READING MEETING

READING MEETING is a strategy for large group instruction. (I’ve adapted this from Lindsey Gates’ “reading calendar” that I posted on June 21, 2015.) This format can be integrated into any grade level, curriculum, or standards. The key is that you will be providing “intentional teaching” and “purposeful practice for automaticity” – two of my favorite buzz words! The lessons should be fast-paced, active, and repeated every day through the week to increase mastery. You will also notice that the skills are cumulative and build on the previous day.

I’m sure most of you already do components of the reading meeting, but many teachers in my workshops this summer wanted more details. Today I’ll give you an overview of what a READING MEETING might include. Future blogs over the next few days will give you ideas for turning this daily routine into a more exciting and engaging time with songs, props, and active learning.

Key Elements of the Reading Meeting

A. Morning Message – Each day write a message to the class with information about the day’s activities. Many teachers like to use a class mascot/stuffed animal/puppet to write the message. The message will motivate your students to read and give them something to look forward to during the day. The morning message will also give you the opportunity to model writing and introduce punctuation, capitalization, and other conventions of writing.

B. Rhyme or Poem – Choose a nursery rhyme, poem, or chant each week and write it on a poster. Practice reading over the rhyme each day to improve fluency.

C. Phonological Awareness – Practice blending and segmenting with the “Sound Sack.”  Choose a rime based on the poem and keep a list of words you can make with the rime. 

D. Phonics Lesson – Sing an alphabet song and then choose a letter or other phonics skill to focus on every day for the week.

E. Sight Words – Select several sight words to play games with each day.

Hint! Have the children stand and incorporate as much movement as possible in the reading meeting to keep them engaged.

Marvelous Monday
A.  Read the morning message.
B.  Introduce the rhyme for the week.
C.  Use the sound sack to blend and segment sounds.

D.  Phonics – Focus on a letter, blend, or other phonics skill. 
E.  Fluency – Introduce several sight words.

Terrific Tuesday
Same as Monday, but tie in a word family from a sight word or the rhyme of the week.

Wonderful Wednesday
Same routine, but add a sparkle word (aka vocabulary word) for Wonderful Wednesday.

Thrilling Thursday
Same routine, but focus on punctuation, capitalization, nouns, verbs, and other language standards using the morning message.

Fabulous Friday
Same routine reviewing previous nursery rhymes or poems the children have learned.

Some of my new Fabulous Friends I met last Friday in Ferndale, MI!

P.S.  Today is the last day you can get my monthly music mix for the special "back to school" price.  Go to drjean.org if you want to learn more.