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I’m always smartwhen I’m with you.
Links to Literacy: An Introduction toShort-Term Literacy Intervention
Program Overview
• What is the Links to Literacy tutoring model?
Links to Literacy provides short-term, research-based literacy intervention.
• Who does this program serve?
Although each site serves a unique population, Links to Literacy provides literacy tutoring to transient elementary-school children.
•What is expected of a literacy tutor?
Literacy tutors need to be responsible, flexible, and willing to work within the Links to Literacy schema.
What is expected of a literacy tutor?
• Adhere to the program schedule and policies and procedures.
• Work within the Links to Literacy tutoring model.
• Do not undermine your student’s culture and beliefs.
• Work effectively with other tutors, the tutor coordinator, and the site staff.
• Take care of yourself!
What is expected of a literacy coordinator?
• Work with shelter staff to establish the program.• Communicate weekly with shelter staff.• Provide initial and ongoing literacy training to tutors.• Create and maintain supplies for tutoring.• Provide support to tutors (re: initial assessment of
students)• Provide lesson-planning and behavior-management
support to tutors.• Encourage and support tutors—help them see their
successes.
Links to Literacy Tutoring Model
• Purpose
• Goals
• Methods
Links to Literacy Tutoring Model
• Purpose
• Goals
• Methods
• Many children who experience homelessness are significantly behind grade level.
•These children are underserved because they change schools mid-year and extra services are allocated at the beginning of the year.
• Because of the instability homeless children experience, academic goals must be addressed in temporary settings.
• Links to Literacy provides feasible short-term goals and a research-based lesson plan to achieve them.
Links to Literacy Tutoring Model
• Purpose
• Goals
• Methods
Specific Program Goals
• Engaging students in literacy
• Bolstering academic confidence
• Improving literacy skills
Five Key Early Reading Skills
(Highlighted in No Child Left Behind)
• Phonemic awareness
• Phonics
• Fluency
• Vocabulary
• Comprehension
Links to Literacy Tutoring Model
• Purpose
• Goals
• Methods
Links to Literacy meets its goals through a researched-based literacy lesson plan with four components:
• The tutor reads (Read Aloud)
• The child reads
• Word study/Phonological Awareness
• The child writes
Getting Started as a Tutor
First Session Second Session Third Session Fourth session
Read Aloud
Bring 3 or 4 books and let the child choose which one to read. Introduce the test and ask comprehension and prediction questions.
Read Aloud
Bring books to choose from based on the child’s interests. Remember to read them ahead of time and think of appropriate questions to ask.
Read Aloud
Ask 2 or 3 questions from the “Questions to Help Comprehension” list. Use one question as a writing prompt.
Read Aloud
Continue reading books based on child’s interest. Fill out a graphic organizer after reading to help with comprehension.
The Child Reads The Child Reads
Based on the child’s writing, choose an appropriate leveled book with coordinator’s help. Read the book ahead of time and introduce it to the child. Emergent Readers: Do a shared reading activity with a color song.
The Child Reads
Choose and introduce an appropriate book. Reread part of the book from the last session to work on fluency. Emergent Readers: Do the same shared reading activity as the last session.
The Child Reads
Introduce a new book. Consider incorporating a poem or two into the lesson for fluency work. Emergent Readers: Choose a section of the book to use as a shared reading activity.
Word Study/Phonological Awareness
Give alphabet assessment (letter and sound recognition)
Word Study/Phonological Awareness Word Study/Phonological Awareness
Based on the child’s reading and writing levels, choose a word skill to develop and use a suggested game.
Word Study/Phonological Awareness
Work on the same skill as last time. If the child is bored, make a new game, otherwise keep using the old one.
Writing
Fill out an “All About Me” poster, paying attention to the student’s writing skills and interests.
Writing
Have the child write a response to a book read during the lesson. Emergent Readers: Have the child dictate a sentence and illustrate it.
Writing
Have the child write a response to a comprehension question. Emergent Readers: The child dictates and illustrates a sentence.
Writing
Work on a story or expository text. Emergent Readers: Do a shared writing activity.
Here is an overview of what to expect in the first four lessons as a tutor. The section in grey indicates the focus for each lesson.
