Every week I introduce a new poem to the class. These poems are used to teach phonics and word work. Our routine includes reading the poem throughout the week several times together, students highlighting high-frequency words and letters and putting a phrase from the poem in order using a pocket chart. By using these smaller pieces of text with a young reader helps them develop the skills they need as they learn new reading strategies and how to read independently.
As the year begins we slowly build our poetry library. Each student has a poetry folder for each poem and they are able to ready independently and with a partner throughout the week. They absolutely love reading their poems because of the success they feel! Many students ask to read from their poetry folder throughout the day. It's great! Along with their poetry folders we work on putting a phrase together from each poem. We always begin in whole group first and then that phrase is added to a literacy station.
You can set up your station just about anywhere in your classroom. I have seen teachers set their stations in the smallest of nooks in their rooms and it works fabulously. I just went with a pocket chart I already had in my stash with an easel we use during whole group. We just transform in a matter of seconds for stations. You can easily use a smaller pocket chart standing or on a table. Do what works for you and your students.
This past week I was able to capture one of my small groups working together to put a phrase together from one of our poems, Ants on a Hill.
As the year begins we slowly build our poetry library. Each student has a poetry folder for each poem and they are able to ready independently and with a partner throughout the week. They absolutely love reading their poems because of the success they feel! Many students ask to read from their poetry folder throughout the day. It's great! Along with their poetry folders we work on putting a phrase together from each poem. We always begin in whole group first and then that phrase is added to a literacy station.
You can set up your station just about anywhere in your classroom. I have seen teachers set their stations in the smallest of nooks in their rooms and it works fabulously. I just went with a pocket chart I already had in my stash with an easel we use during whole group. We just transform in a matter of seconds for stations. You can easily use a smaller pocket chart standing or on a table. Do what works for you and your students.
This past week I was able to capture one of my small groups working together to put a phrase together from one of our poems, Ants on a Hill.