So I'm trying to branch out in WBT and look at more than the first steps. I've read through Super Speed Reading and I like it - the only thing is I haven't taught all of those sight words - I am assuming it's fine that I use the game's rules but use my own word list - is this correct? I hope so because unless I hear otherwise, I'll be using this on Monday!

I know there are levels, but I'd like to include all 18 houghton mifflin HFW without having to teach the other words (not for the first few rounds of playing at least, maybe closer to the end of the year!).

I also would like to try using word families!

Megan,

I was at the San Diego seminar and we worked at super speed 100. It can be a little complicated just as it is. Chris R. showed us, and I tried it on the next Monday with my students. My kids know all the Biffy words, and I paired them with the 1's being the strong readers, the 2's being the med./lower. They did a good job just using the words that were there and felt successful.


It is only a suggestions (all you others chime in) but I'd stay with the words form the E downloads until your students are proficient at doing super speed. You are trying for fluency, and how they can beat their own record.

Good luck

Hmmm - so here is what stuck out to me - "My kids know all the Biffy words" Can you imagine doing it with them if they didnt know the Biffy words like mine? I agree it should be fluency practice but with the year winding down I don't have time to teach them the Biffy words to use it as fluency. I don't want to do the letter names or sounds because I feel my kids would be bored as they've all met benchmark. AM I not understanding it correctly? They are paired (I already have them paired strong to low - well kind of, cut my reading list in half and put the highest reader with the highest-low kid and so on so that we don't have THE highest with THE lowest)
Anyway, they have one minute and person 1 reads a word, then person 2 reads the next word, person 1 reads the 3rd word, person 2 reads the 4th word and so on? Does anyone have this on video?

If you go to the videos there is a thing on super speed, if not, I will be uploading one as soon as I can......Keep making it happen.

Hey Megan~
to answer your question~ NO! You cannot change it! Unless you want the WBT police breaking down your door!!!! Totally kidding. That is one of the most important things about WBT is that you need to make it your own. So I say go for it! Make up a super speed using the HM words (you'll find that the first part of super speed 100 has most of those words, anyway!)

And then......
next year use the Biffytoon words and teach your kids MORE words. I'm only saying that from experience. I also stuck to the HM words during my first few years of kinder. And then our kinder team got together with our first grade team and we realized that while we teach a measly stinking 18 words~ in first they gotta know 216!!!!!!

Sooooo......I coerced my team into taking on the Biffytoon words. The results???? AMAZING!

Now let me tell you, we still teach the HM words in the order the book gives us~ we just teach one a week and then continue on. And the results? Well when I was using HM our lowest kinder mastered a meager 13 words (reading only). But when I took on the Biffytoon words? The lowest could (READ AND SPELL) 33 words? Why? Because each word has a gesture and a picture. Which triggers our motor and visual cortexes. The two places that can move things into long term memory more quickly and efficiently (the answer to why we remember a face and not a name [the visual cortex is much more powerful~ and larger!~ than the area for listening and speaking} and why we don't forget how to ride a bike [the motor cortex, which like the visual cortex also crosses over both hemispheres of the brain). Also~ when we add sing~spelling~ the students recollection for how to spell the words increases tremendously!!!!!

In a nutshell~ get those Biffytoons ready for next year! You can also use them as a superspeed game as well!

For now~ if you are doing the super speed (your version with HM words), my suggestion is to either change the font color every other word or even highlight every other word for easier tracking for your kiddos.

Let us know how it goes!!!
;)

What is sing~spelling????

jgaa,
There are many variations to sing-spelling, it's basically spelling out words to a simple melody (usually a melody that everyone is already familiar with), I usually impliment it in a whole group activity. I also like to integrate a rap style of sing-spelling with kick-spelling (first say the word and than spell it with an alternative kick for each letter)!

Megan,

I think you will find that the Super Speed 100 will work great the way it is. If you notice, the students start out with one word repeated over and over, then the next word is added. You are basically working with the 100 most used words in the written language. You will be amazed at how fast the students learn these words. Of course, you can make it work for you as you need to. As a reading teacher, I used it as it is and increased my students basic sight vocabuary. I started by doing the Super Speed 100 game one on one with a different student each day. ( I work with small groups at a time.) Although I know several classroom teacher did the same type thing, but maybe worked with 3-4 students throughout the day. Once the students knew how to play the game, then I pair them up. I have done this in different ways. I have put readers of similiar ability together, and I have put strong readers with weak readers. I have had success both ways. Since the game only requires 1 minute per attempt, and you have to have two attempts (the second one to try to beat your first score)you are looking at less than 5 minutes a day. You would be surprised at how fast the students learn these words.
Let us know how it works for you.

Susan Floyd
Reading Specialist