The Beginning Reader Has a concept of word Reads word-x-word Uses context to help Spells words by letter names Is building a word bank

BEGINNING READER Rudimentary Concept of Word (COW) Needs to go back to beginning of line to find a word Harvests 2-4 words Spells using beginning and ending sounds (bp) Firm concept of word Can easily identify a word in the text Knows most of the words in the text-- learns new words quickly Spells using all sounds in the word (bop)

Diet for the Beginning Reader ¥ Fluency practice (rereading) ¥ Comprehension ¥ Writing using invented spelling ¥ Word Bank work - (adding words to word bank and then working with those words to make letter sounds explicit)

Activities for Beginning Readers Choral and echo reading of familiar text Many chances to practice Daily writing; journals Daily word study sorting by pictures, by beginning sounds gradually shifting to letters

Text Beginners Can Read Choral Reading of shared text Pattern books (repeated words and phrases) Rhymes Language Experience Dictations (p. 219)

Word Study/Spelling Early Letter Name Use spelling assessment Sort pictures by beginning sounds Consonants first; then blends & digraphs Draw and label Games Letter Name Short vowel word families –Pictures –Words Other CVC words Word Hunts Games

Daily Writing Model writing (following a book’s design or theme) Journals (learning logs; response journals) Sustained silent writing Letter writing Pattern writing Brown bear, brown bear What do you see? I see a red bird looking at me.

What do I Read TO students? Read alouds on a theme Directed Listening Thinking Activities (guided reading) –Fiction –Expository Text Charting students’ ideas

Practicum Work with a beginning reader Conduct a support reading activity –Choral/echo reading –Language Experience/Dictation “Harvest” words Design a support reading (word study) activity