differentiated levels (below, on, and above).  I got them on TPT.  I''m over the moon excited about how my munchkins are responding!  We finished up a week of studying Dr, Martin Luther King, Jr.  I had one of my lovelies come to me and tell me that she was going to "boycott" another student in class until they were nicer.  Wow!  I'm so proud of you that you made that connection, but now I need yet another mini lesson on social skills.  Sometimes there is a double edged sword.....

Overall, I am completely excited about how my kiddos are advancing.  At this time of the year, I have everyone on grade level or above.  I only use the below levels during the first semester.  So far, I'm loving vocabulary.  I will say that I am mostly verbal with the teaching of vocabulary.  It just takes too much time to illustrate, etc.  However, I still have them give my examples and we can have some fairly deep conversations going most days!

Any other thoughts, ideas, or suggestions???


Thanks and have a blessed Monday!