You oughta know…about Mystery Readers!



This has got to be one of my favourite link-ups ever!!!

I'm linking up with Jasmine over at Buzzing with Mrs McClain again and a whole heap of other amazing teacher-bloggers.

This month I'm sharing an idea with you that I can totally, hands on my heart say, wasn't mine! I'm pretty sure I saw the idea of having a Mystery Reader on another teacher-bloggers Instagram and loved it! 

If you need to inspire a spark of interest in your children when it comes to reading or if you, like me, have a class of kiddies who are desperate to read at story time then a mystery reader is for you!

It is such a simple concept-

1. Ask who would like the chance to be a Mystery Reader- it is an optional, fun experience

2. Put names into a pot/ bag/ hat and draw one out each day

3. Secretly  let the child know that they will be the following day's Mystery Reader- I put a note inside their home reading diary so they don't find out until they are at home and can share the fun with their family (obviously I know the children who won't get this experience at home so I pull them aside and let them know before they go home)

4. Set aside a time every day where the children close their eyes and the Mystery Reader can then come up to the reading chair ready to read

5. The children then open their eyes with gasps of  'ooo, ahhh, I thought it would be you!' And the reading begins!

THAT IS ALL!

My class love it- they choose a book from home or our class which they feel comfortable reading and get sooooo excited for each other that you could hear a pin drop whilst the story is being told!

The rules are simple- 

1. If you don't want to be one then you don't have to be

2. Keep it a secret

Our class love it and I'm sure yours will too!

we've even had adults from other classes and the school caretaker be one!

Mystery Reader is most certainly one of the best teacher shares  I have spotted and I couldn't resist sharing it with you today!

An InLinkz Link-up

You Oughta Know about QR codes

I'm so excited to be linking up with the lovely Jasmine over at Buzzing With Mrs. McClain for this months blog hop.

This month….you oughta know about using and creating QR codes in the classroom!!!

At my school we have been lucky enough to get a set of iPads and one thing we are all desperate to use are QR codes! The problem is not many of my co-teachers understand how to use them or how to make them so I thought I would use this blog hop to share a few of my QR code secrets! I am by no means a techie so please feel free to correct or share a new way of doing things in the comments section. 

Using QR codes in the classroom- practicalities

Step 1- ensure your iPad or tablet has a QR reader on it- there are loads out there and they tend to be free to download just visit your app store.

Step 2- train the children how to use the scan feature by opening the app and holding it over the QR code until the scanner takes you to the desired website, word doc, picture etc. Sounds simple but hold it too close and parts of the code won't get scanned or too far away and it won't read the code properly.

Using QR codes in the classroom- resources

There are lots of resources available on TpT which use QR codes and below I have simply given you examples of some of my favourites which cover a variety of subjects and activity types. Click on the pictures to be taken straight to the relevant TpT stores.

This product boosted my Listening Area texts without me having to break the bank- plus the kiddies looooove using the iPads to read and listen. 

QR codes lend themselves perfectly to scavenger hunts- they are a perfect way to incorporate technology into an already stimulating activity. I love QR codes as a way for children to research topics because they either a) take children to a preprepared word doc containing all of the information YOU want them to have or b) to a specified web page YOU have deemed safe for them to have access to.

I love using QR codes within maths as a way to easily differentiate work OR as a way for children to self check their answers making their learning just that little bit more independent and saving paper!

All 3 of the products I've listed are created by talented fellow TpT authors who's stores are full of QR code products. I would suggest downloading one of their amazing freebies to try with your class first to see if QR codes work for you.

Using QR codes in the classroom- creating

If you are loving using QR codes but need something a little more specific to your class then don't panic- here are a few simple steps to creating your very own QR codes!

Step 1- visit a QR creator website, I like www.qrstuff.com but simply google 'QR creator' and find a site which suits you. 

Step 2- 

I usually choose 'plain text' which is where you input your own information into a word type document or 'website URL' and then paste in the website details from the search bar.

Step 3-

Most of the time QR codes are fine in black but if you want them to blend in or complement a document's colour scheme then here is the place to do it.

Step 4- 

Finally, choose the format you want your QR code in- usually I download it and then paste it into the document. As with most objects you can resize the QR code to fit the document.

So there you have it- your very own QR code!

Need another? No problem just go back to step 2 and repeat- you will see the configuration of the QR code change as you input the new information.

I hope you have found this post useful- I would love to see any QR products you make as result of this so please feel free to tag me on IG @year2tastic 

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You oughta to know…about Reciprocal Reading!

Hi there- this week I am very pleased to be keeping one of my New Year's Blog-olutions and taking part in my very first blog hop!

You ought to know about Reciprocal Reading. If you have children who are super decoders but need more practise of the explicit skills needed for comprehension, take their time with reading as it takes them a while to think about the content, struggle to identify the explicit skill they need to use to answer a question then this is an excellent approach to use. It was developed in New Zealand during the 1980's and still isn't as widespread over here in the UK as I believe it should be. 

The approach splits reading comprehension up into 4 strands-

1. Prediction

2. Questioning

3. Clarifying

4. Summarising  

This approach can be used as an intervention, during whole class teaching or as a form of Guided Reading. I personally find it fits my Guided Reading sessions perfectly as each child can take on the role of a particular strand and you can also introduce a 'boss' who essentially facilitates the sessions instead of the teacher. 

As I teach Year 2 (1st Grade) children I tend to use it with my more able children who are strong (National Curriculum) level 2s to really extend their comprehension skills and push them into level 3s whereas my KS2 colleagues find it works well with their middle ability readers. 

We dedicate a session to each strand and I model how to take on the role whilst encouraging the children to engage and develop the skill also. Once the children are confident with each strand I then begin to share out the roles, often pairing the children up as 'Predictors' and 'Questioners' first then in the next session 'Clarifiers' and 'Summarisers' before finally running the session with the children taking on the roles individually (if you have more than 4 children in a group, as I do, then I have found it best to team up the clarifiers or summarisers). 

As the children mature and become more independent it is totally possible to introduce the 'boss' role who will facilitate the session by indicating which role is needed at a particular time and moving discussions on. Once this is possible then your role is redundant and you can have a Reciprocal Reading group running whilst you take another Guided Reading group. When I have managed to get to this stage in the past, I have left a tape recorder on in the centre of the group so that I can listen back and assess the progress made (and smile at how clever they are) plus the children are aware of it and are more likely to stay focused and on task!

Obviously a big part of Guided Reading is the texts you choose to use and the 'Connectors' scheme from Scholastic is fantastic as a way of bridging the step from you as facilitator to the children taking on the role. 

For a fantastic overview of how the 'Connectors' series works, further details on Reciprocal Reading and the opportunity to buy your own sets then click here and visit the Scholastic site.

And as a thank you for stopping by- click the image bellow to get your very own year2tastic Reciprocal Reading role cards freebie! 

Now take a look at where to hop on over to for more fantastic 'you oughta know' posts

An InLinkz Link-up