Our Reading is getting HOT, HOT, HOT!

Students are now being asked to do so much more in school. One of those tasks is being responsible for their own growth in terms of data. What I mean by this is understanding if they are making the right amount of gains and showing the growth needed to pass the grade/gain those lifelong skills.

Being a former Title I teacher, I worked with struggling readers. I needed these little, sweet kindergarteners to see their growth so I could continue to motivate them that they were making gains. I started by using a paper thermometer and having them "graph" their growth. I tested their beginning of the year reading level and set a goal (1.5 years growth). Every month I would test them and they would be able to color up the thermometer to show that there reading was getting better. They were so excited when they were able to color. I know some of you are thinking "What happened to the ones who didn't show the growth? Well, it only happened a few times and it was students who did not put their full effort into our time together. It brought great discussion on what we could change to make sure our thermometer grew. Great life lessons.

I used these thermometers with my 2nd and 3rd grade students. I tested them at the beginning of the year, explained what level they needed to be at the end of the year to move to the next grade and they set their own goal. Some went a few levels above the grade level expectation and some even went a level or 2 below expectation. As long as they picked a hard enough goal, I was okay with either. I wanted them to feel like they were pushing themselves and feel the responsibility of selecting their own goal.

Every year, I place them on a back wall so they can see their growth as a reminder that they are making their reading HOT, HOT, HOT! This brought motivation to many students and would push themselves extra hard during testing time to make sure they reached the next level. One year, my entire class met their personal goal by the end of the year. How exciting!

I "looped" up with the same group from 2nd to 3rd grade, and they knew exactly what this was on the first day of school. They were so excited to make a new goal for that school year!

In the middle of the year, you can see how students would color up the thermometer after I tested their new reading level. 

I know many classroom sizes are small or are limited in the amount of wall space they have. I have created a few different sizes for multiple uses. You can make a data folder or binder for each student with other subjects they might track.  This product would also be great for other subject areas as well! Click the picture below to purchase the product.

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