Merging Read Aloud, Shared, Guided & Independent Reading: Teaching With Text Sets in Grade 1: Bears - Real & Imagined

Text sets are collections of resources designed to support learning. Focusing on a concept or topic, a text-set collection often includes multiple genres such as books, e-resources, infographics, charts and maps, poetry, film, and songs, photographs, non-fiction texts, and other types of text. In this post I outline a few possibilities for grade 1.

Grade: Grade 1 Topic: Bears : Real and Imagined

Read Aloud

Fiction Read Aloud
Litchfield, David. (2015). The Bear and the Piano. London, UK: Frances Lincoln.
Na,  Il Sung. (2015). Welcome Home, Bear: A Book of Animal Habitats.  New York: Knopf Books for Young Readers. (650L)
Sarcone-Roach, Julia. (2015). The Bear Ate Your Sandwich. New York: Knopf Books for Young Readers. (Tall Tale) (490L)
Soman, David. (2014).  Three Bears in a Boat.  New York: Dial. (730L)




Nonfiction Read Aloud

from Wild About Bears

Arnonsky, Jim. (1996). Every Autumn Comes the Bear. New York: Puffin. (410L)
Brett, Jeannie. (2014). Wild About Bears.  Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge. (1070L)
Davies Nicola.(2008). Ice Bear: Read and Wonder. In the Steps of the Polar Bear. Illustrated by Gary Blythe. Somerville, MA: Candlewick. (950L)
Dowson, Nick. (2013). North: The Amazing Story of Arctic Migration. Illustrated by Patrick Benson. Somerville, MA: Candlewick. (910L)
Raye, Rebekah. (2009). Bear-ly There.  Thomaston, ME: Tilbury House Publishers. (880L)
Winter Jeanette. (2016). Nanuk the Ice Bear. New York: Beach Lane Books.

Shared Reading

from Moon Bear, Illustrated by Ed Young

Big Book
Galdone, Paul. (2014). The Three Bears. Boston, MA: HMH Books for Young Readers.

Call and Response Texts
Guiberson, Brenda Z. (2010). Moon Bear. Illustrated by Ed Young. New York: Henry Holt and Co.

Rhythm and Rhyme
Big Books for Shared Reading
Martin, Bill. (2011). Baby Bear, Baby Bear, What Do You See? Big Book (Brown Bear and Friends). Illustrated by Eric Carle. New York: Henry Holt.
Martin, Bill. (2007). Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See? Illustrated by Eric Carle. New York: Henry Holt.
Rosen, Michael. (1997). We're Going on a Bear Hunt. Illustrated by Helen Oxenbury. New York: Walker Books.
Poems, Songs, & Finger Play
Brown, Ron. The Three Bears Rap.
Buchanan, Liz. The Three Bears.
Milne, A.A. Furry Bear.
Silverstein, Shel. Bear In There. (from The Giving Tree)
Five Little Bears (Finger Play)

Video/Nursery Rhyme
Mother Goose Club. (2015). The Bear Went Over the Mountain. Video.

Guided Reading Texts

from Bear and Monkey

Emergent
Berenstain, Stan & Jan. (1999). Berenstain Bears in the House of Mirrors. New York: Random House Books for Young Readers. Level A/1.

Hanson, Sony. Basketball. Illustrated by David Macri. Pembina, ND: Blueberry Hill Books. Level C/3
Harrison, Pat. Bear and Monkey. Illustrated by David Macri. Pembina, ND: Blueberry Hill Books. Level C/3
Martin, Bill. (2010). Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? Illustrated by Eric Carle. New York: Henry Holt. Level C/3.
Mitchell, Sara. Sleepy Bear. New York: Scholastic. Level C/3
Smith, Annette. (1997). Little Teddy and Monkey. Illustrated by Chantal Stewart. Rigby PM Stars. Level C/3
Lewis, Rose. Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Illustrated by Michelle Morse. Northampton, MA: Pioneer Valley Books. Level C/4
Randell, Beverly. (2004). A Home for Little Teddy. Illustrated by Chantal Stewart. Rigby PM Reader. Level C/4

Early

from  Baby Bear Goes Fishing.

