Using Post-Its During Reading

Post-its are an easy way to have students engage in their work and become aware of what they are reading. By using Post-it notes, students can monitor their reading. In an article I read http://www.examiner.com/article/teaching-students-to-become-active-readers, a teacher had students put symbols on Post-Its. An LOL means that a part of a story is funny. A '*" labels an important part of a story. A heart symbol indicates a favorite part. The use of the Post-Its does require modeling, but helps students with metacognition.

Below is a screenshot of a Maze reading that I created using Interventioncentral.org

Fluency Probe

Below is a screen shot of a fluency probe I created through Inverventioncentral.org

Visual Perception

Below I completed a checklist on a student's vision. Any score that is 15 or higher should be referred for vision problem. The student does wear glasses (but not consistently). He displays a lot of these symptoms. He scored a 16. 

Child Symptom Checklist

(To determine whether a vision evaluation should be administered)

Has your child ever reported or have you or anyone else noticed any of the following?

1. ___×___Skips lines while reading or copying

2. ___×_Loses place while reading or copying

3. __×___Skips words while reading or copying

4. _×__Substitutes words while reading or copying

5. ______Rereads words or lines

6. ______Reverses letters, numbers, or words

7. ______Uses a finger or marker to keep place while reading or writing

8. _×_____Reads very slowly

9. ___×__Poor reading comprehension

10. __×_Difficulty remembering what has been read

11. ___×___Holds head too close to paper when reading or writing (within 7-8 inches)

12. ______Squints, closes, or covers one eye while reading

13. ___×___Unusual posture or head tilt when reading or writing

14. ______Headaches following intense visual activities such as reading

15. ______Eyes hurt or feel tired after close work

16. ______Feels unusually tired after completing a visual task

17. ______Double vision

18. ______Vision blurs at distance when looks up from near work

19. ______Letters or lines “run together or words “jump” when reading

20. ______Print seems to move or go in and out of focus when reading

21. ___×___Poor spelling skills

22. __×____Writing is crooked or poorly spaced

23. ______Misaligns letters or numbers

24. __×__Makes errors copying

25. ______Difficulty tracking moving objects

26. ______Unusual clumsiness, poor coordination

27. ______Difficulty with sports involving good eye-hand coordination

28. ______Eye turns in or out

29. ______Sees more clearly with one eye than the other

30. ______Feels sleepy while reading

31. ______Dislikes tasks requiring sustained concentration

32. ______Avoids near tasks such as reading

33. ______Confuses right and left directions

34. _×_____Becomes restless when working at his/her desk

35. ______Tends to lose awareness of surroundings when concentrating

36. ______Must “feel” things to “see” them

37. ______Carsickness

38. ___×___Unusual blinking

39. ____×__Unusual eye rubbing

40. __×___Dry eyes

41. ______Watery eyes

eBook experience

Social Studies, Literacy, and Social Justice in the Common Core Classroom: A Guide for Teachers by Ruichi Agarwal-Rangnath.

This book is about using Language Arts Common Core state standards in Social Studies. It was written to help teachers teach students social studies for social justice. With the Language Arts state standards, this will promote critical thinking and have students question the world around us.

http://www.amazon.com/Social-Studies-Literacy-Justice-Classroom/dp/0807754080/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1460331291&sr=8-1&keywords=Social+Studies%2C+Literacy%2C+and+Social+Justice+in+the+Common+Core+Classroom

I read this book on my Kindle App. I had to read the device on either my phone (which is smaller than I would like for reading purposes) or on my laptop, which made me less mobile. The book was informational, but my overall experience was not too pleasant because I was not comfortable while reading the book.

The book was very valuable for education. With this book, I have learned how to have students to not be afraid to ask questions about the world around them. It is important to teach students the different sides of history because in Social Studies, we normally only teach the perspective of America as opposed to the marginalized groups (slaves, Native Americans, etc.)

Text Set

Here is a text set of eBooks that I have collected about Florida.

1)   It Happened in Florida by E. Lynne Wright  History- Non-Fiction https://www.overdrive.com/media/1324178/it-happened-in-florida From Ponce de Leon's discovery of the "Land of Flowers" in 1513 to the suspense of the 2000 presidential election, It Happened in Florida takes readers on a behind-the-scenes tour of thirty of the most compelling episodes from the Sunshine State's vibrant past. This revised edition includes brand new glimpses into Florida history, a map, and a thorough index.

2)   Florida: This Land is Your Land by Ann R. Heinrichs History-Non Fiction https://www.overdrive.com/media/130067/florida Describes the history, geography, government, economics, and people of Florida.

3)   The Sunshine Champs by Karen Latchana Kenney History- Non-Fiction https://www.overdrive.com/media/646251/sunshine-champs Introduces readers to the state of Florida through symbols, history, and geography.

4)   The Kids from Cassadaga: The History Channelers by Tim Black Historical Fiction, Fantasyhttps://www.overdrive.com/media/632727/the-kids-from-cassadaga You probably never learned that Benedict Arnold was the second president of the United States or that his visage adorned the ten dollar bill, or that Thomas Jefferson’s son Shippen Jefferson was the sixth president in lieu of John Quincy Adams. No, the reason you probably never learned these facts in high school was because The Young Historians of Cassadaga Area High School in Florida went back to 1776 and captured the ‘butterflies’ they had inadvertently let loose in Philadelphia, changing the history back to what we know today. Or did they? Join the students as they try to correct their mistake in The Kids from Cassadaga.

5)   Florida by Mark Kesselring https://www.overdrive.com/media/1307105/florida Explore the colorful customs, people, and places of Florida. With straightforward text and captivating photos, this book is a great introduction to the state. Maps and symbols are included to enrich the student's understanding of geography and state identity.

Storybird Picture Book

I made a picture book using the site Storybird. The title of the story is "Cheetah's Dream Meal". It is about a cheetah that chases the meal of his dreams. Here is the link to the story. "Cheetah's Dream Meal"