Lexile

In preparing to transition to the Common Core standards I have been studying the lexile since I have used DRA levels.  I have found www.lexile.com to be a very useful resource.  New to lexile?  Remember that the lexile levels are determined from syntax complexity and sematic complexity.  Appropriatness of text must be monitored.    

Shelfari

Shelfari is a wonderful website that can be used in so many different ways.  Shelfari.com can be used to keep a personal reading list, an inventory of your books, you can do add friends and discuss books you have read.  You can have your students create a virtual reading log and write reviews of the books they are reading.  What about using it on the common core standard about writing opinion pieces in the review space the students can write their opinion of the book and state their reasons... 

 I use my shelfari as a sharing tool with other teachers.  I tag the books with what reading strategy or mini lesson I have used or could use that book to teach with.  I have not yet logged all of my books it really will be a summer project, but you can link your amazon account with shelfari and they will automatically load any new books that your buy!

So what is your favorite book?  What is your favorite book to teach with?  What do you like to teach with that book?

My hope...

I hope that you will find this site useful for ideas to use in your own classroom.  I first thought I would post some lesson ideas for literacy subjects to use espeically since we will be implementing common core standards next year and I know many of you will be also.  Now that I am getting up and going I am going to add to this many things that I use in my classroom and with other teachers that I work with.