Librarian as Reading Teacher???

[Anne White]

I'm looking for a little insight. I have recently been informed by my principal that I will be teaching reading to a group of about 12 or 13 second graders for and hour and a half (!) EVERY day. I have my MLIS, and my school library endorsement is PK - 12 (all level), but my teaching certification is Secondary English (6 - 12). I feel very underqualified to do this, and I feel like it really might be doing these kids a disservice. It seems the principal feels that since I'm around books all day, I must know how to teach people to read them, but in truth, I've never taught elementary in that kind of capacity.
Is there anyone else in a similar situation who can give me information? I'm quite apprehensive about all this. Not to mention that I can't imagine how I'm going to find the time to get my "real" job done too! HELP!!

[Cynthia Oubre]

Don't forget

http://www.starfall.com/
a reading/phonetic interactive site geared for Kinder, but 1st-2nd can use, especially for those learning how to read.

[Ashley Nichols-Lampkin]

Hi Sandra,
I would love info on those sites too!

[Sandra]

Great! You may already know about them, but here they are with very brief comments.

http://www.test4free.com/

http://www.mindplay.com/free.html

http://www.mindplay.com/talk.html

Mindplay: good site with a free reading online reading test. The results it gives are great! It tells exactly where a child is, (ie. Below average, average, above average), what their problems are both phonetically and with comprehension. It gives an instructional reading level and independent reading level based on the test. Finally, it includes a chart. It also has some free resources. The free “read like you talk” lessons are supposed to be able to improve comprehension skills in less than 4 hours!

http://www.studydog.com/sample1.asp

http://www.studydog.com/angels.asp

This site is cute and helps with sounds. They also have a program for low-income students where you can register those students and get books to lend to them.

http://www.sadlier-oxford.com/phonics/student.cfm#grade5

This site has lots of games to help with sounds and comprehension from pre-K to 6th grade. The games are cute.

http://www.softschools.com/language_arts/phonics/

This site has lots of games to practice skills that often get to be boring for kids as they get older.

http://genkienglish.net/phonics.htm

This site would be great for kids that are bored by learning the sounds of the letters of the alphabet and blends, but still haven’t mastered them

[Joan Enders]

If you are in WA State you need an endorsement to prove that you are "highly qualified" to teach that. You don't mention your state, but it may be good to check that out. HQ has been a pain for some teachers, but in this case I think it might benefit you.

BTW, our elementary librarians have always taught reading 1-2 periods a week until HQ came along.

Good luck!