https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq How do you get to know your students as literacy learners at the beginning of a school year? en-us 2016-08-01 17:31:51 UTC 2025-10-02 04:49:42 UTC hello@padlet.com hmmckay https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117309618 Serravallo's Engagement Inventory]]> 2016-08-01 17:38:24 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117309618 hmmckay https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117309681 2016-08-01 17:39:31 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117309681 hmmckay https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117309764
How do you get to know your students as literacy learners at the beginning of the year?

]]> 2016-08-01 17:40:50 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117309764 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117734566 2016-08-08 18:54:43 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117734566 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117734589 2016-08-08 18:55:02 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117734589 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117734598 2016-08-08 18:55:10 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117734598 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117734623 2016-08-08 18:55:29 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117734623 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117734640

]]> 2016-08-08 18:55:39 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117734640 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117734649 2016-08-08 18:55:42 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117734649 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117734653 2016-08-08 18:55:43 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117734653 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117734654 2016-08-08 18:55:43 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117734654 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117734655 Ask them about their interests, reading habits, experience of previous courses, time commitments]]> 2016-08-08 18:55:44 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117734655 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117734657 Together we compile a list of everything and anything that could tell a new about themselves. (questions, topics, images, songs...)
They choose what "topics" they want to use to "introduce" themselves to me and they choose how they want to deliver this information. (art, written, tech, sport...)]]> 2016-08-08 18:55:46 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117734657 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117734671 2016-08-08 18:55:58 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117734671 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117734674 2016-08-08 18:56:00 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117734674 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117734675 2016-08-08 18:56:00 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117734675 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117734679 2016-08-08 18:56:03 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117734679 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117734682 2016-08-08 18:56:05 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117734682 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117734701 2016-08-08 18:56:19 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117734701 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117734707 2016-08-08 18:56:23 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117734707 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117734709 2016-08-08 18:56:23 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117734709 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117734714 2016-08-08 18:56:24 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117734714 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117734717 2016-08-08 18:56:25 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117734717 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117734720 Similar to diploma-style assessment s they will encounter later in the  ]]> 2016-08-08 18:56:32 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117734720 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117734735 Fountas and Pinnell Reading Assessment]]> 2016-08-08 18:56:49 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117734735 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117734753 One from  me to them, one from them to me.]]> 2016-08-08 18:57:01 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117734753 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117734774 2016-08-08 18:57:27 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117734774 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117734786


]]> 2016-08-08 18:57:33 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117734786 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117734811 2016-08-08 18:58:13 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117734811 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117734818 2016-08-08 18:58:19 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117734818 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117734830 2016-08-08 18:58:31 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117734830 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117734894 2016-08-08 18:59:37 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/117734894 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/119452895 Students draw and write or have dictated stories. ]]> 2016-08-23 18:58:18 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/119452895 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/119453306 students can film themselves talking about their interests, summer experiences etc and share with the class.

]]> 2016-08-23 19:00:06 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/119453306 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/119453329 2016-08-23 19:00:12 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/119453329 shpenner https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/119453362 -Letter Recognition and Corresponding Sounds Testing
-Free Writing Samples]]> 2016-08-23 19:00:24 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/119453362 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/119453401 watch them interact with peers and with objects

]]> 2016-08-23 19:00:36 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/119453401 amgoldberg2 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/119453448 I set out all sorts of books, at all different levels, and types, and let the kids pick up and read, without any expectations. I watch their observable behaviours - do they stick with a book, do they like to share a story, do they speak to what they see, do they listen to other students... ]]> 2016-08-23 19:00:47 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/119453448 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/119453464 I love to invite two students each day in the beginning of the year to eat lunch with me. I listen and chat with these kids and learn so much about them in 20 minutes.]]> 2016-08-23 19:00:52 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/119453464 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/119453554 Look at Learner Profile and Learning Plan in Iris if available]]> 2016-08-23 19:01:08 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/119453554 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/119453565 Discuss favorite books, characters, series.  Other students may possibly connect different books with similar topics to help broaden what books students are reading.]]> 2016-08-23 19:01:11 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/119453565 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/119453615 2016-08-23 19:01:24 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/119453615 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/119453642 Understand what students know about answering questions, listening and connecting ideas

]]> 2016-08-23 19:01:31 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/119453642 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/119453656 2016-08-23 19:01:34 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/119453656 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/119453676 Have them read a simple text and observe what they do with the book and the text itself

]]> 2016-08-23 19:01:41 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/119453676 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/119453698 I like to share my favorite picture books and explain or tell a story why they are my favorite stories. Allow students to share their favorite and take them to the Learning Commons to choose their favorite books for the teacher to sign out and keep in the classroom for reading and sharing. ]]> 2016-08-23 19:01:45 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/119453698 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/119453708 As a group, students brainstorm questions to ask one another (can be guided by teacher to enhance or target a specific area)]]> 2016-08-23 19:01:47 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/119453708 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/119453776 2016-08-23 19:02:07 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/119453776 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/119453845 Ask questions about their favourite books to read/listen to, what strategies work for them, what their ultimate reading goals would be, what they enjoy writing.

