Balance Literacy in Action

I got the chance to walk around to all the reading workshops in 1st grade today and saw some amazing learning happening that was hand tailored for each kid.  It's all part of our initiative this year to incorporate a Balanced Literacy Approach as part of our School Improvement Plan. 

Through Balanced Literacy, the teacher is able to model strategies for the students, support those strategies with the students during small group instruction so that they can then independently practice during reading workshop time. 

Typically, there would be a focus lesson at the beginning where the teacher explicitly models the strategies for the students.

During Guided Reading, the teacher individualizes instruction for small groups of children at the instructional reading level.  Here's where she can meet the needs of every student in her classroom. 


Every student gets time with the teacher to learn strategies at their reading level

While students are engaged in the independent workshop time, the students are able to use what they have learned in the focus lesson and guided reading to practice reading.  Much like practicing soccer to play in a game, students need more time actually practicing their reading skills with Just Right Books for them. 

Here are some students "Listening to Reading, "Buddy Reading", or doing "Independent Reading". 

You can reinforce this at home by encouraging your student to read books at home to you and to themselves that are not too hard and not too easy, but Just Right!  The goal is for students to have independent practice and application of strategies they are learning.  It's more about the conversations they are able to have with you about what they read. 

A great way for parents and PTA to support this initiative in our school is to fund additional texts to enhance our classroom libraries with more leveled books that are Just Right for each student.

As time moves forward at DRES and we get more consistency into our Reader's Workshop structure  throughout all grade levels K-6, students will know what to expect and the structure will enable them to move forward at their level and become more strategic readers. 

Hopefully, this blog post will help you know what to ask your students about what they did in Reading today. 

Let's Meet Some of our Great Volunteers!

We have to start with a huge THANK YOU to all of our volunteers!  We have wonderful volunteers at Daniels Run!  Each of them contributes greatly to a school that they care about and we always encourage others to do the same.  Let's find out about a few of our great parents!

Daphne Palomino

Names and ages of children?
Sabrina, age 6

What is your favorite event at Daniels Run Elementary?
I don't know!  International Night what you get to know other cultures and countries, try different food, and thing from other countries.

How do you get involved at school?
Well, the truth is at the beginning I got involved by attending English classes.  Then I volunteered in the Family Resource Center.  I make projects for teacher, go on field trips and help with parties, like the Valentine's Day party.  Besides that, I come and eat lunch with my daughter.

Advice for busy parent not sure how to volunteer?
Maybe they can find time to do something once.  Once a year, once a month, once a week.  It doesn't matter-you can do it.

Best thing about living in Fairfax?
I am comparing it to my country, Peru.  I like it because it's not a big city.  It's quite calm.  You can do activities outside and walk around without fear.  I like the diversity too.  I've met many people from Africa, Asia, and Europe.

Katy Malesky

Names and ages of children?
Kendal, 8
Kelsey, 7
Joshua, 4

What is your favorite event at Daniels Run Elementary?
Spring Fling.  It's a fun family activity for the end of the school year.  We have the opportunity to raise funds for the PTA.

How do you get involved at school?
I am fortunate to have a flexible schedule that allows me to volunteer in a variety of different capacities.  I am co-chair of both the spring fling and fall ball, room parent for my children's classes, and I like to help teachers with their Thursday Folders, field trips and special events like Tribeology and Seussercize.

Advice for busy parents not sure how to volunteer?
I strongly encourage parents to talk with their teachers as well as visit the Family Resource Center.  In combination either avenue is likely to suggest a way you can contribute your time.  It's an ongoing partnership between the school and the parents.

Best thing about living in Fairfax City?
I love the diverse community.  The opportunities-there's something here for everybody: sports, the arts and the endless resources.

Haewon Cho

Name and ages of children?
Sooho, 22
Manho, 21
Inho, 10

What is your favorite event at Daniels Run Elementary?
Seussercize.  There are many different games like pizza box delivery, hula hoop relay, and other fun stations.

How do you get involved at school?
The parent liaison asked if I wanted to get involved in the library, so I started that way.  I have been volunteering here for almost 11 years.  My older children volunteered in the library when they were in high school.  I now volunteer in the library every week and every chance I get I volunteer for other events.

Advice for busy parents not sure how to volunteer?
I invite parents who do not normally volunteer and tell them when there are special events, maybe then they can get more involved with their kid's class.  The best way for people to find out about how to volunteer is to ask another volunteer.

Best thing about living in Fairfax City?
Location.  Fairfax County Public Schools has a great reputation and Fairfax City is safe for kids.

Things for which I'm Thankful...

I was invited on Wednesday of this past week to come to Mrs. Dalone's 1st grade class for some Thanksgiving poetry that they had prepared to read for their parents prior to the luncheon.  Seeing the joy and pride they displayed in sharing what they had prepared for their parents brought great joy to all of us adults who were there and so I wanted to share a short bit of it with all of you. 

It made me want to share with you some of the things that I am thankful for as a new principal here at Daniels Run ES.

1.  750 of the most amazing students who bring the light of learning to us every day. 
2.  100 dedicated and talented staff members who put in tireless hours of effort to make the difference for each child.
3.  Over 1,000 parents, guardians, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and caring community members who willingly partner with our school and support us with time and talent.
4.  1 great county and city school system partnership that provides us with resources, tools, and training to support each child.
5.  I'm also thankful for stuffing...I love STUFFING!

At the beginning of the year, we shared with staff a core value of our school which is FAMILY.  Nothing exemplified this value more than the Thanksgiving luncheon this past week when we came together as ONE SCHOOL FAMILY to eat, laugh, and talk with one another.  Thanks for coming in to show with your presence that you care about your child and our school!

Daniels Run Singers entertained the crowd with some Patriotic songs
...who is that bald guy at the piano?

 

 

SPOTLIGHT ON...

Mr. Erbrecht!!!

Check out this great video that FCPS created.  It highlights the great leadership of our new principal Mr. Erbrecht!

Check it out here

Math Science Pumpkin Connections

Student began by making an estimate for each
measurement of the dimensions of their group's pumpkin

Second grade students came to the science lab this week to work with our Math Specialist, Christie Ray, and our Science Specialist, Lori Huberman-Hays to do a Math/Science exploration with...

PUMPKINS!

This timely fall activity asked students to use their estimation, measurement, and place value skills to explore the height, width, circumference, and mass of the pumpkin as well as the number of seeds in the pumpkin. 

Students practiced skills with estimation and number sense in a fun, hands-on, hands-gooey, real life way as they worked together.  Our thanks to the parents who came to help.  Check out the great pics!

Each group was assigned their own pumpkin



Parent volunteers helped students take the measurements



Students recorded their group pumpkin information
on a chart on the smart board.

Finally, they counted the pumpkin seeds into
cups of 10 for groups of 100 to see who had the most.