All About Me Poster
Before During After• This activity is done
on the first lesson.
• Tutor and child can
each fill out a
poster, or work on
child’s together.
• Use markers and/or
crayons to fill out
the poster.• Ask child about
his/her interests.• Tutors can share
stories about their
interests with child.• Ask about what
kind of books the
child likes to read.
• Use the information
from the poster and
conversation to
select a couple of
books to bring to
the next lesson.
Alphabet AssessmentBefore During After
• Should be given to
child during first
lesson.
• This is not only
intended for Kinder
age children. Since
a child’s knowledge
is unpredictable it
should be given to
children K-3.
• Ask child to identify
the letters known
and the sound the
letter makes.
• Circle the letters
not known and does
not identify
automatically (if child
has to think about
what letter or sound
it is, then circle it and
review)
• The letters and
sounds that are not
known should be
focused on over the
next several
lessons.
• Tutor should not
focus on more than
two or three letters
per lesson.
(for letter ideas see word study section)
The Tutor Reads
Why have the tutor read during the lesson?
• To demonstrate that books are relevant to students’ lives and interests.
• To present students with a model of adults as readers.
• To teach a child about how books and print work.
• To develop vocabulary.
• To work on comprehension.
• To expose emergent readers to phonemic awareness concepts like rhyme and alliteration.
The Tutor Reads
How does a tutor read aloud to a student?
• Choose a book that will interest the student.
• Read the book ahead of time and look for appropriate places to stop and ask questions.
• Sit beside the child.
• Make sure the child can see the pictures and the words. Allow the child to hold the book, help turn the pages, or point to what interests him.
• Talk about the book before, during, and after reading it aloud.
The Tutor ReadsConversation About the Book Read
Before During After• Read the story before the lesson. Think about how to introduce the book, where to stop and ask questions, what vocabulary may be new.• Read and point to words in
title.• Go over terms:
author
illustrator• Talk about the cover. Make
predictions about what may
happen in the book.
• Ask appropriate comprehension questions.
• Have the child make predictions.
• Note: It is important to balance conversation with read-aloud. Only ask questions at natural stopping points.
DO NOT ASK QUESTIONS EVERY PAGE.
• Ask younger children to
retell the story using props
(pictures copied from the
book).
• Ask children to retell the story. Graphic organizers can help (on the
following pages).
• Help the child make connections between the read aloud and other books you’ve read together.
The Tutor ReadsOne of the skills to be gained from reading is comprehension. The following
explains the importance of this skill and lists activities that can be used.
What is comprehension?
• the skill of gaining meaning from text (to process what is being read and understand it.)
Why focus on this skill?
• Gaining meaning from and understanding the text
is the central goal of reading.
• Many children who have not had the experiences of being read to need
help to learn how to get meaning from what they read.
• To develop more detailed comprehension strategies, such as main idea, sequencing, etc.
The Tutor ReadsHow does a tutor work on comprehension? • Tutors, who are themselves skilled readers, can be powerful models for
how to get meaning from a text (this can be accomplished whether or not it is the tutor or child reading the story).
• By using activities that focus on (but not limited to): Predicting Making Connections (personal, world or text) Story Structure Summarizing
• Included on the following pages are simple yet effective story mapping and comprehension activities called graphic organizers, which can be found on educational websites.
Story HouseThe story house is used as an instructional tool for comprehension after reading a narrative text, such as The Three Bears. The objective is to teach story structure - such as characters, setting, plot, solution - to emergent and early readers (Kinder-2)
Before During After• Use the template to
cut out the pieces
from construction
paper or draw story
house on dry erase
board
• Read story
• Discuss with child
what each component
means and that every
story has these four
components.
• Model the activity for
the child as many
times as needed until
child can do it
independently.
• Review each
component with
child after the
story house has
been filled out.
Venn DiagramThis diagram is used to make comparisons between two books about the same subject (such as birds), two books by the same author, two characters in a story, etc. The outer circles are used to write the differences and the inner circle is used to write the similarities.
Before During After• Go over the meaning
of the terms:
similar
different
(give examples)
• Read book(s)
• Help child to
brainstorm through
conversation about
what it is you are
comparing/contrasting.
