Language Arts
Guided Reading
We devote part of our day to small group guided reading instruction. Guided reading instruction is provided by Ms. Moon, Mrs. Neuzil, Ms. Porter, and Mrs. Birr. First and second graders receive developmentally appropriate reading instruction at their level in groups of 2 to 6 students. We work on such reading strategies as decoding, predicting, questioning, monitoring, evaluating, and summarizing. Phonemic awareness, letter/sound associations and sight word recognition are also important concepts. When not reading with a teacher, children work on reading “just right books” and writing in their reading journals.
Approximately 50 minutes of our day is devoted to large group reading and writing instruction. Ms. Moon teaches the first graders and Mrs. Neuzil the second graders. We read stories in our anthology book, which is a collection of stories and poems, using the reading strategies continuing practice in Guided Reading. Focus is also on phonemic awareness, letter/sound associations, sight words, spelling, handwriting, grammar, capitalization, punctuation, and listening skills.