"I also really like the letter arc method that is touted by Eisenhauer inservices. Once kids learn to write, I do a lot of
missing letter handwriting work. Right now, for example, I ask my kids to write a-z lower case, then 3 sentences for their…"
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John Michael Tracy
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- Houston, TX
- United States
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John Michael Tracy replied to Kimberly Cascante's discussion Beginner reading in the group Elementary Reading TeachersJohn Michael Tracy replied to Kimberly Cascante's discussion Beginner reading in the group Elementary Reading Teachers"I'm going to the teacher's college workshop on writing this summer, so I will write at length about it when I do. Yikes. Did I just say write at length. NOT a good thing.
I won a teacher's grant so I get to go to lucy calkins AND I…"
John Michael Tracy replied to Mr. Alex's discussion Students who have good phonological awareness, but stuggle with comprehension in the group Elementary Reading Teachers"I think that it's always best to work on talking first, and I find social circle one of the best places to do this. If you don't already, start your class with social circle, where you say hello, shake hands, perhaps play a quick game,…"
John Michael Tracy replied to Denise Stewart's discussion Would you share any of your tricks to getting kids excited about writing in class?"And of course, dork boy that I am, Patrick is right - her name is spelled Calkins.
I knew there was a reason I teach kindergarten!"
John Michael Tracy replied to Denise Stewart's discussion Would you share any of your tricks to getting kids excited about writing in class?"Patrick, I love your answer. I assume you mean Lucy Caulkins?
Here are my thoughts. Take or throw, keep or ignore, as you see fit.
I've found with Ell kids that it really helps if you can get them to write about family - who they are, where…"
John Michael Tracy replied to Kimberly Cascante's discussion Beginner reading in the group Elementary Reading Teachers"Michelle Breum's reply is spot on. Knowing letters and sounds is critical, but letter of the week stuff is clunky and too slow in my opinion. Teach them all the letters and sounds at once, get the parents to help. Make it fun, learn the letters…"
John Michael Tracy replied to Michelle TeGrootenhuis's discussion Introductions in the group Elementary Reading Teachers"If you or your school has the money, the columbia teacher's reading and writing project is really worth going to. It's Lucy Caulkin's deal. You can find more info at http://www.readingandwritingproject.com/members/home. It's…"
John Michael Tracy replied to Michelle TeGrootenhuis's discussion Introductions in the group Elementary Reading Teachers"When I worked with Somali students in St. Paul, MN, one of the the complaints I heard from a Somali elder - who was also an ESL teacher - was that Somali was primarily an oral culture, not a reading culture. But I think that was because Somali…"
John Michael Tracy replied to Michelle TeGrootenhuis's discussion Introductions in the group Elementary Reading Teachers"I mostly use things I've invented over the years. I teach bilingual kinder, so I guess what I do is very particular. I teach the vowels first in Spanish, using a repeating melody. I show the upper case vowels, then the lower case, then with a…"
John Michael Tracy replied to Susan Mahood's discussion Language Arts Activities using a Smartboard (interactive whiteboard) in the group Elementary Reading Teachers"Just my two cents, but I can't stand Smartboards. In my experience lessons take tons of time to prepare, and are nothing more than dog and pony shows when you finish. I personally get a lot more mileage from a good book."
John Michael Tracy replied to Liz Fitzgerald's discussion 1st grade reading book in the group Elementary Reading Teachers"It would depend on how struggling.
A great one for those just learning to read is No David.
My rule of thumb for beginning readers are five words a page, then ten words a page. (I teach kindergarten so most of my kids are just starting to read this…"
John Michael Tracy replied to Michelle TeGrootenhuis's discussion Introductions in the group Elementary Reading Teachers"I teach bilingual kindergarten in Katy, Texas. We do two way; that is, I don't repeat lessons, but I spiral, and I teach one day in Spanish and one day in English. I have 20 students in all day kindergarten. A mainstay of my class is writers…"
Profile Information
- School / Work Affiliation
- Mortn Ranch Elementary, Katy, Texas
- About Me
- I'm in my 22nd year as a teacher. Didn't start out to teach, became one via alternative certification. I teach bilingual kindergarten in a school where we do one day in Spanish and one day In English.
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