Is anyone familiar with the Rigby Reading Program? The district I'm in this year uses this program. Everyone I talk to seems to feel the same way about it and I'm just wondering if there's anyone out there who may have a different view of the actual program. I feel like the big books are very disconnected from the phonics poems. I also feel that the only place my students receive any whole language from are the poems. The students have binders and everytime we do a poem they add it to their binder. I have them practice tracking and reading the poem as a whole group. I just feel like this program doesn't make any sense and I'm having a hard time putting it all together and using it to it's fullest capacity. Is there something I'm missing?? For instance, the first story of the book focused on r-controlled vowels!! The FIRST story?! They don't even all know all of the regular vowel sounds. Thanks in advance if there's anyone out there who can help!
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Rigby Reading Program
- Thread starter Bobbi4178
- Start date
M
MG
Guest
Rigby
I had the Rigby series at my old school. (I think they are at the end of "rotation" with these books. I know my school wanted them for the small books but that was no help with whole group activties. To make matters worse this was the only whole group program we had. I had to try and create other activities to go with each story. I got use to the series eventually. I did not like spending 10 days on the big books story. (at least that is what we had to do) We did the poems sometimes when we couldn't bare the big books anymore. WHo knows? Let me know if I can help.
I had the Rigby series at my old school. (I think they are at the end of "rotation" with these books. I know my school wanted them for the small books but that was no help with whole group activties. To make matters worse this was the only whole group program we had. I had to try and create other activities to go with each story. I got use to the series eventually. I did not like spending 10 days on the big books story. (at least that is what we had to do) We did the poems sometimes when we couldn't bare the big books anymore. WHo knows? Let me know if I can help.
Well I guess I'm not alone!
Well we definitely don't use them for 10 days in a row. It's more or less pick and choose what you want to try to cover with them. Sometimes we'll drag a book out for 2 weeks, but for instance, next week my shared reading is just going to be a Halloween book. Like I said in my first post, the kids only get their whole group reading from their poetry binders because we read and practice tracking the poems over and over. My personal preference for a reading program is Harcourt. They have stories for 5 day cycles, sightwords to go with the stories, (I have to make up my own activities!) and assessments on the stories, and each student gets their own book to read out of that is used for whole language. It's just a much more organized program.
Well we definitely don't use them for 10 days in a row. It's more or less pick and choose what you want to try to cover with them. Sometimes we'll drag a book out for 2 weeks, but for instance, next week my shared reading is just going to be a Halloween book. Like I said in my first post, the kids only get their whole group reading from their poetry binders because we read and practice tracking the poems over and over. My personal preference for a reading program is Harcourt. They have stories for 5 day cycles, sightwords to go with the stories, (I have to make up my own activities!) and assessments on the stories, and each student gets their own book to read out of that is used for whole language. It's just a much more organized program.
K
kyteacher1
Guest
Using Rigby
We use Rigby and I think it is a very good reading program -- for guided reading. Are you doing guided reading? yes, I agree the big books are not particularly the best but I often use my own ideas along with the literacy skills listed in the manual. Like the first book you mentioned with r controlled vowels -- one of our first word wall words was "in" and I focused on the word family in. Last year I messed up and used the big books out of sequence but supposedly there is a reason to use them in order. This year I am following sort of in order but I agree some of the literacy skills early on are kind of advanced. I DO NOT spend longer than a week on the book. Our district is SOOOO into guided reading and I think that's why we are using rigby. OH, and I dont use their center ideas for each big book I use my own centers. I dont think their centers are meaty enough nor do I think they are designed for 1st grade to do independently.
Good luck (I went to a training institute over the summer and it was helpful)
We use Rigby and I think it is a very good reading program -- for guided reading. Are you doing guided reading? yes, I agree the big books are not particularly the best but I often use my own ideas along with the literacy skills listed in the manual. Like the first book you mentioned with r controlled vowels -- one of our first word wall words was "in" and I focused on the word family in. Last year I messed up and used the big books out of sequence but supposedly there is a reason to use them in order. This year I am following sort of in order but I agree some of the literacy skills early on are kind of advanced. I DO NOT spend longer than a week on the book. Our district is SOOOO into guided reading and I think that's why we are using rigby. OH, and I dont use their center ideas for each big book I use my own centers. I dont think their centers are meaty enough nor do I think they are designed for 1st grade to do independently.
