Literacy Focus

 LeRoy Elementary School takes hands on approach to teaching literacy in the classrooms. For my learner demographic analysis I interviewed Erin Conn the Principal of LeRoy.

Conn says LeRoy’s main goal right now is to have a guided reading workshop approach model. As a school they want there to be consistency on what is being taught to each child according to their level. I thought this was really neat because I remember when I was in elementary school their was no set way of teaching reading as a school. It alternated between teachers, which confided me and gave me anxiety ultimately deterring me away from reading completely. Thus, I think Principal Conn’s approach is realistic and attainable.

Additionally, LeRoy Elementary School uses the Fontas-Pinnell Guided Reading to scale their students. This scale allows each student to be given a Lextile score.  I have been placed in Traci Holtke’s third grade classroom. For this clinical assignment I have decided to focus on a guided reading group consisting of  four girls. Their Lextile level is between 600-699.

Instructionally this group of students is at a P on the Fontas-Pinnell Guided Reading Group. This is the teaching level that Mrs. Holtke is implementing them on. She is currently working with them on comprehension, fluency, and decoding words.

Right now independently they are at an O on the Fontas-Pinnell Guided Reading scale. These are the books they can read at home on their own independently. It is books that are meant for fun that does not cause stress. The words flow easily and will deter the students from getting stuck on words.

Additionally, LeRoy likes to use blooms taxonomy and apply it to the students level. Some examples of this that Mrs. Holke uses are using a character from the book; solving a problem and having the students apply the story to their own lives. She also says she has the girls illustrate something from the book as well. Overall she wants the students when writing about the story to state their opinion, the proof and the explanation from the text that proves their opinion.

I choose this group of students because I believe they need to focus on comprehension. They need to think more in depth. I want them to ask themselves questions while reading. For example why does this happen etc… Lastly, the more they are aware of foreshadowing and making predications the better readers they will be.

Traci also believes that they too can focus on comprehension as well. I have been observing Traci teach this group of girls since being in her classroom. I feel comfortable teaching the classroom because Traci makes 

me feel comfortable and at ease in her classroom. After teaching this lesson I will feel more prepared to student teach because I will have itemized a lesson based on a small groups needs not a large groups needs which I believe is harder. This lesson will be more rewarding for me as a future educator.

Overall, I think the lesson will go very well. One other thing I like about Traci’s room I that there is a vast amount of books students can use and check out to bring home. This is very sweet of Traci.