4th graders teach 1st graders better

1) I've been struggling with getting some of my first graders to read more fluently.  2) At the same time some of my kids have really been missing the mark on writing for their readers. I can't read anything.

These are facts that keep me awake at night, but at least I can get some blog stalking in.

The story continues. It's still unconnected, at least to me, but read on please.

A spritely, blonde, blue eyed fourth grade boy stops me in the hall. I have his brother in my class. He says, "can I come to your room during writing time and read my journal story?" Sure, I say. He is so cute, it's ridiculous. He can hardly stand it he wants to read to us so badly. He shows up three minutes after asking his teacher if it's okay.

He opens his journal and turns it to my students who look at him in a way they have NEVER looked at me.

Yes, I am a little jealous, but I'm a grown up (sort of) and I can handle being second for a minute thirty seconds.

Anyway, back to Parker (yes, he even has a cute name). He turns the journal to them and starts to explain that he writes on every other line so that his readers (!) will be able to read what he writes. I swear, I could not have scripted this more perfectly. The first graders oo'd and aah'd. Really. They were so impressed. Then he started reading his story and it was well written, funny, focused, and clear. The kids asked all kind of questions about his story and about how he writes. It was fabulous. It was like a book signing.

Sadly, the fourth graders don't have a schedule that works with ours right now, but we are working on changing that because clearly this is modeling as it should be.

So today I was talking about my reading problem with my kids. Remember? Back in the beginning? #1. They aren't working to be fluent. The fourth grade teacher had a brilliant idea! She took a bunch of books from our LLI system of books from Fountas and Pinnell. My lower kids (DRA 8/10) LOVE the Orson and Taco series. There are several books about these two dogs. They beg for them during Monday book shopping. So, get this, the fourth graders are going to read them aloud into an iPad so I can use them for Listen to Reading time. I can't wait!

Thank God for older kids who can help my kids. Cause you gotta do whatever it takes and put yourself and your self-esteem on the back burner.