Let’s Read: Beginning Readers in Kindergarten, First Grade, or ESL Students

*Parents: I have worked with special needs students for 20+ years. I understand that not all children will fit the traditional age. Please let me know how best to accommodate your learner in this class. *
________________________________________________________________
-Note: The reading level is more important than age for this course. The learners in this class will already know simple sight words, letter names, and letter sounds.
________________________________________________________________
-A morning message, or class letter, is a common way to teach language skills. I will display a new one in each class session.  I will also begin to ask the students to help me write this message in later classes. We will do additional language activities after our message.

 I will teach short/long vowels, sight words, blends, digraphs, punctuation, and parts of speech. This class focuses on exposure, not mastery.
__________________________________________________________________
Weeks 1, 2, 3: The messages will be short. The focus will be on sight words for early readers and this will continue over the 10 classes.  I will also discuss short vowels and capital letters.
_________________________________________________________________
Weeks 4, 5: The students may be asked to dictate a sentence or phrase while I write on the screen. I will only call on willing participants. We will finish the short vowel sounds and talk about punctuation.
__________________________________________________________________
Weeks 6, 7, 8: We will continue "sharing the pen" while I write their dictated suggestions. This will lead to simple editing. We will tackle long vowels as well.
__________________________________________________________________
Weeks 9, 10: This is dependent on the mix of learners. If they need an additional review of the above skills, we will do so. If they are ready to move to vowel pairs, blends, and digraphs we will.