How does an elementary teacher set up a reading program?

Question

I will be interviewing for elementary teacher positions this summer so I need to know a good answer for this question in case I get asked by an interviewer. How do you set up a reading program?

Answer 1

knowing what grade is crucial. Get on the web and look up the state objectives for reading for each grade level. That will tell you what is to be taught at each grade level. Sketch a floor plan that would encompass these objectives. For example, you would need an area for reading to the children. This is you best best. Good-luck on your interview.

Answer 2

You need to find out what the district does.  If that's not possible then an easy answer would be that you need to set up a space with lots of reading books.  All levels, not just the grade level you are teaching because you will have some students behind and some students above that level.  Then you need a special corner or place in the room they can go to get comfortable (some teachers bring in room size rugs and big pillows or carpet squares)  If you are new to the school the former teacher in that class should have books already in the room (Unless they took them with them)  You should also have a plan of each child having a "book bag" (I use gallon ziplock bags) so that if they finish an activity early they know they need to get their book out of their "book bag" and read it.

Answer 3

The  previous person made some excellent points.  However, as a former reading specialist, I know some teachers struggle with how to teach, using all those good materials.

Our school adopted the Four Blocks Literacy Program, sometimes called balanced literacy.  It gives you a lot of guidance in how to teach vocabulary, comprehension, fluency,  phonics, etc.   Teachers all over the country are using it.   It was started by Patricia Cunningham at Wake Forest University.  Go to any teacher store and you will find an entire section devoted to Four Blocks.   It would be good if you could get  training in it, but if you're energetic and love to learn new things, you can do it on your own.

You can also go to www.readinglady.com to read forums and download forms.  Cheryl Sigmon has a website, www.cherylsigmon.com that offers great ideas.  Or just type Four Blocks into your search engine, and you will be amazed.  

In your interview, you want to emphasize that students don't just need to learn to read phonetically, but also from context.  And they need to understand what they read.

They need to read a lot.  In my room, we had guided reading and self-selected reading, and I read to the children.  Children who are below grade level need texts that are below grade level, but also texts that are on grade level with you or a student giving support.   We did echo reading.  I read a line.  They read a line.  Or pairs reading.  Pair two students and let one read one page and the other read the next.

Teaching reading right now is exciting because of Cunningham"s research.  Check it out.  My best to you!