The First Weeks of School-Fifth Grade

The First Weeks of School-Fifth Grade

Overarching Goal: to establish a culture that values literacy. Teach routines to support an independent, literate classroom community.

In the Issaquah School District, we recommend that you give careful thought to the following preparations, routines and procedures using the gradual release model.

Getting Ready… / First few weeks with students…
(Each of these lesson topics should occur over the course of several days/weeks.)
Intentionally choose a great read aloud book or a basket of read alouds (for suggestions see LST Connect Site)
Block out 60-90 minutes for daily reading block

Read Aloud
Focus Lesson(s)/ Shared Reading
Independent Reading
Partner Reading
Listen to Reading
Reading Response
Conferring
Guided Reading
Sharing/Closure

Familiarize yourself with the reading scope and sequence document (invite LST)
Collaborate with team to plan trimester using the scope and sequence (use planning template)
Decide on storage of student “just right” books for independent reading (in desks or book boxes/bags?)
Set-up student-friendly classroom library (In tubs? Covers out? Inviting displays? Organized?)

Consider student involvement in this process
Consider developing a check-out system
Collect new books for your classroom library

Consider room layout

Small group area for guided reading
Whole class area for focus lessons
An easel or hard surface to make anchor charts
Comfortable atmosphere: ex: carpet/rug
Table groups to encourage collaboration
Does all of the furniture serve a purpose?
Computer set-up for listening to reading

Develop a record system for conferring (notebook, spirals, etc).
Plan for reading response notebooks
Familiarize yourself with district assessment materials and coordinate with your team to schedule when you will use it in your class / Introduce or prepare classroom library organization with students

Model routines and management of how to use it

Plan lessons in book selection

Good Fit/Just Right books
Confer with students about book choice

Assist students with on-going book selection
Teach reading block structure to class

Focus lesson, independent reading time, share/reflect
Reading response activities

Help students build reading staminaand behaviors
Informally collect data on kids as readers (observations, reading interest inventories, interviews)
Continue to use scope and sequence document to develop lessons/units (invite LST)
Start formal assessments (towards end of September)

Issaquah School District

Elementary Reading Scope and Sequence Documents