Randell, Beverly. (2004). Ben's Teddy Bear. Illustrated by Isabel Lowe. Rigby PM Reader. Level D/5.
Randell, Beverly. (2004). Father Bear Goes Fishing. Illustrated by Isabel Lowe.Rigby PM Reader. Level D/5
Randell, Beverly. (2004). Teddy Bears' Picnic. Illustrated by Chantal Stewart. Rigby PM Reader. Level D/5.
McPhail, David. (2004). Rick is Sick. Boston, MA: HMH Books.  D/6
Randell, Beverly. (2004). Blackberries. Illustrated by Isabel Lowe. Rigby PM Reader. LevelD/6

Randell, Beverly. (2004). Baby Bear Goes Fishing. Illustrated by Isabel Lowe. Rigby PM Reader. Level E/7
Berenstain, Stan & Jan. (1968). Inside, Outside, Upside Down. New York: Random House Books for Young Readers. Level E/8
Randell, Beverly. (2004). Mother Bear' Scarf.  Illustrated by Isabel Lowe.Rigby PM Reader. Level E/8.
McPhail, David. (2007). Jack and Rick. Boston, MA: HMH Books.  E/8

from Just Like Daddy.

Maris, Ron. (1986). Are You There, Bear? New York: Puffin. Level F/9
Randell, Beverly. (2004). Baby Bear's Present. Illustrated by Isabel Lowe. Rigby PM Reader. Level F/9
Randell, Beverly. (2004). Honey for Baby Bear. Illustrated by Isabel Lowe. Rigby PM Reader. Level F/9

Asch, Fran. (2015). Just Like Daddy. New York: Scholastic.  Level F/10
McPhail, David. (2007). Big Brown Bear/El gran oso pardo. Boston, MA: HMH Books.  Level F/10
McPhail, David. (1998). A Bug, A Bear, and a Boy. New York: Scholastic. Level F/10
McPhail, David. (1993). Emma's Pet. New York: Puffin. Level F/10
McPhail, David. (2005). The Teddy Bear. New York: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. Level F/10
Randell, Beverly. (2004). Baby Bear' Climbs a Tree. Illustrated by Isabel Lowe. Rigby PM Reader. Level F/10
Randell, Beverly. (2004). Eggs and Dandelions. Illustrated by Isabel Lowe.Rigby PM Reader. Level F/10
Randell, Beverly. (2004). Baby Bear's Hiding Place. Illustrated by Isabel Lowe. Rigby PM Reader. Level F/10

Dickey, Laurel. The Three Bears.  Illustrated by Tracey La Rue Hohn. Northampton, MA: Pioneer Valley Books. Level G/11
Dufresene, Michele. The Fishing Adventure. Illustrated by Cula Carmen Elena. Northampton, MA: Pioneer Valley Books. Level G/11.
Mack, Stan. (2012). 10 Bears in My Bed. New York: Random House. Level G/11.
Randell, Beverly. (2004). Mushrooms for Dinner. Illustrated by Isabel Lowe. Rigby PM Reader. Level G/11
Mattison, Ruth. The Story of the Three Bears. Illustrated by Max Stasiuk. Northampton, MA: Pioneer Valley Books. Level G/12.
Randell, Beverly. (2004). The Bears and the Magpie. Illustrated by Isabel Lowe.Rigby PM Reader. Level G/12
Randell, Beverly. (2004). House Hunting. Illustrated by Isabel Lowe. Rigby PM Reader. Level G
Rendall, Jennie. When Goldilocks Went to the House of the Bears. New York: Mondo Press, Level G/12

Carlstrom, Nancy White. (1996). Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear? Illustrated by Bruce Degen. New York: Aladdin. Level H/14
McPhail, David. (1993). Lost! New York: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. Level H/14



Randell, Beverly. (2004). Father Bear's Surprise. Illustrated by Isabel Lowe.Rigby PM Reader. Level H/14
Nellie, Elsie. (2014). Why Bears Have Short Tails. Illustrated by Dale Newman. Rigby PM Stars. Level H/14
Minarik, Else Holmelund. (1996). A Kiss for Little Bear. New York: Harper Collins. Level H/14.

