Reading A to Z prepared materials

[Lindalzn]

Our school purchased A to Z reading this year. It's a warehouse of materials for teachers to use with students. I couldn't help but think that all the prepared guided reading plans are made without knowing the students at all-what is the thinking about
all these prepared materials vs knowing your students?

[srea]

Is this to be used as your reading program, or as supplemental materials? If you are allowed to "pick and chose" the books as you need desire, then I think they could be a good resource. You could match books to readers and use the parts of the lesson plans that work for your students.

Or, I believe it's true, that you can search on A to Z for specific lessons that you could match up to strategies you know your students need.

[Lindalzn]

Thank you. Some of the lessons are so pre programmed that you could get carried away with that and loose sight of the students in front of you-I think you have to keep in mind that we are teaching students not the book which is what I think I heard the sisters say last summer-not sure!

[srea]

I think you are right--they are pre-programmed, and some people will use them "because they are there and done" for them.

BUT, you are so right about what the Sisters say--"Teach the kids, not the book." If you have the flexibility to use these materials as you wish, then you can make it work for you and your students!!