Guided Reading, Music and Self-Portraits

This week we have been doing Guided Reading Groups.  Students are placed in small groups (4 or 5 students in each group) and I guide them through a new book that they have not read before.  The lesson usually includes a "picture walk" (we look at the pictures in the book and discuss new vocabulary) and a purpose for reading.  Students then read the book at their own pace while I listen and help students who need a little extra assistance.  This is a good opportunity for me to see how students use the different reading strategies that I have taught, such as:  using picture clues, getting our lips ready to say the first sound, looking for word chunks, etc.  Students who are not reading with me, work on independent activities such as writing and word work or they Read to Someone (including checking for understanding).

Guided Reading Group - each student reads the text at their own pace

Read to Someone - students practice reading the books from their book baskets to a partner to develop comprehension and fluency 

This student is doing Work on Writing

Word Work - using stamps to practice printing words that begin with the "wh" digraph

In Music we've been listening to selections from Camille Saint-Saens's "Carnival of the Animals".  Today's selection was called  "Tortoises".  Students enjoyed moving to the music like turtles.  (Here is a link to a YouTube video where you can hear the music!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mRJfMi3xYw)

Here are the  self-portraits from our recent art project: