Saturday, July 26, 2014

Chit-Chatting About the Phonics "Secrets!"


Imagine you're a beginning learner in Kindergarten, 1st, or 2nd grade, and you're told about the grown-up reading & writing ""secret"  al, and the sound they make when they get together in a word...

A and L love balls!
ALL balls... 
Footballs, baseballs, basketballs, volleyballs... 
ALL balls, ALL the time!!
Armed with this new reading and writing tool, you naturally begin looking for opportunities to use  it, not in a workbook or on a skill sheet, but in real life, just like real grown-ups do! 

Take a moment and look around wherever you happen to be. Do you see the al Secret anywhere?   Maybe on a newspaper headline, or on a magazine cover?  Now imagine the text-rich environment of your classroom where opportunities for spotting this and other Secrets are literally EVERYWHERE!

I'm often asked to create SECRET STORIES® practice pages and skill packs targeting individual Secrets, but aside from the few I've done for the "core" Secrets (i.e. Secrets of the Superhero Vowels®, Spotting Secrets, and Beethoven Blends) I've never felt this was necessary.

The best way to hone new skills is to use them, and the best use of the Secrets is for real-life, learner-driven purposes.... which abound in daily reading and writing! Applying the Secrets on workbook pages can't compare to applying them to the reading and writing activities that are ongoing across the curriculum and throughout the entire instructional day!

And besides, there are so many outstanding and creative resources already available that offer natural reinforcement the Secrets! And since I'll be doing a few guest posts for Deanna Jump this month on her blog, I thought I'm going to use one of her "Chit Chat" units as an example.
Katie Garner Guest Post on Deanna Jump's Blog
One of the best ways to build learner-automaticity with the Secrets is to provide rich, daily literacy experiences and activities that spur learner-interest so as to inspire use of the Secrets. Activities like Mrs. Jump's Chit Chat (or any other flexible "open-ended" learning activity/framework) provide an ideal springboard for use of the Secrets for multi-purpose learning! 

A consistent, yet flexible format makes for easy differentiation!

The consistent, and yet flexible format of the activities makes it easier for beginning learners to "multi-process." The open-ended format encourages learners to simultaneously apply the Secrets they know, in conjunction with the individual letter/sound skills targeted (i.e. writing additional words that "start with the letter B" and contain one or more Secrets).

Combing both skill sets for one purpose allows learners to more fully engage with the activities while reinforcing their natural integration (i.e. use of the individual letter sounds and Secretssimultaneously, rather than having to wait to acquire/apply one before the other.) The result is natural, and thus, easy differentiation for a variety of skill-levels and instruction.

Mrs. Jump's "Chit-Chat Morning Messages" on TpT!
These non-fiction Chit Chat units (below) 
are rich in content and naturally motivate learners application of the Secrets...





Rich, informational content, combined with vivid photographs and realistic illustrations inspire learners to read and write!

Connecting high-interest, non-fiction concepts to what learners already know and understand inspires them to "dig deeper" by reading and writing even more— sparking an interest in further reading, or planting a seed for an exciting, new writing idea, appropriately leveled, non-fiction text activities provide learners with unlimited opportunities to put the Secrets they know to use! 



Secret Stories® are literally hiding behind every corner! 
More than anything else, what I love most about using the Secrets to read and write across the instructional day is that it clearly demonstrates the power that comes with owning these tools of our language! The Secrets give those who know them power over text!

For beginning learners, the ability to figure out new words on their own, as well as to write the words they want to use in their stories (regardless of whether or not it is on a sight word wall to copy) is an empowering feeling. And it's this "power over text" that ignites learners' desire to read and write MORE!  

The better we are at something, the more we like to do it... and the more we do it, the better we get...
and the better we get, the more we love to do it....
The worse we are at something, the less we like to do it... and the less we do it, the worse we get....
and the worse we get, the less we want to do it....

Get the idea?

Secret Stories® can be found around every corner and on every page of any book OR TpT activity! Anywhere there is text, there are an abundance of opportunities for introducing new Secrets and revisiting/reinforcing old ones! 

Can you spot the Secrets on this page of Mrs. Jump's Non-Fiction Chit Chat unit below?  
(HINT- I've included some "secret: visual clues to help you spot them!)

FREE Secret Stories® Phonics Mini-Poster Sampler Pack

or to view the complete Classroom Kit versions, see the picture link, below.

Until Next Time,
Katie :-)

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Secret Stories® Makes Phonics Make SENSE!
Try a "taste" of the Secrets with YOUR class 
and see the difference they make!
Click to Download the FREE Secret Stories® Mini-Sample Poster Pack!

For a list of upcoming conferences, or for information on scheduling a school or district professional development workshop, click here. 

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68 comments :

  1. I love to see what ideas you have! I love these Chit Chats that incorporate the secrets! :) LOVE

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  2. I love Secret Stories and Chit Chats and use both in my classroom. What a great idea to put them together. Super Duper!

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    1. If you have the SECRET STORIES already, the best way to use them is as an underscore to EVERYTHING you do that involves reading and writing.... across the curriculum! Look at them a a set of building "tools" and the various reading and writing activities you do throughout the day as different "construction sites"...... you are going to access your "toolkit" whenever you are on a "construction site" :)

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  3. I would love to have this for my kindergarten students!!!!! I worked for a title 1 school and know that your products will help my students to become successful readers! Thank you!!!!!!

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  4. Love this post on the secrets and the Chit Chat messages!

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  5. I'll be using the Secret Stories this year with my ESL Specialist position. This would be a great addition! Love your easy learning techniques!

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  6. I am SO,SO interested in using secret stories and would LOVE, LOVE a class set. I think this could be incorporated so easily into my whole brain teaching techniques. I would be ECSTATIC to weave them together for some AMAZING reading progress!!! :)

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  7. I am a longtime Secret Stories fan! I would love to win this double treat! Every year my kinders make great reading and writing progress and I know that Secret Stories is a great part of that progress.
    Thanks to you and Deanna for this great giveaway!

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  8. I purchased your small poster set of Secret Stories last summer. Would love to add Chit Chat to my bag of teaching tricks. I really like how Chit Chats makes what they are learning about reading more concrete. :-)

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  9. Would love to win your Secret Stories! And the Chit-Chats, too! Thanks for the chance!

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  10. I'm considering getting the Secret Stories and was wondering why the posters are printed on a red background. Does it tie in with brain research somehow? Also, are there blacklines of the posters I could get? Thanks!

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    Replies
    1. Hi there! and oh if I only had a nickel for every time I was asked this question.... Lol!

      Yes, the posters are only available on red, and yes, it is due to the research showing that "black on red, primitive icon-based visuals" are the most effective presentation for "formulamatic data" (i.e. "logo-like" recall imprinting on the brain) as per it prompting the highest rate of recall)

      There is more on this on the Secret Stories website w/ links, if you're interested, in addition to the research on the pairing of the red with the yellow framing, as see on the new "Fun & Funky" poster sets, here- http://thesecretstories.com/products/classroom-teacher-kit-fun/

      Hope this helps, and thanks for the great question!!

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  11. I am very interested in Secret Stories. I like how the children apply the strategies to their reading and writing. I also like Mrs. Jumps Chit-Chat units. Thank you for the opportunity to win these two awesome products to help my little first graders become better readers and writers.

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  12. Just watched several of your vlog's and I am so fascinated by these stories! So excited for a chance to win this wonderful kit!

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    Replies
    1. So glad you liked them!!! I need to get on the ball and make the next one....

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  13. Crossing my fingers! I would love to win this!

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  14. Wow...what a great prize! I would love to win and use these with my first graders! Thanks for the opportunity!

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  15. I love reading your posts! Thank you for bringing up the idea to use your Secret Stories along with the Chit Chat units! :)

    Breanne

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  16. I love reading your posts. I would love to win and use these in my classroom. Thanks!

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  17. I can't wait to use the secrets full time next year with my first graders :)

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  18. I have been hoping to win this for our homeschooling. I teach five children under the age of 8, and it would definitely come in handy!!

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  19. I love using the Secret Stories in my classroom and I have seen tremendous growth with my first and second graders' reading ability and word attack skills. I would love to win a new classroom set of Secret Stories for my classroom!