Carlstrom, Nancy White. (1996). Guess Who's Coming, Jesse Bear. Illustrated by Bruce Degen. New York: Aladdin. Level I/16
Harrison, Pat. Sleeping Under the Stars. Illustrated by M. Wheeler. Pembina, ND: Blueberry Hill Books. Level I/16
McLeod, Emilie Warren. (1986). The Bear's Bicycle. New York: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. Level I/16
McPhail, David. (1992). Fix-It. New York: Puffin. Level I/16
Minarik, Else Holmelund. (1978). Father Bear Comes Home. New York: Harper Collins. Level I/16
Rueda, Claudia. My Little Polar Bear. New York: Scholastic, Level I/16.
Stuart, Melissa. (2002). Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Illustrated by Marc Mongeau. New York: Scholastic. Level I/16
Wood. Audrey. (1984). The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear. Illustrated by Don Wood. Child's Play. Level I/16

Transitional
Asch, Frank. (1991). Bear's Bargain. New York: Scholastic. Level J/17
Asch, Frank. (2001). Goodbye House. New York: Scholastic. Level J/17
Asch, Frank. (2001). Good Night, Baby Bear. New York: Scholastic. Level J/17
Asch, Frank. (1999). Moonbear's Shadow. New York: Aladdin. Level J/17
Flack, Marjorie. (1971).  Ask Mr. Bear. New York: Aladdin. Level J/17
Minarik, Else Holmelund. (1996). Little Bear. New York: Harper Collins. Level J/17.
Minarik, Else Holmelund. (1996). Little Bear's Friend. New York: Harper Collins. Level J/17.

Minarik, Else Holmelund. (1996). Little Bear's Visit. New York: Harper Collins. Level J/17.

from Bear Has a Story to Tell, Illustrated by Erin Stead

McPhail, David. (2000). Drawing Lessons from a Bear.  New York: Little, Brown. Level K/18
Wilson, Karma. (2002).  Bear Snores On. Illustrated by Jane Chapman.  New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books. Level K/18
Stead, Philip C. (2012). Bear Has a Story to Tell. Illustrated by Erin E. Stead. New York: Roaring Brook Press.  Level K/18

from Brer Rabbit and the Moon: A Southern American Folk Tale.

Asch, Frank. (1999). Happy Birthday, Moon. New York: Scholastic. Level L/20
Dufresene, Michele. Brer Rabbit and the Moon: A Southern American Folk Tale. Illustrated by Michelle Morse. Northampton, MA: Pioneer Valley Books. Level K-L/20.

Minarik, Else Holmelund. (1996). Little Bear and the Marco Polo. New York: Harper Collins. Level L/20.

Merging Read Aloud, Shared, Guided & Independent Reading: Teaching With Text Sets in Grade 1: All About Seeds

Grade 1 Topic:  Seeds

1. Read Aloud Books

Read aloud books provide students with the occasion to develop world knowledge through vocabulary development, to deepen and complicate comprehension, and to write in response to text through modeled, shared, interactive and independent writing.

1. Aston, Dianna Hutts. (2007). A Seed is Sleepy. Illustrated by Sylvia Long. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books. (750L)
2. Codell, Esme Rajo. (2012). Seed by Seed: The Legend and Legacy of Johnny “Appleseed” Chapman. Illustrated by Lynne Rae Perkins. New York: Greenwillow. (940L)
3. Gringsby, Susan. (2010).  In the Garden with Dr. Carver. Illustrated by Nicole Tadgell. Morton Grove,  IL: Albert Whitman & Company. (990L)
4. Messner, Kate. (2015). Up in the Garden, Down in the Dirt. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books. 
5. Peterson, Cris. (2010).  Seed, Soil, Sun: Earth's Recipe for Food. Photographs by  David R. Lundquist. Honedale, PA: Boyds Mills Press. (1050L)
6. Pfeffer, Wendy. (2004). From Seed to Pumpkin. Illustrated by James Graham Hale. New York: HarperTrophy. (640L)
7. Richards, Jean.  (2002). A Fruit is a Suitcase for Seeds. Illustrated by Anca Hariton. Minneapolis, MN: First Avenue Editions. (No Lexile Level)
8. Museum of Chicago Television. (1980/2008). George Washington Carver. Video. Retrieved 8.1.13 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aClMTQ5UvIk 

2. Shared Reading Texts

Shared reading texts provide students with the occasion to develop world knowledge, book handling concepts, and foundational reading skills.

