How I Teach Reading Without a Basal

Monday (I do) 
On Mondays, I do most of the talking and modeling. I try to plan my lesson in units to help build background knowledge. When I plan for the week, I decide if I want to use trade books, a novel, or passages. Usually I do not mix the three unless I include a passage on Thursday for a cold read comprehension practice. Once I decide what I will use to teach the standard, I model how I want my students to practice using the new skill. Mondays are mainly whole group instruction days. I use teacher think alouds to model how to use the news skills being introduced. If it is a tradebook, then I will read it aloud to the students and we will use a worksheet or a graphic organizer to apply the skill together (inferencing, summarization, story elements) If it is a passage or a novel then the students have the same copy as I do and we work through it together. If it is a passage we will conduct close read steps together. I use several graphic organizers. My main goal on Monday is to model, model, model.

 Tuesday (We do)-
 Group work or Pairs On Tuesdays after a quick review or mini lesson, my students complete a similar activity to the one we completed on Monday; however, they get the opportunity to work in groups. Tuesdays are typically my loudest day; however, I am okay with the volume because I hear reading vocabulary that my students need to use in their conversations. (characters, setting author’s purpose, genre, etc.) If we worked with a trade book on Monday, then on Tuesday each group or pairs will work together reading their own similar tradebook and they will complete a skills worksheet or graphic organizer. (fairy tales, folk tales, classics, fractured fairy tales.) If we worked on a close read passage and QAR strategy on Monday, then the students will work in groups or pairs to complete a similar passage using close read and QAR steps. I provide my students with feedback while I monitor their groups. I also conference with my students as they are working to correct any misconceptions and assure my students are understanding that week’s skills and standard.

Wednesday (Engaging activity OR reteach) 
Wednesdays are flexible (Responsive Classroom) If during my observations and conferences the majority of my class showed they understood the standard yesterday, then I use a variety of teaching strategies and activities that promote engagement and allow the students the opportunity to show they understand the standard. I strongly feel engagement encourages participation and retention. These activities can include cut and paste sorts, group work to make anchor charts, graffiti boards, carousel walks, gallery walks, one pagers, and several more. I provide a list of these on page 11. During these activities the students are using reading vocabulary, sharing their thinking, making decisions, practicing the standard, reading to develop fluency and vocabulary. If the majority was not successful completing Tuesdays group activity, then I would use Wednesday to reteach the material. Depending on the situation, if they are really confused then I would do a whole group think aloud with them. However, if they are only missing a few pieces of the lesson, then I would teach and mini lesson and allow them to work in groups again to complete the work. 

Thursday (I do)
 Independent work On Tuesdays, my students complete independent work at their desk. I place this grade in the grade book. If we completed a close read passage on Monday and Tuesday then the students will get a new similar passage with question set to complete and independent close read. I will provide the students with guidance and assistance if needed on Thursday. If we worked with trade books and graphic organizers on Monday and Tuesday I may also use trade books and graphic organizers on Thursday. I may also use a cold read passage. It depends on what I want my students to accomplish at the end of the week. For my cold read skills based passages, I use readworks.org, tpt stores and newslea.com. 

Friday (assessment) I use Scantron Achievement Series to create my weekly test; however, I am aware that others may not have that as a resource to utilize. Therefore, if I did not have Scantron I would use readworks.org, tpt stores, and newslea.com passages with skills based question sets to assess my students on the weekly standards. My goal is not to teach the test. I strive to teach my students the skills needed to be successful on the test. There are several different ways to effectively teach reading. This is the best way that works for me and my students. However, please note it is not the only way. Please feel free to pick and choose the parts that work best for you and your students. A happy teacher = happy students

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