Resources

I found the following helpful in working with students during these past few months...

GREAT ppt on phonics, word recognition, and spelling (Walpole and McKenna)... (Check out the diets starting on slide 7)
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CEkQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.forsythcountyschools.org%2Fbalancedliteracy%2Fppt%2FPhonics.ppt&ei=zhxqT_CbG8bSsgKdr7mRAg&usg=AFQjCNHFe3ZHfAiwNCsnwLGYyRPMasPnXw


Florida Center for Reading Research:
http://www.fcrr.org/curriculum/SCAindex.shtm

Publisher for materials used...Words Their Way
http://www.pearsonhighered.com/educator/series/Words-Their-Way-Series/10888.page

Practicum

I am very sorry to be leaving my student.  There is no doubt that I have learned, and I fear that I learned more than she did! It took me a few days to get to know her in general, her reading strengths and reading weaknesses.  I began to use that knowledge to plan lessons around her needs.  I primarily used Florida Center for Reading Research and Words Their Way.  Both of these were excellent resources for her specific needs.  I do however feel that she may benefit more from an explicit phonics program due to her transient history and gaps in phonics background.  I hope the information I have gathered will somehow help her to receive the type of instruction she needs to be a successful reader.  If she stays at KES, I feel confident they will provide the interventions she needs.  The lessons learned in the practicum are real life lessons that could only be learned by DOING! No amount of reading or research can take the place of working with a child.