1. An Apple a Day. Newbridge.
2. Seeds Get Around. Newbridge.
3. The Tiny Seed (Eric Carle, Level L/20, 400 L)
4. Up, Down, and Around (180L)
5. The Farmer and In Daddy's Arm from In Daddy's Arms I Am Tall: African Americans Celebrating Fathers  (Steptoe)
6. Planting a Rainbow (Lois Ehlert)
7. Seeds Get Around (Newbridge)

from Yum, Apples

3. Small Group Reading & Familiar Rereading Texts

Texts used for small group guided reading and then familiar independent rereading provide students with the occasion to practice what they have begun to learn during read aloud and shared reading first in a guided setting and then independently.

Plants (Level A)
This Pumpkin (Level A)
Yum, Apples (Level B)
Hello Flower (Level C)
Plant Parts We Eat (Level D)
From Seed to Apple (Level D/6)
Grow Seed Grow (Level E)
Apple Tree Year (Level E)
From Seeds (Level E/8)
Little Critter—My First I Can Read!™: A Green, Green Garden (Level E/9)
Gus Grows a Plant (Level F/10)
This is the Sunflower (Level F/10)
What Does a Garden Need? (Level G/11)
I'm A Seed (Level G/12)
Green and Growing (Level H)
And Then It's Spring (Level H/14)
If You Hold a Seed (I/16, 270L)
How a Seed Grows (Level I/16, 400 L)
Jack's Garden (Level I/16)
One Bean (Level I16, 520L)

Spring into Spring with 30 Pre-K - 3 Books

from King for a Day.

After a long winter, cold and snowy here in the Northeast United States, we see the first signs that spring may be taking hold.  So it's time to celebrate and go outside with your little ones and after running around and playing, playing, playing -- take some time to read a few of these aloud.

Spring Focus

1. Agell, Charlotte. (1994). Mud Makes Me Dance In the Spring.  Maine: Tilbury House. 
2. Alarcón, Francisco. (2005). Laughing Tomatoes and Other Spring Poems / Jitomates Risueños y otros poemas de primavera. Illustrated by Maya Christina Gonzalez. New York: Lee & Low Books.
3. Bauer, Marion Dane. (2015). Crinkle, Crackle, Crack: It's Spring!  Illustrated by John Shelley. New York: Holiday House.
4. Berger, Carin. (2105). Finding Spring. New York: Greenwillow Books. New York: Puffin Books. 
5. Clifton, Lucille. (1992). The Boy Who Didn't Believe in Spring.  Illustrated by Brinton Turkle. 
6. Ehlert, Lois. (2001). Waiting for Wings. New York: HMH Books for Young Readers.
7. Fernandes, Eugenie. (2012). Kitten's Spring. Tonawanda, NY: Kids Can Press.
8. Fogliano, Julie. (2012). And Then It's Spring. Illustrated by Erin E. Stead. New York: Roaring Brook Press.
9. Frost, Helen. (2012). Step Gently Out. Illustrated by Rick Lieder. Somerville, MA: Candlewick.
10. Gerber, Carole. (2015). Spring Blossoms. Illustrated by Leslie Evans. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge. (Reissued)
11. Glaser, Laura.  (2002). It's Spring. Illustrated by Susan Swan.  Minneapolis, MN: Millbrook Press.
12. Hillenbrand, Will. (2011).  Spring is Here. New York: Holiday House.
13. Jackson, Ellen. (2001). The Spring Equinox. Illustrated by Jan Davey Ellis. Minneapolis, MN: Millbrook Press.
14. Khan, Rukhsana. (2014). King for a Day. Illustrated by Christiane Krömer.  New York: Lee & Low Books.
15. Kimura, Ken. (2013). 999 Frogs Wake Up. Illustrated by Yasumari Murakami. New York: NorthSouth. 
16. Lewin, Ted & Betsy Lewin. (2012). Puffling Patrol. New York: Lee & Low Books.
17. Liu, Jae Soo. (2002). Yellow Umbrella. La Jolla, CA; Kane/Miller Book.
18. Ray, Mary Lyn. (2001). Mud. Illustrated by Lauren Stringer. New York: HMH Books for Young Readers.
19. Seeger, Laura Vaccaro. (2012). Green. New York: Roaring Brook Press.
20. Tamara, Erika. (1996). The Garden of Happiness. Illustrated by Barbara Lambase.  New York: HMH Books for Young Readers.
21. Schnur, Steven. (2000). Spring Thaw. Illustrated by Stacey Schuett. New York: Viking.
22. Schnur, Steven.  Spring: An Alphabet Acrostic.  Illustrated by  Leslie Evans. New York: Clarion.
23. Seuling, Barbara. (2001).  Spring Song. Illustrated by Greg Newbold. Orlando, FL: Harcourt.
24. Snow, Virginia Brimhall. (2015). Spring Walk.  Layton, UT: Gibbs Smith.
25. Stewart, Sarah. (2007). The Gardner. Illustrated by David Small. New York: SquareFish.
26. Wahl, Charis. (2015). Rosario's Fig Tree. Illustrated by Luc Melanson. Toronto, ON: Groundwood Books.
27. Yee, Wong Herbert. (2007). Who Likes Rain? New York: Henry Holt.

