Testing and Characters

Today was DRA testing day for me. Does anybody else use this? 

Depending on their level - lower levels read a story out loud and then tell about it; higher levels read the story to themselves and then retell it, and finish up with reading part of it to the teacher for a running record.

I fee like I need to get all these books back off the shelf!

I put these books up when I started back to school, thinking I wouldn't have time for them. However, only 5 of my students moved up from their end of 1st grade level. And my four lowest students - argh - almost torture listening to them read. Watching one little friend just pull and pull on his hair as he tried to read and another do nervous giggles while I can smell the sweat - trust me, I feel their pain. And all I can say is that we are in this together little friends. This 2nd grade teacher may be pulling out all the stops - and working to find new tricks - as I hope to help these students find some joy in reading.

On a better note - we've read several character building books since school started. I shared a couple of them on my last post. We also read



and









And then I realized we hadn't really actually discussed the character traits I wanted to emphasize. So one day last week, I had the students wander around, then high five a partner, and talk about a character from one of the books. Then we all talked about the character. And we did it for another character. Next we made a chart {This little guy is a little funny looking - but I decided to go with him.}

Then {after a quick die cutting session in the teacher's lounge} I gave each student a little person die cut - it's actually a gingerbread person, I guess - and each student added words to their little person describing the kind of people we would want in class. I put them on the wall - and darn it, forgot to take a picture. I'm sure that's all they will need to remember to be kind and nice and helpful and etc. Right? 

Well, I leave you with this - and if you're a fan, you know it's good news. No, GOOD NEWS!