•Tutor or child can fill
out the diagram.
• Review diagram
Description WebThis activity is used to either activate prior knowledge before reading a text, or to extend knowledge after reading a text, using the same web. Information generated by the web is an excellent springboard for written expression.
Before During After• Choose either a story
book or informational
text.
• While introducing and
looking at the cover of
the text activate the
child’s prior knowledge:
“What do you already
know about ______?”
(main topic of book)
• Write the main topic in
the oval of the web.
• As the child discusses
his/her prior knowledge
either child or tutor can
write descriptors on
the spokes extending
from the oval.
• Read text.
• Child can add
descriptors to web.
•Can use information
written on web to
write about the text
and what the child
learned.
Character JournalThe goal of this activity is for the child to comprehend how character(s) develop throughout a story. Character journals support the child in identifying the details of the character(s) as they are presented by the author as the story unfolds. This is an on-going project that can be extended over several lessons. Excellent activity for grades 2 and up.
Before During After• Let child choose a
chapter book
appropriate for his/her
reading level.
• Make a blank book
for journal.
• Tutor and child can
fill out the journal
together.
• Tutor should model
for child the details to
write down about the
character(s).
• When a character is
introduced in the text
write down the name,
have child draw a
picture of the character
and any details.
• As you continue to read
keep an on-going list of
details learned about the
character (s), along with
illustrations if the child
wants to add them.
• If this project is
extended over several
lessons review journal
entries made during
previous lessons to
help child see
character development.
Story JournalThis activity is similar to the character journal. The difference is the focus of the journal, which is now on recording important details or events.
Before During After• Let child choose a
chapter book
appropriate for his/her
reading level.
• Make a blank book
for journal.
• Tutor and child can
fill out the journal
together.
• Tutor should model
for child the details to
write down about the
story.
• As the tutor and child
read through each
chapter stop to write
down the events/
developments that
take place.• The child can add
illustrations to his/her
journal entries.
• Review previous
lesson entries
before starting a
new lesson with
child.
Comprehension Questions
• The following are questions that focus on specific elements of the story to help the child work on comprehension.
• The answers can be discussed orally or written out.
• The tutor does not have to use the questions about every story element in one lesson. The tutor can focus on one or two elements, such as Setting and Plot for each lesson.
• Tutor should go over the questions he/she is planning on using during the lesson to familiarize the child.
• These questions are appropriate for all grade levels. However, the older the child the more detailed the answers and discussion.
Making PredictionsThis activity can be used for all age levels with story and chapter books.
Before During After• Tutor should read
book beforehand
and mark points in the
story where the child
should make a
prediction.
• Follow questions
outlined on work-
sheet.• Stop at appropriate
places to make
predictions.• Ask child to give the
reason(s) for his/her
predictions.
• Go over predictions
to see if the child
was correct.• If child was not
correct, the tutor
can go back to that
part of the story
and review the
reasons why the
story turned out
differently.
KWL ChartThe K stands for “I know”, W for “I would like to know”, L for “ I learned.” This chart is used with a non-fiction selection, such as a book about dolphins. This activity is appropriate for all age levels. If the child is learning to write, then the child can dictate the information to the tutor to write down. Chart can also be drawn on construction paper which would allow the child to add illustrations about the subject.
K W L• The first column, “K”,
is filled out before the
book is read. • Have child think
about what information
he/she already knows
about the subject of
the book.• Write information
down in first column.
• The second column,
“W”, is also filled out
before reading the
book.• Have child think
about what he/she
would like to know
about the subject.• Write down these
questions in second
column.• Read book.
• The last column, “L”,
is filled out after
reading the book.• Ask the child to
think about the new
information he/she
learned from the book.• Write down new
information in third
column.
Summary for Non-FictionTo summarize the child must understand the main idea of the text and be able to support it with details. Summarizing can be a difficult skill. It will develop through example and practice. The older the child, the more details he/she should be able to use to support the main idea. Activity can be used for grades 2 and up.
Before During After• Choose a non-fiction
text of interest to the
child, such as sharks.
• Go over these terms:
summary
main idea
(Explaining these
terms will help the
child to know what to
look for before he/she
starts reading.)
