Rachel Smith

5th grade Teacher | JMU grad #godukes

[Rachel Smith @rachelesmith31]

@withconfidence_ CAN WE PLEASE GET SOME "WITHOUT ME" or "PAQUERETT" tonight in Richmond?!?!

[Jarrett Lerner @Jarrett_Lerner]

EDUCATORS and LIBRARIANS: I’m giving away 100 copies of the three books in my EngiNerds series of Middle Grade novels, half here and half on Instagram.

To enter to win them here: RT this tweet + follow me!

Bonus entry: tag a pal who you think might like these books too!

[Rachel Smith @rachelesmith31]

@canva Lavender!

[Rachel Smith @rachelesmith31]

Students are able to apply the reading process of prereading,reading,responding, exploring, and applying through Basel reading programs. These programs are written and provide materials for teachers to help improve students reading by grade level #JMUREAD #READ366 #W13

[Rachel Smith @rachelesmith31]

Guided reading involves breaking apart the book in order to gain students interest and provide a purpose for reading, the teacher then allows the student to read the book,providing assistance when needed and ends with group convos and extend it with writing #JMUREAD #READ366 #W13

[Rachel Smith @rachelesmith31]

Thinking of reading fluency as simply how fast students can read can decrease students’motivation to read By promoting pausing word stress,and meaning while reading students can more easily comprehend what they are reading which makes it less laborious #JMUREAD #READ366 #W13

[Rachel Smith @rachelesmith31]

I plan on using guided reading practices in my classroom because they can extend comprehension and promote efficiency. Also by using these practices students are able to read more independently #JMUREAD #READ366 #W13

[Rachel Smith @rachelesmith31]

I’ve already noticed it with the ELL student in my practicum class, having extra instruction on reading in the ELL classroom has him opening up in the general classroom as well. His instruction is more individualized causing him to improve overall #JMUREAD #READ366 #W12

[Rachel Smith @rachelesmith31]

A child in my practicum class is an EL, although he doesn’t speak a ton of English, it’s important to include him in reading instruction in order to develop the skills he will need for oral language #JMUREAD #READ366 #W12

[Rachel Smith @rachelesmith31]

Another way I want to promote reading in my class is through helping my students to create a positive self-concept by offering specific praise instead of just a “good job” by calling out specifically what they are doing well it can increase their confidence #READ366 #JMUREAD #W12

[Rachel Smith @rachelesmith31]

I remember starting to dislike reading from when I was very young. In order to ensure a positive attitude about reading in my classroom, I want to promote the value of reading through through activities that mirror their life #READ366 #JMUREAD #W12

[Rachel Smith @rachelesmith31]

Social interactions r a big part of children’s learning this is a reason for the development of using books as a script they don’t read the words but use the pictures to determine what they think the book says using clues picked up from parents and teachers #READ366 #JMUREAD #W12

[Rachel Smith @rachelesmith31]

Children ages 2-3 use books as a toy, throwing and using them as props, later they start to connect books with stories. The more exposure to books = a better understanding. This is a big reason to read to children at a young age #READ366 #JMUREAD #W12

[Rachel Smith @rachelesmith31]

Through keywords students are able to learn the spelling of things they enjoy, while learning about and from their peers. It promotes social interaction and is a great way for teachers to get to know their students #JMUREAD #READ366 #W11

[Rachel Smith @rachelesmith31]

I love the idea of using keywords in the classroom. This idea of having the students pick their own word for today which promotes creativity and will always be relevant to the time. It will also help them be more excited for word study #JMUREAD #READ366 #W11

[Rachel Smith @rachelesmith31]

In a classroom I observed last year, the third grades did a speed sort. The entire class was able to participate as a practice for their quiz later. The students loved the competition, and it was a fun way to complete a word sort #JMUREAD #READ366 #W11

[Rachel Smith @rachelesmith31]

My case study student is at the Middle letter name alphabetic stage of spelling. She may benefit from a pattern word sort into word families with digraphs because that is what she seems to struggle with #JMUREAD #READ366 #W11

[Rachel Smith @rachelesmith31]

Using the three tiers of words (basic words, academic vocab, specialized terms) in a word wall can help expand students’ learning and increase word consciousness by making connections #JMUREAD #READ366 #W11

[Rachel Smith @rachelesmith31]

It’s important to promote word consciousness in your classroom. You can do this by promoting word play and experimentation with alliteration onomatopoeias through books and poems #JMUREAD #READ366 #W11

[Rachel Smith @rachelesmith31]

Also in my practicum class, students are learning sight words like “the” and “look.” This morning, my CT used a greeting where students had stickers with the words and greeted each other with the sight word and a high five. #JMUREAD #READ366 #W8