Reciprocal Teaching

After looking at data and discussing our RtI plan, we are "thinking outside the box" for our Reading review time. We know that putting students on a computer-based intervention program for Reading really does NOT work like it does in Math.
After attending a great break out session at the i3 Conference we think Reciprocal Teaching may just be our answer. Why?

1. It focuses on deep comprehension, which we know our students are missing (Figure 19)
2. It can be used to review skills that we will already be teaching so students that are out of the room will not be missing "new" instruction.
3. It will be something meaningful, worthwhile and connected with the Shared Reading lesson cycles we are already spending so much time on.
4. It is research based and proven to be highly effective.

What is Reciprocal Teaching?
Really, it's pretty simple. This comprehension strategy suggests that we use skills we already teach students, but try them all together:

• Predicting
• Questioning
• Clarifying
• Summarizing

Of course we will have to go slow, model and practice them one at a time.  But, we will eventually be able have our students use all the skills of Reciprocal Teaching together to give them a much deeper level of comprehension.

Check out this website for much more (even including a video example) about Reciprocal Teaching:
Reciprocal Teaching

Kinder and 1st-I know what you are thinking: REALLY? You think our students can even start to do Reciprocal Teaching when they really can't even walk down the hall without being redirected every 10 seconds?

Consider these more appropriate ways to start with your kids.
Reading Tanny McGregor's launching sequence from her book "Comprehension Connections"  makes me think it's probably a good way to start all kids, no matter what their age!

• Use a concrete object to model the discussion (an old shoe, an unfamiliar item, etc.).
• Use an image (the large posters from our Mondo Bookshop collection are great for this).
• Use a picture book (our school library has some great ones). Remember you can scan on the copier for all teachers to use.
• Use a short film (Pixar has some GREAT ones, and I also found a Mini-Movie Collection by Illumination Entertainment in the $5 bin at WalMart). Also, there is always You-Tube. They have several short clips and commercials that would work as well. There are many opportunities to pause and model or prompt all the different steps to this process.

My 16 month old sat and watched a couple of these! She loved them, so I think the engagement will be high!

I found these when searching "kids short mini-movie"
Fishing with Sam
Going Green
Forever Young
Holy Sheep
Carrot Crazy


I found these when searching "kid friendly commercials"
The Force
Baby
Vending Machine