• The first time the child
does this activity the tutor
should model it. The child
may need modeling over
several lessons before
he/she can do it
independently.
• When the child is
ready to do activity
independently, have
the child explain his/
her answers.
• Go over completed
activity.
The Tutor Reads
ReflectionReflection is an essential part of documenting Links to Literacy . Its primary goal is to inform the next lesson, but it also serves as informal assessment of the student’s progress.
Document this lesson How will this inform the next lesson?
How was the child successful? What was challenging for the child? Did the child enjoy this activity?
Would the child enjoy more activities like this? How can I build on this? Should the next activity be harder or easier?
Did the student make good predictions and connections before and during the story?
Could the child summarize and retell the read aloud?
Would the student enjoy more stories like this?
Was there another topic discussed that might be more interesting?
The Tutor Reads
Resources
Included Resources• Character/Story journals and
questions
Graphic Organizers
• Story House
• Venn Diagram
• Description Web
• KWL Chart
• Making Predictions
• Summary for Non-fiction
Suggested Read Aloud Lists
(on following pages)
Suggested ResourcesRecommended Reading from the New York Public library
http://www2.nypl.org/home/branch/kids/
reading/recommended.cfm
Kaye, Peggy (1984). Games for Reading: Playful Ways to Help Your Child Read. New York: Pantheon Books.
Kaye, Peggy (2002). Games with Books. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
The Child Reads
Why include the child reading in the lesson plan?
• Lots of easy reading makes reading easy. Students need to practice at their level of fluency in order to become better readers.
• Reading encourages students to see themselves as readers.
• Gain meaning from what is read (comprehension skills):• The character/story journals and graphic organizers listed in The Tutor
Reads section are also appropriate for The Child Reads, especially if the child is reading a chapter book.
• If the child is on a chapter book level, then the tutor and child can take turns reading the text. The tutor should model inflection (reading with emphasis) for the child.
• The end goal of Links to Literacy is to improve reading.
The Child Reads
Three Methods for Having the Child ReadShared Reading Guided Reading Rereading for
Fluency
Who? Emergent Readers Independent Readers Independent Readers
What?
With strong and specific support, emergent readers study concepts of print and alphabetic knowledge.
Tutors help students read new books at a particular level.
Students reread a text for fluency, mastery, and comprehension.
How?
The tutor helps the emergent reader read a simple piece of text and answer questions about concepts of print.
Tutors help students read a new book by introducing new material and helping to develop reading and comprehension strategies.
Through repeated readings of short text, like book excerpts or a poem, a student’s reading begins to sound more like talking.
The Child Reads
Shared Reading
Before During After• Choose a short passage the student can learn to recite.
Good ideas for passages include:
• Nursery rhymes• Color songs• Section of the read-aloud• Poems
(Obtain or create a copy of the text which is written in big, standard, easy-to-read print.)
• Read the passage slowly to the child, pointing to the words.
• Read the passage with the child. Repeat this until the child can recite it well.
• Have the child read the passage, pointing to the word. Guide the child’s finger if voice and print do not match.
Ask the child to identify features of the text, for example:
• a letter the child knows• a word the child knows• a capital letter• a period• any word• a sentence
The Child ReadsGuided Reading
Before During After• Choose a text that interests the student and the student can read at about 90% accuracy.
Introduce the text:• Review the vocabulary. (No more than 10 words.)
• Talk about the cover and the title. Predict what the text might be about.
• Take a picture walk through
the text, pointing out new vocabulary.
• The student reads the text independently.
• Don’t stop the student unless meaning or place are completely lost.
If a student gets stuck on a word have the student:
• Look at the beginning, middle or end of the word.
• Think about what makes sense.
• Look at the picture
• If all else fails, tell the child the word.
• Praise the student.
• Pick a couple mistakes and go back and review them.
• Ask comprehension questions.
• Reread the text.
The Child ReadsRereading for Fluency
Before During After• Choose a text or part of a text that has been read before and that is easy for the child.
• Demonstrate fluent reading.
Talk about how good readers sound like they’re talking when they read. Ask the student to try to sound like that while reading.
• Listen to the student read.
• Time the reading. (Not necessary every time.)