Four Seasons

1. Berner, Rotraut Susanne. (2008). In the Town All Year 'Round. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle.
2. Lyon George Ella. (2014). What Forest Knows. Illustrated by August Hall. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. (4 seasons)
3. Messner, Kate. (2015). Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt. Illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books. (4 seasons)

Simple, Important Instruction in Grade 1: The Handmade Book

Jaslene showing the cover of her new book (Newark, NJ)

I was reminded that simple is often best in matters of instruction. I was able to model today what one-on-one book making looks like in grade 1 and how a 6-minute 'lesson' can be used to teach a child reading, writing, and phonics that they need, while building on knowledge and skills they have. This lesson is based on a modified Language Experience Approach.

Today, six-year-old Jaslene helped me model what comprises a quick book making project. Jaslene and I met and she selected a book type (flip book, 8-page booklet) and then we discussed what story she might like to tell. Jaslene was all about playing and her book illustrated what she most likes to do: play with friends, play with her dolls, and play with her dog.  Because the child dictates the topic and each sentence, they are better able to reread their work.  This is particularly important for beginning readers.

Jaslene's new book (Newark, NJ)

Each page in the book contains one or more sentences that Jaslene dictated and she or I wrote. I began recording her ideas on the opening pages and turned that process over to her as we progressed. Jaslene also used scrap paper to practice writing tricky words.  She created the cover after thinking about the general topic of her book.

She reread each page (in her case without using a finger to match the text) and then the entire book. She did this with great joy.  Buried within this fun are opportunities for Jaslene to learn foundational skills (sight words, letter/sound combinations, letter formation, spacing, appropriate end punctuation) and composing skills (planning what you want to say, checking to see if what you wanted to say is written, importance of rereading, considering audience when writing, creating illustrations that extend meaning). It also provided me and her teacher with an opportunity to learn about Jaslene and her capacities as a reader and writer.

Children love to make and reread their books and this interest helps them build reading and writing fluency, as well as item knowledge.  By the end of the center time in this first grade classroom, Jaslene had authored and  shared her book with several friends, all of whom wanted to make their own books. Jaslene's book will travel home with her (she plans to read it to her dog who I'm told will be the subject of her next book) and eventually will be included in the classroom library so her friends can borrow it to read. As there are iPads employed in this classroom she might even want to involve a friend in making an audio recording of her book.

In order to make a more high tech version of the handmade book, children might want to use an app like Doodlecast where they can draw and narrate their books and then share these with others.

