Our Methods
How We Differentiate the Pre-Kindergarten Classroom
Guided Reading
Guided reading is a critical component of effective literacy instruction. Each student receives a formative assessment which plays an integral part in determining reading groups, text selection and selecting objectives. During the school year, students will grow familiar with the before-during-after structure of a guided reading lesson.
Reading Workshop
Students develop reading routines and habits, comprehension, fluency, and vocabulary. This is accomplished through a series of mini lessons, work time, reading conference, sharing and reflecting. These are a few components of our balanced literacy block. Effective Practices in Comprehension Specific comprehension strategies such as making connections, visualizing and inferring are instructional methods we use for helping students strengthen their comprehension skills such as wait time, accountable talk and written responses.
Effective Practices in Vocabulary Instruction
We teach a comprehensive list of vocabulary words while promoting word consciousness in the classroom through the Read Aloud and other best practices.
Writing Workshop
We believe in creating a community of writers while modeling the structure and components of a Writing Workshop to meet the needs of all learners. Students observe the characteristics of a writing mini lesson, the writing conference, the writing process, and the importance of sharing and reflecting.
Word Study
Students get interactive and hands-on word study activities such as Making Words, playing word wall games, sorting, and applying words to their classroom.
Independent Work
Students are doing independent work while the teacher is meeting with small groups. This includes independent reading and/or writing, group work activities, responding to reading, and literacy stations/ centers.
Classroom Culture
Good Classroom Culture is critical to the success of each student and their individual needs. We believe in creating a Classroom Culture that fosters the 3C’s…community, consideration and collaboration. The foundation for a thriving positive learning community is to give students the ability to help create it. Through mini lessons that help students understand why rules and procedures are important, they are given a sense of ownership and learn to take pride in good citizenship.
Classroom Environment
We believe in the importance of print that promotes independence and a positive, engaging physical environment that reflects authentic learning.
Centers and Small Group Learning
We teach students to use literacy centers that meet the needs of all early learners. The student’s will learn to follow their schedule, various rotation systems, and other activities for small group learning.
Read Aloud
We believe in building a culture of literacy in the classroom and encouraging students to dive deep into the before-during-after structure of read aloud lesson. Read Alouds explicitly address comprehension, vocabulary, phonemic awareness and phonics skills will be taught.
Author Study
Students learn that the author writes the words. The author study helps students understand that they are the authors of their writing.
Using Songs and Rhymes to Develop Phonemic Awareness
Songs and rhymes are used to support the development of phonics, phonemic awareness and phonological knowledge in our students. We use instructional strategies that incorporate activities with rhymes and songs into daily instruction such as Reader’s Theater.