• Tutor and student should evaluate the student’s reading: Did it sound like talking? What part was hard?
• Tutor should model fluent reading. Be explicit about why your voice goes up or down, or why you emphasize certain words
• Graph how many words the student read per minute. (Not necessary every time.)
• Model, practice, and have the student read the passage again.
The Child Reads
ReflectionReflection is an essential part of documenting Links to Literacy . Its primary goal is to inform the next lesson, but it also serves as informal assessment of the student’s progress.
Document this lesson How will this inform the next lesson?
General Questions
How was the child successful? What was challenging for the child? Did the child enjoy this activity?
Would the child enjoy more activities like this? How can I build on this? Should the next activity be harder or easier?
Shared Reading
Was the passage too hard? What print features did the child identify?
Could this same text be used again next time? What print features would be focused on?
Guided Reading
Was this book too hard? What words did the child stumble on?
What passage could be used for rereading for fluency next time?
Rereading for Fluency
Did the child read fluently? At what rate did the child read? What words did the child stumble on?
Should this same text be used next time?
Resources
Included Resources• Color Songs for Shared Reading
• Responding to Oral Reading
• Graph and Instructions for Rereading for Fluency
Suggested ResourcesFountas, I.C., & Pinnell, G.S. (1996). Guided Reading. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann Educational Books.
Fountas, I.C., & Pinnell, G.S. (1997). A Coordinator’s Guide to Help America Read. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.
The Child Reads
Word Study
Why include word study in the lesson plan?
• To build reading and writing ability.
• To demonstrate patterns and rules in words.
• To directly focus on word knowledge skills the student has not yet mastered.
Word StudyThree Areas of Word Study
Hearing Sounds in Words
Connecting Sounds to
Finding Patterns Within
Words
Who? Emergent Readers Emergent Readers Independent Readers
What?
Students learn to hear features and patterns of spoken language that are represented in written language.
Students learn the connection between print and sound.
Students learn complex features and patterns of written language.
How?
Through activities that focus only on listening and speaking, students hear and produce patterns that will later be used in written language.
Through activities that connect sound and print, students are taught the principles that govern that connection.
By playing games that focus on patterns in language, students learn specific features of written language.
Word Study
This staircase demonstrates how early literacy skills build upon one another. Please refer to the supplemental information to determine what skill is appropriate for the child.
Segmenting Individual Sounds
Onset and Rime (c-at)
Syllable Segmenting
Sentence Segmenting
Alliteration
Rhyming
Hearing Sounds in Words and Connecting Sounds to Print
Word StudyFinding Patterns within Words
Use a sample of the child’s writing to pick an appropriate word study skill level. Evaluate which of these skills the child uses correctly. Pick the skill lowest on this staircase that the child sometimes confuses. Focus on that skill for several lessons, creating new games using that same skill to keep it interesting.
Nasals (-ink, -ump) Vowel +r (-ar, -er)
“When two vowels go
walking…”
Silent “e”
Blends like bl, tr, st
Sh, Th, Wh
Short Vowels
Word StudyAssessment
Using Spelling Patterns to Determine Word-Study GoalsSample Spelling
Errors from Child’s Writing
What Does the Child Know? What Should I Choose as Goals for Word Study?
cat = SZ
hop = FRPM
Words are made up of letters (but no representation of letter sounds)
Teach letter names and sounds; do picture sorts of beginning sounds.
cat = kbed = bthop = p
Child can isolate some of the sounds in words and match them to letters.
Teach letter names and sounds; do picture sorts of beginning sounds.
cat =kthop = hpstamp = sop
Child can represent beginning and ending sounds in word, but doesn’t consistently represent vowels.
Teach short-vowel word families by comparing same vowel families (cat, sat, mat to man, pan, fan)
cat = cothop = hipchin = chen
Child represents all the sounds in the word, but confuses vowels.
Teach short-vowel families by comparing different vowels (e.g. cop, top, stop to cap, tap, flap)
float = flotestopped = stopt
Child represents short vowels and blends; represents long vowels, but not with correct spelling.
