This is a great question!! I would like to know, too. Since I'm a first year teacher, I am sticking to my reading and math textbooks - especially since my principal just ordered a whole new reading series for my class that I am piloting! But I wish I didn't have to... I'm looking forward to seeing what others say. :)
I use mostly my own stuff with bits and pieces of the state adopted series. Our district has a language arts curriculum separate from the treasures series. While treasures has some great tools, the typical teacher edition way of teaching is not my style. As for math, we have LOTS of resources. So... I end up using some from everything. Hope that helps... :)
Hey there! We do not have a language arts text book for reading. We use Fundations for our Phonics, but it is really weak (in my opinion in Phonological/Phonemic Awareness. We just adopted Saxon Math this year, so I use that for my whole group teaching. I then follow-up with Math Stations!
Our district adopted a balanced literacy approach for reading a few years ago. I was the literacy coach then, so I am pleased that we have seen growth in our readers as a result. Most of our reading instruction comes from Read Aloud, Shared Reading, and Small Group Reading. We have a literacy room filled with leveled readers (6-packs). These are WON-DER-FUL!
I have to say I use most of the stuff I find on blogs to supplement my reading and math series. I also use a lot of things I find on blogs in my centers. I still use my reading textbooks, some worksheets/assessments, and leveled readers. Hope this helps you!Rambling About Reading
We have a basal for reading and Envision math. I think textbooks are great resources.... however, they do not meet the needs of all the children in my class and they do not offer differentiation. I mostly look at the needs of my children and use a balanced literacy program. Like DeeDee, most of my instruction is based on Read Aloud, Shared Reading and guided instruction....We base our guided reading lessons on the Big 5---- alphabetic principal, phonemic awareness, vocabulary, accuracy and fluency and comprehension. Hope this makes sense!
I'm speaking as a Canadian teacher, but we have a curriculum to follow (that would dovetail to what you call Standards). I need to preface this with the fact that this is my 31st year of teaching too. I know that curriculum inside out, and upside down. I teach to the curriculum, making sure that what is being asked of me at a particular grade level, I can assess whether the students in my classroom can do it proficiently. That means that if the 'stuff' in the textbooks makes them learn it, I use that material but if I think I can teach/present it better another way (such as with something I have made, using something I have found on line, or using a combination of items, then that's how it is presented. I almost never present material the same way each year. I may be using the same material, but I present based on where the students are academically. This group (I have Gr. 2/3 this year)is SOOO much more capable than last year's group of Gr. 2 so I have stepped it up a notch already asking them to write more, read more and leaving out some of the easier activities that I would have started last year's group with. Teach to the kids, teach the curriculum and remember you know much more than the book does! When you first start out though, having a series to fall back on isn't such a bad idea!
I send the math and language arts consumables home for the student practice. I may pull a good activities from the TE every once in a while. I'd rather have students create as much on their own as possible.
I'm a new follower {LOVE your blog!} and would have to say both. I would get in major trouble if someone important walked in my room and I wasn't following the curriculum. However, like any good teacher knows, the curriculum doesn't always cover the concept. So I definitely add in other things. I make it work by running a lot of center or offering multiple activities. Ex: our math curriculum doesn't ever teach kindergarteners how to write a numeral or recognize one, just jumps right into counting and assuming they can record a matched set. Um...hello! So I always have a number writing activity going on for practice. That sort of thing. Hope it helps. I look forward to sharing ideas with you! :)
This is a great question!! I would like to know, too. Since I'm a first year teacher, I am sticking to my reading and math textbooks - especially since my principal just ordered a whole new reading series for my class that I am piloting! But I wish I didn't have to... I'm looking forward to seeing what others say. :)
ReplyDeleteMarvelous Multiagers!
I use mostly my own stuff with bits and pieces of the state adopted series. Our district has a language arts curriculum separate from the treasures series. While treasures has some great tools, the typical teacher edition way of teaching is not my style. As for math, we have LOTS of resources. So... I end up using some from everything. Hope that helps... :)
ReplyDeleteColleen Patton
Mrs. Patton’s Patch
Hey there! We do not have a language arts text book for reading. We use Fundations for our Phonics, but it is really weak (in my opinion in Phonological/Phonemic Awareness. We just adopted Saxon Math this year, so I use that for my whole group teaching. I then follow-up with Math Stations!
ReplyDeleteOur district adopted a balanced literacy approach for reading a few years ago. I was the literacy coach then, so I am pleased that we have seen growth in our readers as a result. Most of our reading instruction comes from Read Aloud, Shared Reading, and Small Group Reading. We have a literacy room filled with leveled readers (6-packs). These are WON-DER-FUL!
I hope that helps!
Mrs. Wills Kindergarten
I have to say I use most of the stuff I find on blogs to supplement my reading and math series. I also use a lot of things I find on blogs in my centers. I still use my reading textbooks, some worksheets/assessments, and leveled readers. Hope this helps you!Rambling About Reading
ReplyDeleteWe have a basal for reading and Envision math. I think textbooks are great resources.... however, they do not meet the needs of all the children in my class and they do not offer differentiation. I mostly look at the needs of my children and use a balanced literacy program. Like DeeDee, most of my instruction is based on Read Aloud, Shared Reading and guided instruction....We base our guided reading lessons on the Big 5---- alphabetic principal, phonemic awareness, vocabulary, accuracy and fluency and comprehension. Hope this makes sense!
ReplyDeleteI'm speaking as a Canadian teacher, but we have a curriculum to follow (that would dovetail to what you call Standards). I need to preface this with the fact that this is my 31st year of teaching too. I know that curriculum inside out, and upside down. I teach to the curriculum, making sure that what is being asked of me at a particular grade level, I can assess whether the students in my classroom can do it proficiently. That means that if the 'stuff' in the textbooks makes them learn it, I use that material but if I think I can teach/present it better another way (such as with something I have made, using something I have found on line, or using a combination of items, then that's how it is presented. I almost never present material the same way each year. I may be using the same material, but I present based on where the students are academically. This group (I have Gr. 2/3 this year)is SOOO much more capable than last year's group of Gr. 2 so I have stepped it up a notch already asking them to write more, read more and leaving out some of the easier activities that I would have started last year's group with. Teach to the kids, teach the curriculum and remember you know much more than the book does! When you first start out though, having a series to fall back on isn't such a bad idea!
ReplyDeleteI send the math and language arts consumables home for the student practice. I may pull a good activities from the TE every once in a while. I'd rather have students create as much on their own as possible.
ReplyDeleteI'm a new follower {LOVE your blog!} and would have to say both. I would get in major trouble if someone important walked in my room and I wasn't following the curriculum. However, like any good teacher knows, the curriculum doesn't always cover the concept. So I definitely add in other things. I make it work by running a lot of center or offering multiple activities. Ex: our math curriculum doesn't ever teach kindergarteners how to write a numeral or recognize one, just jumps right into counting and assuming they can record a matched set. Um...hello! So I always have a number writing activity going on for practice. That sort of thing. Hope it helps. I look forward to sharing ideas with you! :)
ReplyDeleteLittle Miss Glamour Goes to Kindergarten