Baby Animals

San Diego Zoo Photo Credit at ZooBorns Today!

Here’s A Glimpse At A Few Images From A Favorite Website We Love To Use In Our Classroom!

I use daily digital images to promote oral language skills among my first grader students.  I share the image with the entire class.  We generate some questions and facts {...and opinions...} about the photo and then the fun begins.  Using a Kagan Structure, the students stand up, pair up, and engage in conversation with a partner.  The daily image can be used during a transition time or when a "Noisy Nora" break is needed!

We just can’t seem to get enough of these cute baby animals born in zoos and aquariums around the world!

Be Sure To Visit the ZooBorns Site With Your Students!

Cute books, too!

 

Fluency Fun!

Fluency Fun!  We are always working on reading accurately, with proper speed, and with expression.  Here’s a fun activity we’ll use this week!  

For brief, whole group, instruction, we will use the Kagan Structure “Quiz, Quiz Trade” with these cards.  (The words I have chosen to use on these Fluency Cards are known words and/or review words for most students.)  During small group instruction, we could use these cards with the Kagan structure, “Fan and Pick”. 

After several days of modeling and practice, I will add these cards to our Literacy Stations.  Click to view this great idea from Dr. Jean’s website to “change voices” and complete repeated readings.  Students can practice with a buddy or work independently.  We have several “PVC elbow joints” (whisper phones) that work well for individual practice.

Here are a couple of links on Fluency that I have enjoyed reading:

Scholastic Top Teaching

Scholastic Resources

Be sure to check out this link for a strategy lesson plan sheet and other great "ready to go" resources!