READING

SHARED READING: An engaging whole class instructional practice that
uses Big Books, Pocket Chart Poems,
& Singables to increase students' reading proficiency. 

Pocket Chart Singable
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This fun poem is sung to the tune "Mary Had a Little Lamb". Go to our Free Download page to get the poem/singable and Pocket chart cards file.

  Reading Pointers: Supplies & Samples
 (Detailed directions are in the right hand column)

Effective Shared Reading Techniques

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Using a Pocket Chart for Shared Reading provides many opportunities for children to interact with the text.   Key concepts of print and phonic elements can be easily taught with this effective tool.

If introducing a new poem/song, the teacher reads or sings the text as the children watch and listen.  Using a pointer helps demonstrate tracking and one-to-one matching on the words. 
After 1 or 2 readings, ask the students to join in.  A student can take on the responsibility of holding and moving the pointer on repeated readings. 
Some COMMON CORE Standard target skills that can be taught are:
              Tracking and return sweep
               Letter recognition
               Beginning/Ending sound recognition
               Sight words
               Rhyming words
               Capitalization & Punctuation
               Digraphs, blends, special vowel pairs etc.
               Sequencing
               Comprehension
               Vocabulary

Making Pointers to use with
a Pocket Chart

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2 cute pointers to go with a March theme!
Making a Pointer:
Purchase a small diameter dowel (1/4" -5/8") from a crafts store (ex. Michael's or Joann Fabrics) or a hardware store,  AND something cute to go on the end. Remember, the item should not be  too pointy, hard, heavy, or big in size.
       Each 36" dowel will make two 18" pointers.  Cut the dowel in half using a heavyweight pair of scissors or shears. Just make a small cut on both sides of the dowel and you can easily break it in two.  Don't worry about the rough cut ends as they will be covered with the item you glue at the end of each pointer. 
     You might want to add some decorative ribbon to the dowel stick to dress it up! Use about 24-28" of tiny width ribbon.  Start at the bottom and hot glue the end and give one complete wrap around the bottom to secure the end of the ribbon.  Continue to wind around the dowel all the way to the top, wrapping it as tightly as you can.  You may want to add a few dots of glue under the ribbon as you wind it up to secure it to the dowel. Glue the end of the ribbon at the rough end.  Now it is time to add the "cute" topper.  Use hot glue or Tacky craft glue to ensure it stays on tightly!
TIPS FOR  USING POINTERS WITH YOUR STUDENTS
Once you have made your new pointer, introduce it to the class with a new poem or song.
Review these basic rules before you allow the students to be the Pointer Holder!
1) No hitting the pocket chart with excessive force
2) No hitting any child or objects with the pointer
3) Use the pointer only while reading
4) Hand the pointer gently to the next person
5) Return the pointer to its place (if used during Center time)

Once your rules are established, choose a child to use the pointer.  They can model pointing at the words while the class reads along.  Then they can select the next pointer holder.  This is a powerful position for a young child and sometimes it takes them FOREVER to pass the pointer!  We use a "1-2-3 or picked by me" chant which usually results in a rapid selection of their best friend....whom they were going to pick anyway!
Besides tracking the poem/song, you may have the "pointer holder" answer a question about the text.  For example, you could ask, " Find the word that starts with an /f/ sound" or "Point to the sight word and for us."
***REMEMBER to provide scaffolding for a struggling child.  Gently whisper, "Look on row three" or  "Move a little bit more that way".  It should be a successful experience so all children will want to participate knowing they won't be embarrassed.  You can increase or decrease the difficulty of the request based on the skill level of each participant.