The Fourth Session...

It is time for parents to teach young people early on that in diversity there is beauty and there is strength.
-- Maya Angelou

Our session went well, but I've noticed that B.M. would enjoy that break after the first hour, to walk about and stretch, which I think is greatly needed. During our session, what I mainly focus on is Retelling Strategies, as I feel B.M. has the most difficulty "retelling" the story. For future sessions, when B.M. is present I am going to implement the spelling strategies I have learned. I have had many successes with him, which is evident in the QRI-5. I have administered Level 4, and our next session I am going to administer Level 5. I have noticed though, that B.M. remembered the QRI-5 from last semester. Especially the narrative stories, the expository stories he doesn't do that well with, I'm assuming he is more of a story/adventurous type person, so he pays attention more to those types of stories.

Although B.M. will not be present for the next few sessions I am going to look forward to those sessions as it will be my time to "catch up" with all my work I need to, most especially my case report! I feel as though this semester is more intense, the practicum (ED644) has many activities we focus on. Last semester, it was simply a focus on the student, using the QRI-5, blogging, and a parent interview. This semester, it is focusing on the student, with tutorial sessions, using the QRI-5 again, bloging, Parental/family involvement, Literacy Celebration, with PowerPoints and making brochures etc...needless to say, I enjoy it, and I am looking forward to our celebration, even though I am the only, lonely, one. ;-) It should be interesting, It will be interesting!

Quote Taken From: http://www.betterworld.net/quotes/literacy-quotes.htm

Image Taken From: http://secnyspousesclub.blogspot.com/2010/11/literacy-day-2010.html

The Third Session...

I like a teacher who gives you something to take home to think about besides homework. ~Lily Tomlin as "Edith Ann"

I thought of this quote, today as we began our session when I arrived, B.M. was reading a book he borrowed from his school's library. Coincidentally, it is a book I am required to read. I thought it was interesting because I'm beginning to wonder if he was assigned to read that book or did he obtain that book on his own accord while his class was at the library? Did he go to the library during his lunch break? So many questions ran through my mind as he clutched the book with interest, to read. In any case, is it homework? To Read? It made me think of homework when I was in elementary. We were never given books to read, I remember reading on my own, by the encouragement of my eldest sister. The only homework I ever remember doing were worksheets.

Anyways, we're getting through our book, and I think I caught B.M.'s interest when I mentioned there is a fight scene in the book. His prediction strategy was right on task, a strategy I haven't really implemented yet. Maybe it could be a strategy I will take more into depth for the next chapter of our book. We worked on Retelling/Reviewing the chapters we went over. I'm beginning to find out that B.M. works best when given cues to discuss more about the book. We also had a Journaling prompt, with a worksheet provided.

The QRI-5 administered he is doing such a great job on, I only hope that it continues on. I'm wondering, I know last semester I stopped on Level 4, as that was his frustration level, I'm wondering though if he no longer has that level as his frustration level do I continue administering on to level 5, even though I did not administer it last semester? In any case, he is doing such a wonderful job this semester with the QRIs! I am happy with his improvement.

Quote Taken From: http://www.quotegarden.com/teachers.html

Image Taken From: http://www.readingkingdom.com/blog/2011/07/07/recommended-reading-for-kids-island-of-the-blue-dolphins/

The Second Session...

“The greatest gift is a passion for reading.”

- Elizabeth Hardwick

Our second session was started with a 15 minute walk! Which was good in a way, to get the blood flowing to the brain! Now I know, when rushing out of the office I must/need to double check if I have everything I need for session.

At our session we tried the retelling strategy. We also began the QRI-5. I started with Level 2, and I was glad to know that B.M. was on task. I compared last semester's score sheet with what he did in our session, and it was reassuring, that he had improved! I am already noticing improvement in my student! Which is exactly what I want. The more we read the better! I'm curious to find out now if the next level will be the same, filled with improvement! Exciting things are happening!

Quote Taken From: http://www.readfaster.com/readingquotes.asp

Image Taken From: http://icanread.tumblr.com/page/22

The First Day Again....

"Once children learn how to learn, nothing is going to narrow their mind. The essence of teaching is to make learning contagious, to have one idea spark another." -- Marva Collins

After the first day when we went over the Diagnostic Case Report with the parent and syllabus with Dr. Rivera, we have now begun our regular sessions. So it is the First Day Again, meeting with my student who has shown much receptiveness to what I have planned this semester. I noticed that this semester, my student is more responsive to telling me a story. I had planned four activities with my student and he had completed all four! He was very quick to complete all of the lessons I had planned for him, we had some extra time on our hands. I’ve also come to notice that spelling is an issue with him, so I will definitely invoke all of the spelling strategies I have learned in ED645. The book I am going to focus on this semester is Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell. I am going to focus on that book, and plan all of my lessons/sessions around that book. I guess at this point my main concern is the QRI. Is it too soon to start the QRI? I know that the QRI is a lot of work, and I will probably need the time. But when I think about it, we should start the QRI as soon as possible.

Picture Taken from: http://ertutor.com/test_prep.html

Quote Taken from: http://ripplemaker.hubpages.com/hub/50_Inspirational_Quotes_for_Teachers