Teach long vowels by comparing spelling patterns; teach word endings (-ed, -ing, -ful, etc)
* Adapted from Book Buddies: Guidelines for Volunteer Tutors of Emergent and Early Readers by F. R. Johnston, M. Invernizzi & C. Juel; NY, NY: Guilford Press (1998). ISBN 1-57230-347-6.
Word SortsBefore During After
• Choose 2 or 3 categories to sort by. (Example: words that begin with “sh” and “s”.)
• Write about 10 words from each category on separate index cards.
• Discuss the categories with the child, making sure that he or she recognizes the difference between the categories.
• Mix up the cards.
• Have the child sort them into piles based on category.
• If this is a new and difficult sort, offer support for the child. Each time these words are sorted, the child should become more independent.
• Review the piles of sorted words and discuss any mistakes the child made.
• Sort the words again.
BingoThe Bingo board can be used for various word study lessons. To reuse the board have it laminated and use with a dry erase marker.
Before During• Choose the word study
lesson for Bingo. Examples:
1. sight word recognition
(about, could, though)
2. word families
(at, ick, uck)
3. beginning/ending sounds
(sh, th, ch)
4. sound to symbol
(matching the letter “B” to a
picture of a bear)
• Sight Words: write a sight word in each square.
Tutor should have a list of these words to call
out to child.•Word Families: write a word family in each
square. The tutor should write the initial sounds/
blends, etc that can be used with these families
on little pieces of paper. The tutor calls out the
sound, blend, etc. Child uses initial sound to
make a word with a family in a square.• Beginning/ending sounds: sounds are written in the
squares. Tutor calls out a word that begins or ends
with the sound and child marks the sound on the
board.• Sound to symbol: write a letter in each square.
Call out pictures that start with each sound.
UNOBefore During After
• Choose 4 easily distinguishable categories (Example: -at, -ate, -ay, -ai)
• Write 6 words from each category onto index cards. To make the sort easier, write the relevant word part in red. (Example: Train, Cat)
• Choose 4 sight words unrelated to the categories and write them on index cards along with the word “Wild!”
• Discuss the words and categories with the child.
• Shuffle the cards.• Deal both tutor and child 5 cards.• Flip over the top card from the pile.• The first player can put down a card from the same category as the face up card or a wild card. If a wild card is played, the player chooses what the category will be next.• When a player has no cards with that pattern, he draws one card from the pile, but can’t play it. It’s then the next player’s turn.• The player who runs out of cards first wins.
• Discuss the word patterns.
• Go over the wild cards.
• Play again.
Go FishBefore During After
• Choose 10 word families (Example: -at, -ap, -an, -ip, -in)
• Write 4 words from each family onto index cards. To make the sort easier, write the relevant word part in red. (Example: Fan, Cat)
• Discuss the words and word families with the child.
• Shuffle the cards.
• Deal both tutor and child 5 cards.
• The first player asks, “Do you have any words that rhyme with ______?” If yes, the first player gets the card and lays down the match. Then the first player asks for another rhyming card. If no, the second player says “Go Fish” and the first player draws a card. The turn is over.
• Play continues until one player runs out of cards.
• The winner is the player with the most matches.
• Discuss the word patterns.
• Play again.
Sight Word MemoryThis is a great game to get a child engaged and to help them remember sight words. This
activity can be used with all ages and also with word family words (cat, bat, pig, wig).
Before During After• Use several words
taken from the grade
appropriate sight word
lists included or words
from a text that the child
has difficulty recognizing.
• Write these words twice
on an index card and then
cut them apart.
• Go over the words with
the child by reading them
together.
• Shuffle up the cards and
lay them face down on
the table.
• Model for the child by
flipping over two cards
saying each word as you
flip.
• If the two words match it
is a pair and can be taken
off the table.
• If the words do not match,
flip them back over and
switch turns.
• After all cards are
paired, go over any
that the child had
difficulty recognizing
through out the
game.
• Tutor can add a few
new words for the
next lesson and take
out words that are
too easy.
File Folder Games
• File Folder Games by Karen Finch is a wonderful resource that gives the tutor specific skills to work on and makes it fun!
• Games are divided according to grade level, Kinder through Fourth.
• The games focus on specific skills, such as blends, synonyms
and prefixes.
• The games do take a lot of time, but are worth the efforts!
