The third chapter in Answers to Your Biggest Questions About Teaching Elementary Reading introduces and explains all of the instructional principles that comprise elementary reading– and there are many!
Over the past few years, I’ve read many articles and social media posts (mostly from those outside of actual elementary teaching) declaring that students need more of this or less of that type of instruction. Well, chapters three and four (chapter four will be introduced later this week), are my answer to those grand, often misguided, claims. Kids do not need more of this or less of that. Rather, kids need teachers to follow their lead. The balance of what and how much to teach will vary year to year in your classroom because all students are different. Your students will come to you with varying strengths and different needs. There is no magic answer or formula to figure out the instruction that your students need. Rather, let your knowledge of instructional principles (chpt. 3) coupled with ongoing formative assessment (chpt. 4) be your guide to teaching the readers in your classroom.
Chapter three introduces and explains answers to the following questions about how to use key instructional principles in teaching elementary reading.
Instructional Resource Right Now
One of my favorite, and perhaps the most versatile of instructional methods, is the read aloud. In chapter three, I explain how read aloud can be used in the classroom for different purposes. Read aloud can be used in a mini lesson to teach a new skill or strategy, as a community building session, just for the pure love and joy of reading, and for so many other reasons as well! A common question I hear from teachers is, “What books do you recommend I read aloud in my classroom?” Rather than listing off a book here or there, I lean toward empowering teachers to find their own books by suggesting they think about what’s missing from their library, what their students’ need, and then consulting trusted experts. Then, I offer a list of trusted experts! Listed in the box below are just a few of the trusted sources that many reading teachers and I turn to again and again to keep in-the-know and learn about children’s books.
More on read aloud and many other powerful instructional methods can be found throughout the pages of chapter three in Answers to Your Biggest Questions About Teaching Elementary Reading.
All posts in this sneak peek blog series can be found linked here. Learn even more about Answers to Your Biggest Questions About Teaching Elementary Reading by clicking here.
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Looking for literacy PD? I’m available for on-site, in-school, and virtual summer 2022 professional development sessions around all topics and needs in K-6 literacy education. Booking is also available for select dates during the 2022-23 school year and beyond. Learn more here or contact cnosekliteracy@gmail.com to get started. I’d love to work with you and your teachers! -Christina
Christina Nosek Literacy: Building Community in Elementary Education 