]]> 2016-08-23 19:02:26 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/119453845 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/119453864 2016-08-23 19:02:32 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/119453864 brosullivan https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/119453913 Set up the books from my classroom library around the room and have all students walk around to begin to write their "To-be-read" lists by recommending books to each other, seeing which books they are interested in.]]> 2016-08-23 19:02:47 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/119453913 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/119453930 2016-08-23 19:02:54 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/119453930 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/119454031 blogging responses to questions (questions can be student or teacher driven, or both). Students and teachers can comment on each others' blog posts.]]> 2016-08-23 19:03:27 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/119454031 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/119454058 2016-08-23 19:03:38 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/119454058 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/119454061 Involve kids in creating their own spaces.]]> 2016-08-23 19:03:39 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/119454061 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/119454091 I ask students to bring in what they are  reading, even if it's a   manual or blog. I listen as they talk about why they do that kind of reading. I do the same with writing and making--what are they making? Why? What are they writing or composing? Why?

The more I know about students' thinking, the more I know about their learning]]> 2016-08-23 19:03:45 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/119454091 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/119454171 2016-08-23 19:04:09 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/119454171 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/119454172 2016-08-23 19:04:09 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/119454172 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/119455361 2016-08-23 19:09:08 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/119455361 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/120104773 Share a favourite book and talk about why it is important to me. Share why others might enjoy it.]]> 2016-08-26 18:43:33 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/120104773 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/120104792 2016-08-26 18:43:37 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/120104792 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/120104828 At the beginning of the year ask students to complete the compass:
N- Needs (What do you need this year to be successful?)
E-Excitement (What are you excited about?)
S - What ways can I best support you?
W - What worries you?]]> 2016-08-26 18:43:48 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/120104828 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/120104845 I like to listen and observe each of my students. Reading books that they have selected independently. We talk together about how they feel about themselves as readers and writers. I record these conferences and we revisit these pages at different times during the year.

]]> 2016-08-26 18:43:52 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/120104845 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/120104846 Students use wooden ball-jointed dolls (art dolls) to learn shape and space. They create a movement for the doll to express themselves and write about this specific activity. They can make a word collage or sentences. Nice intro activity to get to know them while also assessing their writing.]]> 2016-08-26 18:43:52 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/120104846 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/120104874 Meeting often in large and small groups to discuss issues, concerns and interests.

]]> 2016-08-26 18:43:59 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/120104874 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/120104887 Bring in your favorite book from home to share with the class. Students can then read it to the class, or provide a book talk moment or tell why it is their favorite book.]]> 2016-08-26 18:44:00 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/120104887 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/120104895 I do many many read-alouds of picture books and watch the children's reactions to quality literature.]]> 2016-08-26 18:44:02 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/120104895 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/120104919 Spending time with students while they are exploring a variety of books, noting their body language, book choices, and engagement. How do they engage with the book? What kind of a reader are they? Do they want to read? Do they want to share what they have read?  Are they making verbal connections to the story?  Are they making real life connections?

]]> 2016-08-26 18:44:08 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/120104919 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/120104954 A short, deep dive into an important issue, an afternoon spent solving a complex problem, a design challenge - these offer opportunities to notice what students know and can do, where there passions lie and how they learn best.]]> 2016-08-26 18:44:16 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/120104954 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/120105028 2016-08-26 18:44:34 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/120105028 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/120105030 2016-08-26 18:44:35 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/120105030 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/120105034 Ask students what helped them progr
ess the most as readers and writers in their lives last year.

]]> 2016-08-26 18:44:36 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/120105034 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/120105042 2016-08-26 18:44:39 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/120105042 aefoster https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/120105092 Use the individual white boards to gauge where students are in their knowledge.]]> 2016-08-26 18:44:50 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/120105092 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/120105114 2016-08-26 18:44:56 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/120105114 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/120105157 Tell and show: Children bring in an object(s) that represents their interests. Then, they write three clues about their object for the class to guess what their object is. ]]> 2016-08-26 18:45:05 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/120105157 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/120105180 2016-08-26 18:45:10 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/120105180 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/120105204 Write/ draw about anything after reading a book to launch idea.

]]> 2016-08-26 18:45:15 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/120105204 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/120105209 I have used Portrait art and had students complete sentence prompters which they write around their portrait to describe themselves and their interests, preferences etc.`]]> 2016-08-26 18:45:15 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/120105209 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/120105404 2016-08-26 18:46:07 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/120105404 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/120105425 Using a variety reading, writing, speaking, visual activities help see where students strengths and areas of growth are.

]]> 2016-08-26 18:46:13 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/120105425 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/120105506
Drawing, writing, reading activities to spark thoughts and capture 
ideas. 

]]> 2016-08-26 18:46:34 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/120105506 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/120105530 2016-08-26 18:46:41 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/120105530 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/120105563 Ask students to make a list of their favorite books from last year and their best writing piece.  Note the genres and topics on these lists.]]> 2016-08-26 18:46:48 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/120105563 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/120105687 Reading and writing with them and actively listening to what they have to share]]> 2016-08-26 18:47:17 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/120105687 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/120105825 2016-08-26 18:47:56 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/120105825 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/120105897 Have students bring in their favorite book from home. They can read it to the class, a peer OR do quick book talk or share a favorite moment of why the book is their favourite.

]]> 2016-08-26 18:48:11 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/120105897 https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/120105971 Read a loud a picture book like The Invisible Boy... Discuss attributes of self, classroom and community. Group discussions, brainstorming then individual reflection through art. Connecting text to self, text to text and text to world]]> 2016-08-26 18:48:27 UTC https://padlet.com/hmmckay/6qtywiyad8fq/wish/120105971