I'm always happy to hear that what I am doing is making an impact. So thank you for sharing that. You are going to love the fluency ladders. It will be hard the first day, especially the first box or two, but once students get the hang of them (the repeating words) they really start to learn those high frequency words and realize that they can sound out that one last word per box. I gave ALL of my students the first fluency ladder because all of them know our first few heart words (I, see, the, a) and all of them will be with me at my table for help with the sounding out and the whole process in general. The following week, I give a new fluency ladder to about 2/3 of the class and the lower third just reads their first fluency ladder to me again. They've been trying it out during their independent reading folder time, or maybe they didn't, if they were lacking confidence or risk taking; either way, they are so much better at it the second time to work on it at my reading table. I can easily take a mix at the table--some reading a new ladder and some reading their previous one. They are all reading on their own and I am listening in; we are not reading it together. Very important to NOT read them together as it's too easy to NOT do the work. The third week, I will definitely give them all a new one because they need to practice new high frequency words. The old ladders stay in the folder for quite a while and the students figure out that they can read the old stuff really well. It makes for great fluency practice and mapping of the high frequency words as well as the decodable words I throw in. My students have four sheet protectors in their folders, so there can by eight things in there at once. I only put one word list per "page" (word lists are a half sheet of paper), but students usually have several different word lists in their folders as the weeks go on, most old, one new.
Randee I absolutely love how you explain things! Even when I have previously seen/read about something you are using, for example continuous text, I ALWAYS learn something new! I also adore that I feel like I can literally turn off your video and use what you explained immediately. You make every single teacher that follows you a better teacher! I’m very grateful and appreciative to have become a member of your group. I know I probably sound like an infomercial, but I have/currently do subscribe to many different groups. Yours is the ONE I feel is worth every penny spent and hundred of dollars more! Thank you!!! 💕
And I absolutely love your feedback and comments. Truly, it is hard for me to know if I am having any impact or how great of an impact. To hear these words from you is greatly appreciated and keeps me going with the work I'm trying to do. You do sound like an infomercial :) and I save all your words and comments and sometimes use them for "advertising." I don't know how you have time to follow so many groups, but good for you!
YOU are definitely making an impact on other teachers, which equals thousands of students! My co-worker and I were just talking about you at lunch! Trying to make some changes to our writing lessons so discussing your videos!
Well I must chime in with the other teachers' comments here and wholeheartedly AGREE that what you offer teachers in your substack is invaluable and it has impacted my teaching beyond belief.
I am equally excited to start continuous text/fluency ladders very soon with my students! I used them last year as well, but later in the year after I found you in January. It will be exciting to see the growth in my students as a result of starting this reading practice so much earlier in the year.
You mention that you will add a new ladder each week - but what about students who are progressing slower as early readers? Do you treat these the same as word lists & "test" students before giving them a new one?
I can't remember - how many page protectors are in their folders? Do you only put 1 word list per page?
I'm always happy to hear that what I am doing is making an impact. So thank you for sharing that. You are going to love the fluency ladders. It will be hard the first day, especially the first box or two, but once students get the hang of them (the repeating words) they really start to learn those high frequency words and realize that they can sound out that one last word per box. I gave ALL of my students the first fluency ladder because all of them know our first few heart words (I, see, the, a) and all of them will be with me at my table for help with the sounding out and the whole process in general. The following week, I give a new fluency ladder to about 2/3 of the class and the lower third just reads their first fluency ladder to me again. They've been trying it out during their independent reading folder time, or maybe they didn't, if they were lacking confidence or risk taking; either way, they are so much better at it the second time to work on it at my reading table. I can easily take a mix at the table--some reading a new ladder and some reading their previous one. They are all reading on their own and I am listening in; we are not reading it together. Very important to NOT read them together as it's too easy to NOT do the work. The third week, I will definitely give them all a new one because they need to practice new high frequency words. The old ladders stay in the folder for quite a while and the students figure out that they can read the old stuff really well. It makes for great fluency practice and mapping of the high frequency words as well as the decodable words I throw in. My students have four sheet protectors in their folders, so there can by eight things in there at once. I only put one word list per "page" (word lists are a half sheet of paper), but students usually have several different word lists in their folders as the weeks go on, most old, one new.
I think you're going to loooooooooove it!
Randee I absolutely love how you explain things! Even when I have previously seen/read about something you are using, for example continuous text, I ALWAYS learn something new! I also adore that I feel like I can literally turn off your video and use what you explained immediately. You make every single teacher that follows you a better teacher! I’m very grateful and appreciative to have become a member of your group. I know I probably sound like an infomercial, but I have/currently do subscribe to many different groups. Yours is the ONE I feel is worth every penny spent and hundred of dollars more! Thank you!!! 💕
And I absolutely love your feedback and comments. Truly, it is hard for me to know if I am having any impact or how great of an impact. To hear these words from you is greatly appreciated and keeps me going with the work I'm trying to do. You do sound like an infomercial :) and I save all your words and comments and sometimes use them for "advertising." I don't know how you have time to follow so many groups, but good for you!
YOU are definitely making an impact on other teachers, which equals thousands of students! My co-worker and I were just talking about you at lunch! Trying to make some changes to our writing lessons so discussing your videos!
Thank you, thank you for this comment! Some days I really need to hear this and this is one of those days, for sure.
Well I must chime in with the other teachers' comments here and wholeheartedly AGREE that what you offer teachers in your substack is invaluable and it has impacted my teaching beyond belief.
I am equally excited to start continuous text/fluency ladders very soon with my students! I used them last year as well, but later in the year after I found you in January. It will be exciting to see the growth in my students as a result of starting this reading practice so much earlier in the year.
You mention that you will add a new ladder each week - but what about students who are progressing slower as early readers? Do you treat these the same as word lists & "test" students before giving them a new one?
I can't remember - how many page protectors are in their folders? Do you only put 1 word list per page?