• It is suggested that if the game focuses on a specific rule, such as reading hard and soft “g” then the rule should be written on the back of the folder.
• Tutors find them easy to use and it helps target particular skills for reading and spelling.
Word StudyReflection
Reflection is an essential part of documenting Links to Literacy. Its primary goal is to inform the next lesson, but it also serves as informal assessment of the student’s progress.
Document this lesson How will this inform the next lesson?
How was the child successful? What was challenging for the child? Did the child enjoy this activity?
Would the child enjoy more activities like this? How can I build on this? Should the next activity be harder or easier?
Record specific words the child had difficulty with.
How much could the student do without support? What specific questions did the student struggle with?
It is strongly recommended that a tutor focus on one literacy skill for all sessions with a particular student. Exceptions should be made only if the skill is too hard or if the child demonstrates nearly complete mastery. (Independently and correctly uses that skill 100% of the time.)
Would the child enjoy this activity again? What would make this skill enjoyable?
Word StudyResources
Included Resources• Silly Soup
• Letter Identification Activities
• Word Sorts
• Uno
• Go Fish
• Bingo
• Sight Word Memory
• Sight Word Lists
• File Folder Games
Suggested ResourcesBear, D.R., Johnston, F., Invernizzi, M., Templeton, S. (2004). Words Their Way: Word Study for Phonics, Vocabulary and Spelling Instruction. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc.
Invernizzi, C., Johnston, F.R., & Juel, C. (1998). Book Buddies: Guidelines for Volunteer Tutors of Emergent and Early Readers. New York: Guilford Press.
Fitzpatrick, Jo. (1997). Phonemic Awareness: Playing with Sounds to Strengthen Beginning Reading Skills. Cypress, CA: Creative Teaching Press, Inc.
Finch, Karen. (1992). File Folder Games. Greensboro, North Carolina: Carson-Dellosa Publishing Company, Inc.
The Child Writes
Why include the child writing in the lesson plan?
• To practice hearing and then writing sounds in words.
• To teach standard spelling and punctuation.
• To help children use written language to communicate.
The Child Writes
Three Approaches to WritingShared Writing Book-Making Writing Process
Who? Emergent Writers Emergent Writers Independent Readers
What?
The student applies knowledge of sound to letter correlation to create standard text.
Students create books with predictable patterns which can then be used for shared reading.
Students create standard expository or fiction text includes bookmaking.
How?
The tutor supports the student by supplying information and helping the student figure out what she knows
By using sight words and applying knowledge of letter to sound correlation, students create books that they can read.
Through editing and a series of drafts, students create a standard text of original work.
The Child WritesShared Writing
Before During After• Bring a sentence strip and at least two different color markers.
• Set a picture alphabet in front of the tutor and the child. (Included in this handbook.)
• Child and tutor each pick a different color marker.
• Have the child compose a sentence.
• Say the sentence and count the words together.
• Begin to write the sentence, drawing attention to concepts of print, such as capital letters and punctuation.
• Ask the child to listen to the sounds and have her write the ones she hears, referring to the picture alphabet for guidance.
• Have the child put down two fingers for spaces.
• Read the sentence.
• Have the child count the words.
• Cut up the sentence and scramble the words.
• Have the child put the words in order. (Help if it’s too difficult.)
The Child WritesBook-Making
Before During After• Choose a simple repeatable sentence that uses sight words the child is learning. (ex. I like ______.)
• Prepare a small book with 4 to 6 pages.
• Talk about what words will fill in the blank. (ex. Colors, animals, -at words)
• Model writing the first sentence for the child.
• Have the child write as much of the book as possible.
• Illustrate the book with the child’s drawings, stickers or cut out pictures.
• Have the child read the book, pointing to the words.
• If appropriate, invite the child to read the book to a another child or tutor
• After reading the book together several times, let the child take the book home
The Child Writes
Why? How?
Pre-writing To get ideas flowing, increase writing fluency, establish vocabulary, organize ideas
Brainstorm ideas with student, perhaps using a web as a graphic organizer.
Writing To create a draft, get ideas down on paper quickly.
Write on every other line (this makes room for editing and revisions); don’t worry about mechanics at this time.
