Quick Links: PALS Literacy Workstations Presentation and Resources

      In W-JCC, the Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening (or PALS) tool is utilized in Kindergarten up to third grade to assess literacy development. These are two links which are provided by the developers of the PALS assessment at U.Va. to guide best practices with literacy workstations. Perhaps a reminder or a fresh idea might inspire you in this short presentation you can find by clicking here:

PALS Literacy Workstations Presentation

Also, there are classroom activities given for Kindergarten and learners in K-3 the following areas:

• Comprehension
• Alphabet Recognition
• Concept of Word
• Letter Sounds
• Print Knowledge
• Vocabulary
• Word Recognition
• Oral Reading in Context and Fluency
• Spelling
• Writing

      Check out this link to see concise lists of activities which support the respective areas of literacy development. This is particularly helpful to use for teachers who are new or new to their grade level, as well as student teachers. You can bookmark these as "favorites" and refer to them when you need a source of suggestions for Tier One intervention and individualizing in your classroom. :)

PALS Activities Listed by Skills

Quick Link for Florida Center for Reading Research - Practical, Ready to Print Word Study and Comprehension Activities!

T/TAC of W&M

      I want to say "thank-you" to Mr. Bryan Cole for coming down to my room today to show me this fantastic website full of practical, ready to use resources to supplement your word study and comprehension activities in reading groups and classroom centers. It is from the Florida Center for Reading Research. Mr. Cole was so excited to share it with me after going to conference held by the Training and Technical Assistance Center (T/TAC) at the College of William and Mary! I actually clapped my hands with excitement, as I appreciate things which blend suggestions for best practices with practical and instant application! :) Here is the link to the FCRR's index page for student center activities:

http://www.fcrr.org/curriculum/SCAindex.shtm

      This link takes you to the "Student Center Activities" main page. From here, you can choose to explore your appropriate grade level span: K-1, 2-3, or 4-5. When you scroll down the page, you will see the five major components of reading: phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. There are many ready to go lessons and copy masters for a variety of lessons and activities for word study! Also, you will find numerous graphic organizers and ideas for general applications for various types of comprehension studies. I know that I'll be exploring it this weekend to find some ideas. I hope you check it out, too! It's another way to teach smarter! Thanks SO much Mr. Cole! If anyone else has additional resources or links that they would like to share, please post them. :)

Quick Link Tip: Online Interactive Word Study Activities from ReadWriteThink

     Here's a quick link tip for K-2 teachers. These interactive word study sites are from ReadWriteThink, a practical site co-sponsored by the International Reading Association and the National Council of the Teachers of English.  They're something different to add to a classroom station for a word study activity, and you can add them as a link for your Edline page.

Short Vowel Word Families Sorts:

ReadWriteThink: Short Vowel Word Families Sorts

"Construct a Word"- Combining beginning letters/blends with common endings:

ReadWriteThink: "Construct-A-Word"