Transcript I Can Read Stuff Better!” - University of Sioux Falls

“I CAN READ STUFF BETTER!”
Aiding Children in Achieving Success in Reading
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K#ls#y.
This is how the world once
looked for a little girl named
Kelsey.
STUDENT IN THE SPOTLIGHT:
KELSEY W.
2nd grader
 Started the year at a DRA Level 20 but had not
progressed at all during the year.
 Had been taught to read using sight words and high
frequency words.
 Did not have any strategies for figuring out words
she did not know.
 Was very skilled at hiding her difficulties in reading.
 Lacked the confidence and desire to read.

INITIAL DRA ASSESSMENT
Before I started working one on one with Kelsey, I
wanted to make sure that I had her at the right DRA
level. I also wanted to check for any patterns that
might help me plan my instruction.
 I tested her on a level 16 book first to build
confidence for the actual assessment.
 I tested her on the level 20 book, Turtle’s Big Race.
Since her teacher said that she had been at this level
all year, I expected Kelsey to pass this level without
much difficulty with a accuracy rate of about 95%.

Excerpt from Turtle’s Big Race
02/27/08
Turtle liked the small pond he called home.
It had a grassy bank where he could sit in the
sun. There were many little fish for him to
catch and eat.
“This is a good place to live,” said Turtle.
When the cold days of winter came, Turtle
slept in the mud at the bottom of the pond.
He dreamed of warmer spring days.
Excerpt from Turtle’s Big Race
02/27/08
Turtle liked the small pond he called home.
It had a grassy bank where he could sit in the
sun. There were many little fish for him to
catch and eat.
“This is a good place to live,” said Turtle.
When the cold days of winter came, Turtle
slept in the mud at the bottom of the pond.
He dreamed of warmer spring days.
WHERE SHOULD WE GO FROM HERE?

According to research from Learning Point
Associates, the five essential components of
effective reading instruction are:
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
Phonemic awareness
Phonics
Fluency
Vocabulary
Comprehension
“Reading fluency refers to the ability to read
quickly, effortlessly, and efficiently with good,
meaningful expression. It means much more than
mere accuracy in reading.”
 Timothy Raskinski
Excerpt from Thin as a Stick
03/25/08
A long time ago, Lizard was a very fat fellow. Each day he
would lie in the sun and sleep. When he was hungry, he
would tip his head and zap an ant or two with his long
tongue. He didn’t have to move to get his food. He would
just wait until the ants walked by. Lizard was very lazy.
One day, Lizard slowly climbed onto a large rock to rest in
the warm sun. Prairie Dog came digging through the
ground beneath the rock and bumped his head.
“Ouch!” he cried, popping out of the ground. “Who put
this rock here?”
Excerpt from Thin as a Stick
03/25/08
A long time ago, Lizard was a very fat fellow. Each day he
would lie in the sun and sleep. When he was hungry, he
would tip his head and zap an ant or two with his long
tongue. He didn’t have to move to get his food. He would
just wait until the ants walked by. Lizard was very lazy.
One day, Lizard slowly climbed onto a large rock to rest in
the warm sun. Prairie Dog came digging through the
ground beneath the rock and bumped his head.
“Ouch!” he cried, popping out of the ground. “Who put
this rock here?”
Excerpt from From Peanuts to Peanut
Butter
05/09/08
Peanut butter is a favorite food for kids and adults. Did
you know that over 800 million pounds of peanut butter
is eaten in the United States and Canada each year?
That’s a lot of peanut butter!
Where Peanuts Grow
Peanut butter is made from peanuts. Lots of peanuts!
Peanuts belong to the same plant family as peas and
beans. They are grown on farms. About half of the
peanuts grown on farms are used to make peanut
butter.
Excerpt from From Peanuts to Peanut
Butter
05/09/08
Peanut butter is a favorite food for kids and adults. Did
you know that over 800 million pounds of peanut butter
is eaten in the United States and Canada each year?
That’s a lot of peanut butter!
Where Peanuts Grow
Peanut butter is made from peanuts. Lots of peanuts!
Peanuts belong to the same plant family as peas and
beans. They are grown on farms. About half of the
peanuts grown on farms are used to make peanut
butter.
READ ALOUDS
Thin as a Stick 1
 Thin as a Stick 2
 Turtle’s Big Race
 From Peanuts to Peanut Butter