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    Replies
    1. Do you teach both first AND second grades?

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  20. I love that I have been using morning (Chit Chat) messages and now the opportunity to fully incorporate the Secret Stories will make for powerful learning.

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  21. I would love to win the secret stories unit and improve my teaching and own learning!

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  22. This would be fabulous to have as a first year teacher!!

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  23. LOVE this! I'm switching to kindergarten from 2nd this year and am very excited. I would love this set!

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  24. I would love to try this out!!

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  25. Love the ideas. Thanks so much!!

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  26. Great ideas - much better than skill sheets!

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  27. I am moving down a grade level this year and would love to try Secret Stories with my students!

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  28. I would love to use your secrets with my firsties.

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  29. I would love to tell my kinders your secrets !!

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  30. This is intriguing, thanks for the opportunity to win the secrets!

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  31. I am so glad you are offering this, I have been reading your blog/website all summer and would love to try it out. I did post comments here on your blog and Deanna's after your last blog about novelty in order to be entered for the giveaway, but I don't think I was signed in correctly so it may have not worked or shown up as anonymous. Oops!

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    1. Thanks so much for following the blog, and I'm glad you're finding it of use! And I will make sure that you are part of the second drawing for those that posted at the beginning of this month as well, so don't worry.... I've already added your name to that group :)

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  32. Love your blog/website/emails! I have had the pleasure to attend your presentation at the California Kinder Conference (2008 or 2009) and loved your product. I do have a question... I work in Vallejo CA and we use Houghton Mifflin reading Can your product be used along side the state adopted Lang Art curriculum? I teach 1st grade and my class is usually 50% Ell's. Thanks, Frances

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    1. Without question! The SECRET STORIES are "tools" and are NOT a program, which is what allows them to so easily underscore whatever you are already doing in your classroom, including supporting whatever language arts series (or even phonics program... although you won't need it ;) you happen to be using.

      Once you get them and begin sharing them, as needed throughout the day, you'll see what I mean. The "Secrets" provide what the reading series' don't... the "WHY" !!

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  33. Love this! Thank you for sharing!

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  34. Thank you for sharing these ideas. vhair61215@gmail.com

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  35. Such a great way to teach these concepts.

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  36. Thank you for showing how you implement the secrets in with simple interactive morning messages. It's great to see integration of ELA into other subjects!

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    1. Absolutely, as there's no better way to use them than to apply them to what's going on "in the moment" and throughout the day... both IN the classroom and at home :)

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  37. Thank you for sharing all of these wonderful ideas! I really hope to implement Secret Stories with my 1st graders this year...!

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  38. I have heard great things about secret stories...I hope to use them next year with my kiddos.

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  39. The Secret Stories seem like they would be great in teaching my first graders! I would love to win a classroom set! Either way, I'll keep up on new posts to learn more about it…Thanks!

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  40. The Secret Stories seems interesting and would love it! I enjoy the Chit Chats, also! Great resources!

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  41. Oh, so hoping to win! I love this idea and my first graders would too.

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  42. I love the Secret Stories...I have been using them for years...so long in fact I still have the old red and black signs...I would really love to update those signs this year...

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  43. Secret Stories AND Chit Chat! What a great combo! I hope I win!

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  44. Love both Secret Stories and Chit Chat!! Winning would be a great way to start the year!!! Thanks Ladies!!

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  45. My coworker uses secret stories and it is awesome!!! I want it so bad!!! :)

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  46. I have been following your blog all summer. I'm hoping to win!

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  47. I would love to use these together in my classroom this year.

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  48. What an awesome way to start the new school year!

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  49. I love your secret stories. What a great way to teach students about English.

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  50. I would love to win these! Kindergarten already uses secret stories!

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  51. Secret Stories is on of the most amazing resources I have come across!!! I would love my own copy for myself and my kiddos!! Have an amazing school year!!! :)

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  52. I would love to use this with my Kinders! It looks amazing!

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  53. I am using Secret stories in the classroom and forget sometimes so this would help me remember each day to talk about these great learning tools

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