Revising To make the paper better in regard to content, clarity, vocabulary, organization.
Have the child first read the text to you; brainstorm with child about your suggestions for what might make the paper, clearer, more organized and more meaningful.
Editing To make the paper better in terms of punctuation, capitalization, spelling and grammar.
Use the same process as revising, but focus on punctuation, capitalization, spelling and grammar.
Publishing To share writing with others. There are many forms this can take. For example, it can be made into a book or read out loud.
Writing Process
The Child Writes
Language experience is an approach the Links to Literacy lesson plan that includes all four components. Its primary focus is the student’s composition, so it has been included under writing.
The Tutor Reads The child chooses a topic of interest. The tutor and child choose a book on that topic which is too difficult for the child to read and the tutor reads the book to the child.
The Tutor and Child Write
The tutor and child work together to write several sentences or a paragraph about what was read (depending on child’s age and ability) The child illustrates it. Although the tutor may do a lot of the writing, it is the child’s ideas and in the child’s own words.
The Child Reads The child reads the composition. Because the ideas and language are her own and the topic is familiar, the child should be able to read the short selection independently or with minimal support from the tutor. The tutor and child practice the reading until it is smooth and fluent.
Word Study The tutor pulls out words from the paragraph that are relevant to the word study skill the child has been working on. The tutor and child talk about the relevant part of the word together and brainstorm other words that use that pattern.
Language Experience
Story Starters
• The story starters included are intended to make writing easy for the child.
• The starters give the child an idea for his/her story and often set-up the structure by providing characters, setting and problem.
• These can be used with kinder by having them dictate the story, or children in first grade and up can write it out.
• The starters included in this manual were found on:www.eduplace.comwww.teachingideas.co.uk
Many other ideas can also be found on the web.
Fill in the blank storyThese are a great writing activity. The basic structure of the story is pre-written with words missing for the child to fill in. This activity can help a child become familiar with sentence structure, parts of speech and sequencing. The following example was taken from Games for Writing by Peggy Kaye. The stories can be used again if laminated. Activity is appropriate for all grade levels.
Before During After• Read the story to
child with blanks so
they are familiar
with the story and
can start forming
ideas of what he/she
wants to add.• Child or tutor can
fill in the blanks.
• Allow the child to
be as silly as he/she
wants to be, but
what is added
should make sense.• Tutor should
encourage child to
use descriptive
words when filling in
the blanks.
• Tutor or child can
read over completed
story.
Dice GameThis writing activity was taken from Games for Writing by Peggy Kaye. A die, pencil and paper are needed. Children of many ages love this game. It is non-threatening to the child because he/she does a little bit at a time and it involves the tutor sharing the writing and brainstorming. This game can often get a reluctant writer to participate.
Before During After• Talk with the child
about the story he/she
wants to write, such as:
characters
setting
what is the story
going to be about?
• Establishing these
elements of the story
before writing practice
story structure and
brainstorming.
• The tutor and child
will be writing the story
together.
• Each person takes a
turn rolling the die.
• The number on the die
is the number of words
that person has to write
in the story, which do
not have to make a
complete sentence:
“Mary had a blue . . . “
• It is important to
read over what has
been written to see
if the sentences
make sense. If what
the child added does
not make sense,
read it out loud.
• This teaches the child
the habit of rereading
and editing.
• The child can add
illustrations.
The Child Writes
ReflectionReflection is an essential part of documenting Links to Literacy. Its primary goal is to inform the next lesson, but it also serves as informal assessment of the student’s progress.
Document this lesson How will this inform the next lesson?
How was the child successful? What was challenging for the child? What did the child enjoy about this activity?
Would the child enjoy more activities like this? How can I build on this? Should the next activity be harder or easier?
The Child Writes
ResourcesIncluded Resources• Alphabet picture cards
• Sticker book activity
• Useful phrases for simple bookmaking activities
• Environmental print to use for pre-school, emergent readers
• Story Starters
• Fill in the Blank Story
• Dice Game
Suggested ResourcesKaye, Peggy. (1995). Games for Writing: Playful Ways to Help Your Child Learn to Write. New York: Farrar, Straus &Giroux.
www.eduplace.com
