Predictable Charts Julie Rolf Bay Colony Elementary Dickinson ISD

Predictable charts are a type of interactive writing. Predictable Charts: * are multilevel * build meaning * help with the acquisition of: * concepts about print, * phonemic awareness * the speaking, reading, writing connection.

Key Features of Interactive Writing * Write for Authentic Purposes. * Share the task of writing. * Use conversation to support the process. * Create a common text. * Use the conventions of written language. * Make letter sound connections. * Connect reading and writing. * Teach explicitly. * Group children based on learning goals. (This list is from Interactive Writing by McCarrier, Fountas &Pinnell)

Research * “The teacher’s role is critical in helping children learn accurately. If she works alongside of a child letting him do all that he can but supporting the activity when he reaches some limit by sharing the task she is more likely to uncover the cutting edges of his learning.” (Clay, 1991)

Research Continued “Our research team found that much can be accomplished in just a few minutes of interactive writing because the teacher draws children’s attention to powerful examples selected from a text in which they are heavily invested with meaning.” (McCarrier, Fountas, &Pinnell, 2000)

Research Continued “The high engagement present in interactive writing lessons and the lively pace it requires creates an ideal setting for helping children keep the meaning of a text in mind while focusing on the details of print.” (McCarrier, Fountas, & Pinnell, 2000)

Predictable Charts Five Day Plan

Monday & Tuesday Sentence Dictation * The teacher begins the dictation by giving the children a pattern sentence to follow. * For our large classes, it is best if half of the class dictates their sentence on Monday and half of the class dictates their sentence on Tuesday.

Wednesday Touch Read Sentences * Each student will come up and touch read their sentence. * By touching each word as they read their sentences, many children will learn to track print.

Thursday Sentence Builders * Write a few sentences in large print on sentence strips. * Cut the words apart and put them into a plastic bag. * The students are then asked to be sentence builders and put the sentence together.

Friday Making the Class Book * Cut all sentences apart and put into plastic bags. * Model gluing the teacher sentence on a blank piece of manila paper. * Model drawing an illustration that fits the text. * Let the children loose and monitor. * When they are finished, you are ready to bind your pages into a book!!!

Extensions * Very capable students will be able to run with the concept of making pattern books. Let them! My friends love making their own books “from scratch” and including those in the reading center too! I have a “Light Bulb Lab” in my room that is dedicated to this activity.

Modifications * Less capable students will greatly benefit from this technique. Creating extra predictable charts and books in a small group setting increases their confidence. Observe your less capable students, notice what they have trouble with and make that your focus when you work in a small group with these special friends!

And….. * Laminate the pages, and make sure to put your books into the reading center! * At the end of the year separate the pages for each student and have them make a cover. This is a wonderful keepsake and makes for good practice over the summer!

References Making Alphabet Books, Hall, Dorothy P Carson-Dellosa Publishing Company, Inc. Greensboro, North Carolina Interactive Writing, McCarrier, Andrea Pinnell, Gay Su Fountas, Irene C Heinemann Portsmouth, New Hampshire

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