When you first started teaching reading, did you think your students had to read all those books that come with the reading program? I did. I opened my box, pulled out the teacher’s manual, organized the basals, decodable readers, and leveled readers. We would read the story in the reading book (basal), then break off […]
Toni McCray
Toni McCray has been teaching urban first graders for 9 years with Memphis City Schools. She is a native of the Memphis area .
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum, Literacy
Guided Reading With Early Readers
Guided reading is an instructional method used in many elementary classrooms. It is an approach I use daily and without it would not be able to create successful readers. Guided reading is when the teacher works with a small group of students. During this time, the students apply and practice effective reading strategies while reading […]
Posted inClassroom Management, Instruction & Curriculum
Back to School Must Have’s: Bulletin Boards
It’s about that time that all teachers dread but love–a new school year! You are about to head back to school for in-service for the new year. You’re refreshed, rested, and in a great mood and then…..your principal hands you this long checklist of things that need to be completed by the time school begins […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum, Literacy
The Biggest "No-No" in Reading Instruction
What was your reading instruction like in grade school? If you are anything like me, you remember participating in these lengthy oral readings of the weekly text where each student read a paragraph aloud. Most of the time, you went in order – straight down the row, a method commonly referred to as the Round […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum, Literacy
The Reading Paradigm: Equity Does Not Mean Equal in Reading Instruction
One of the qualities of an effective teacher is to be fair and equitable. But what does that really mean? How can you be fair and equitable to every single student in your classroom? As a child, I’m sure if your sibling got a scoop of ice cream, you wanted a scoop of ice cream. […]