Artifact Five: My First Grade Reading Program

Context: Summary of Reading in my Classroom was written for Dr. Trathen's class, Seminar in Language Arts Research.  In this paper, I describe how I teach reading in my first grade classroom.  Levels of Reading is my summary of the new state reading levels.  I used the knowledge I gained in the master's program and from my teaching experience to summarize reading traits at each level and how parents can help their children at each level.  I have given copies of this to my colleagues and my parents.  Assessment of Sounds and Alphabet Soup are used in my classroom to help me assess each student's knowledge of the sounds.   I assess the sounds periodically throughout the year and record each child's growth.  I have a copy of Alphabet Soup on a poster.  We do a rap with these sounds every day of the year.   Alphabet Soup is a copy of what I send home to the parents in the Spring.  All these sounds have been introduced and this artifact helps the parents be aware of the sounds to look for when they read with their child. Ways to Praise Your Child, Reading Tips for Parents and Weekly Newsletter to my Parents are examples of how I help teach my parents.  In my master's classes, I learned how important a child's self-esteem is in his/her learning to read.  I also know how frustrating it can be to listen to a first grader read every night, so I have Ways to Praise Your Child in my handbook and on my website.  I also learned how important it is to have parents involved in their child's learning.  Reading Tips for Parents is linked to a page on my website.  Weekly Newsletter to my Parents shows how I try to inform my parents of the skills I have taught, so that they can be a second teacher at home.  Book Buddies is an artifact that shows how a fourth grade class buddies up with my students and both classes benefit.  AR Breakfast demonstrates how I involve my parents in my reading program.  Parents are invited to breakfast in my classroom and then they go with their child to the computer lab to experience taking an AR test. 

 Impact: Artifact 5 demonstrates the impact of my master's classes on my classroom, my parents, and my colleagues.  These artifacts are examples of how I have applied my knowledge of reading.  My parent's and colleagues benefit from the knowledge I share with them. 

Alignment: These reading assessments are aligned with the following NBPTS standards.

Standard 1  Teachers are committed to students and their learning.  Individual  assessments  allow me to recognize the individual differences and adjust my teaching.  I try to build my students' self-esteem and also help my parents learn how to encourage their child. 

Standard 2  Teachers know the subjects they teach and how to teach those subjects to students.  My summary of the Levels of Reading demonstrates my knowledge of how children learn to read.    

Standard 3  Teachers are responsible for managing and monitoring student learning.  This artifact shows how I engage students and adults to assist my teaching and how I organize my instruction so as to meet the schools' goals for my students.

Standard 4  Teachers think systematically about their practice and learn from experience.   I used the knowledge I have learned in the master's program and my experience to design my reading program.     

Standard 5  Teachers are members of learning communities. These artifacts demonstrate how I share my knowledge with  my parents and try to engage them in their child's learning.