Differentiating ELA Instruction in Grade 1: A 4-Week Plan to Get Started

Books from the Grade 1 Read Aloud Unit

As many of you know, I have the pleasure of working inside classrooms alongside teachers co-teaching and coaching.  This past week I have been working with two first grade teachers, both of whom are early in their careers. They are keenly interested in differentiating instruction based on emerging understandings of their students. These teachers team teach a group of 25 youngsters. This is powerful work that is complicated and complex. To help the teachers, I have developed an initial plan to get them started and will be checking back with them in a few weeks. At that time I'll co-teach with them again and then we will debrief the experience (plan) to see what worked, didn't work, what they changed, maintained, new insights they have, and so on.  They have carte blanche to make alterations along the way as they will need to do.  In this post I will share links to the plan, the read aloud uni,  and the independent reading targets.  First though, some background.

I have worked with the two teachers foe two years and have worked with the staff at this school in Newark, NJ for the last four years. The relationship we have developed allows me great latitude to design and to experiment. I respect these colleagues greatly. I have blogged about the work at this school (two campuses in Newark) in lots of posts and am pleased that the students continue to meet with significant academic success that rivals (if not surpasses) the most affluent districts in NJ. The students in this first grade are without question the most academically gifted children I have ever worked with in my career.  The majority of the children (16 out of 25) have already met all of the exiting grade 1 reading benchmarks. Five students are close to meeting these benchmarks and the four remaining students perform like typical grade 1 children at this time of year.  Our assessment information will alter as this school has made a commitment to using STEP assessment (University of Chicago) this year--which delights me. (No more DRA, yeah!) The use of this assessment system will allow us to deepen our capacity to name how learners comprehend text.

Here are the links as promised.

1. You can access the plan here. (This includes monitoring sheets for guided reading, writing, and phonics.)
2. You can access the 1st read aloud unit here.
3. You can access I Can Statements for independent reading for grade 1 here. 

Let me know what you think.

Preventing Literacy Difficulties in Kindergarten and Grade 1

Child who had not been reading,  reads from his book box while his peers and teacher listen. 

In this post, I want to highlight through images some of the ways we are working with inner city public schools to help them prevent reading and writing difficulties in grades K-1. Specifically, we have helped teachers to strengthen independent reading and writing in their classrooms by organizing and supplementing classroom libraries, scaffolding reading and writing, developing individual book boxes/bags for children, instituting turning and talking about texts, providing high quality read aloud books and e-book guides, introducing interactive and shared writing, and supporting kindergarten and first grade teachers as they implement these practices and reading and writing workshop. It is important to note that many of these images were made in Lenore Furman's kindergarten class in Newark, NJ. Lenore is a nationally recognized primary grade teacher whose work with children is nothing less than inspiring.

Science observation.

Reading bag support.

Observation page.

Lenore confers with a kindergarten writer,
helping her to add a lead to her story.

Writing supports that are in each child's writing folder.

Kindergarten child takes control of the conference. Agency matters.

Table card to suport reading. These cards change based
on what supports learners need.

Child's painting, neatly displayed.

Pretend center mural. Murals change based on themes.

Pretend center materials.

Writing where you are comfortable.

Writing Where you are comfortable.

Anchor Chart 

Read Aloud Books

Read  Aloud Books 

Independent Reading Book Boxes

Read Aloud Books

Close up of Interactive Writing 

1st Grade Children's ThankYou to
Blueprint's Consultant via Interactive Writing

One section of Classroom Library

Sandy Heintz, an administrator, reads with a child.

Book organization

Kindergartener practicing reading.

Kindergartener practicing reading.

Word Wall words on popsicle sticks
that are used by children when writing.

Word Wall

Spacing tool that is included in students' writing folder.

Interactive Writing

Initial Chart for learning workshop structures.

Center Organization

Reading Goal Reminder that is placed in Reading Bag

Individual Reading Bag with just right books

Sign Up for Teacher Assistance

Anchor chart made with learners

Reading Goal Card

1st Grader's Story

Leveled Books are Color Coded

Suport Card in each child's reading box/bag.

Building Community

Table card (These change based on
what children need to learn)

Interactive Writing based
on Non-Fiction Study