Reading Without Limits | Maddie Witter

Chapter 9: Overview

In Reading Without Limits I describe 03 conferences. Here I share tools for set-up and organization.

Download: Conference Notes Organizers (PDF)

Download: Paraphrase Graphic Organizers (PDF)

Chapter 10

In Reading Without Limits I share that character trait words are one type of word to include during vocabulary. Here are some trait words organized by grade level.

Download: Vocabulary character trait words organized by grade level (PDF)

Chapter 11

Want to launch successful classroom discussions in your classroom? The following lessons prepare students for an
awesome talk.

Download: Lesson 1, for Class Discussion (PDF)

Download: Lesson 2, preparing for the discussion in groups (PDF)

Download: Preparing for Seminar (PDF)

Download: Graphic Organizer and Grading Sheet (PDF)

Download: More Graphic Organizers to share during seminar (PDF)

Videos that show these resources in action:

Watch Now on Vimeo (password: "readingwithoutlimits"): Reading Without Limits

Chapter 12

Do Nows (Fast Finishers, Mental Wake-Ups) are used at the beginning of class to settle the group and spiral past content.
Here I share a sample do now and ways to make it kid-friendly.

Download: Sample Do-Nows (PDF)

Download: Kid friendly Do-Now strategies (PDF)

Standardized testing is a reality for most of our classrooms. Here I share tips on how to teach your kids to become masterful test takers.

Download: Test Prep Unit Plan (PDF)

Chapter 13

Here are sample assessments from grades 3-10 and ideas for making the tests fun.

Download: Fun Test Strategies (PDF)

Download: Sample Reading Assesments grade 3 (PDF)

Download: Sample Reading Assesments grade 4 (PDF)

Download: Sample Reading Assesments grade 5 (PDF)

Download: Sample Reading Assesments grade 6 (PDF)

Download: Sample Reading Assesments grade 7 (PDF)

Download: Sample Reading Assesments grade 8 (PDF)

Download: Sample Reading Assesments grade 9 (PDF)

Download: Sample Reading Assesments grade10 (PDF)

Chapter 14

Hooks are 1 to 5 minutes long and happen at the beginning of class. The purpose is to get your students’ attention so they are engaged. Hooks make the abstract concept of your lesson clearer. Make your hook relevant to what you are teaching.

Download: Sample Hooks (PDF)

At KIPP Infinity Charter School, we aligned our curriculum so that each year students learned new material that built on the previous year. We also intentionally reviewed previous year’s content. While the Common Core State Standards provide a scope, the scope that I provide here breaks it down into strategies you can teach each day. This scope is from 2010.

Download: Scope of Aims (PDF)

Have you ever taught something and then your students didn’t get it? And then taught it again and your student still didn’t get it? Instead of repeating this dead-end cycle, try teaching the skill without a text. Instead, use paintings. Turn your class into Art History 101! Your kids will love the rigor. I swear. Through a series of questions, students end up being able to do the skill using a painting and translate that ability to being able to do it with a text. I love using paintings to reinforce a skill or build on a skill.
Here’s an example of a lesson using a famous painting. This lesson assumes students have the ability to identify theme and now need to match relevant details.

Download: Alternatives to Think-Aloud (PDF)

Throughout Reading Without Limits, suggestions were given for how to actively check for understanding.
Here is the complete list.

Download: Different ways to Check for Understanding (PDF )

Chapter 15

Download: Make It Visible sample Posters Part 1 Stamina Habits (PDF)

Download: Make It Visible sample Posters Part 1 Vocabulary Schedule (PDF)

Download: Make It Visible sample Posters Part 2 Comfort Reading (PDF)

Download: Make It Visible sample Posters Part 3 "I Love Reading" Ideas(PDF)

In 2005, when we opened KIPP Infinity, we made nonfiction a priority. Six years later, the Common Core Standards backed up this belief. The Common Core pushes schools to integrate nonfiction into what students read. This will build their ability to read in content classes and later to achieve greater success in their careers. We are fully aware of the need to build nonfiction skills. Therefore, we made nonfiction studies a serious part of our reading program in two ways. First, we embedded nonfiction into choice, guided, and shared reading. But that wasn’t enough. Our second approach is unusual. Because we knew that nonfiction might take a back seat to fiction, we strongly felt that we needed a second reading class: nonfiction studies. The following document describes the nonfiction studies program.

Download: Non-Fiction Program (PDF)

Steps to Enhance Lifelong Readers