"We're reading this together," I assured them. Yes, I was taking them out of the comfort zone. They were not likely to be reading this with 90% accuracy as determined by "Instructional Zone Standards." I might need to "carry them" through the text. Yet,I would never know what they might do if we didn't take flying leaps every once in a while! It was a "stretch" into Level C texts were you find simple stories with 2-6 lines of text on page! It's where they would need to use more than text predictability and picture support. They would have to sound out some words,such as Jill and Rob. They would have to recognize some high frequency words, such as she. look, can, here!
On the first few pages, our reading was strongly supported by my cues. "Look at that first letter. Get your mouth ready. Let's tap that out together. That doesn't make sense. Let's try that again." Then, my voice faded into the background and the boys began to take charge of the text, just the way it is supposed to be. By the end, it was clear that one of the boys had taken the lead on the shared reading and the now familiar names and high-frequency words seemed to be coming out of his mouth almost effortlessly!
It was time for their lunch but they did not jump up from the table. Instead, they lingered and one kindergartner asked the other, "How did you know all those words?"
Without stopping to think for even a moment, the other responded confidently, "They just popped into my head!"
"Yes," I thought as I shooed them off to lunch, "that is just what words will do."
SO today, I celebrate those magical-more-powerful-than-Disney-cuing systems that allow words to just POP into the heads of kindergarten boys (and other readers, too)!
10 comments:
Oh! I celebrate the popping as well! I love the celebrations that come with emerging readers! Send my best to "The Poppers". Keep reading friends!
Hahaha!! I love that explanation! Keep on popping!!!!
Love hearing what you do with your group, Anita. Your words just "smiled" as you recalled what that one student said. Great stuff!
I loved reading this. This is the miracle part about reading that never gets old.
I celebrate with you and those boys - words that pop into your head! Love the way you told this celebration. Now I'm off looking for my own words to celebrate!
Popping words - what a fun way to think of reading. This was such a sweet celebration slice.
What a huge step, and an incredible moment to celebrate! Love how they worked together too.
Isn't it so very special to listen to children explaining to each other. Thank you for sharing.
This is such a great story about that lightbulb. I love it when words just pop into the heads of students. So fun!
Your post made me nostalgic for kindergarten and the excitement of words that you don't have to sound out but they "pop" for you!
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