Good luck (I went to a training institute over the summer and it was helpful)
G
grammarscool
Guest
As an English teacher, I couldn't help but notice the errors in your writing. Please review the grammar, especially since you are a
language arts teacher.
I got used to the series NOT I got use to the series.
We couldn't bear the big books anymore NOT We couldn't bare
Thank you!
Grammar's cool!
language arts teacher.
I got used to the series NOT I got use to the series.
We couldn't bear the big books anymore NOT We couldn't bare
Thank you!
Grammar's cool!
S
Shar
Guest
Are you kidding?
Do you work for Rigby?
Do you work for Rigby?
H
highfive
Guest
Rigby?
Do you know any good websites where I can find info on the philosophy of Rigby? I have a research paper to write and an interview at a district that uses Rigby. Thanks!
Do you know any good websites where I can find info on the philosophy of Rigby? I have a research paper to write and an interview at a district that uses Rigby. Thanks!
T
TeacherSarah
Guest
Rigby series
I'm moving to a school that will begin using the Rigby program next year. I come from a school that uses Open Court, a program that really hits on the "Big Five" (comprehension, fluency, phonics, phonological awareness, and vocabulary.) I have heard that the Rigby program is very weak in the areas of phonics and comprehension. If anyone can provide more info on this program (especially the stronger and weaker areas) I would greatly appreciate it! I am attending a series workshop at the end of the summer. : )
I'm moving to a school that will begin using the Rigby program next year. I come from a school that uses Open Court, a program that really hits on the "Big Five" (comprehension, fluency, phonics, phonological awareness, and vocabulary.) I have heard that the Rigby program is very weak in the areas of phonics and comprehension. If anyone can provide more info on this program (especially the stronger and weaker areas) I would greatly appreciate it! I am attending a series workshop at the end of the summer. : )
B
balf2
Guest
Re: Rigby series
I just finished 3 years of teaching Rigby to 2nd and 3rd graders. My recommendation to you is to not throw out your phonics and grammar material. You will need them to supplement because Rigby is very weak in grammar. Spend at leat 2 periods a week of shared reading on grammar. You can do Phonics with thepoems but I would recomment not following the poems for the big books but to start at poem 1 and go on eachweek from there. If you have a slow class you can separate your word works cards A&B into 2 weeks and as the kids catch on to it later on youcan combine the two weeks into one. Make sure you give dictation quizzes along with a spelling quiz. My district doesn't allow spelling quizzes so we do dictation. Don't spend too much time onthe word wall because the kids don't always use them. Be very concrete in your centers. ase thm around the skill in grammar, phonics and writing that youare doing for those two weeks. Spend at least two weeks on each big book. In between you can do a trade book andbase your centers on the skills of that week pulled form the book. Its a week program so you really have to supplement a lot. good luck.
I just finished 3 years of teaching Rigby to 2nd and 3rd graders. My recommendation to you is to not throw out your phonics and grammar material. You will need them to supplement because Rigby is very weak in grammar. Spend at leat 2 periods a week of shared reading on grammar. You can do Phonics with thepoems but I would recomment not following the poems for the big books but to start at poem 1 and go on eachweek from there. If you have a slow class you can separate your word works cards A&B into 2 weeks and as the kids catch on to it later on youcan combine the two weeks into one. Make sure you give dictation quizzes along with a spelling quiz. My district doesn't allow spelling quizzes so we do dictation. Don't spend too much time onthe word wall because the kids don't always use them. Be very concrete in your centers. ase thm around the skill in grammar, phonics and writing that youare doing for those two weeks. Spend at least two weeks on each big book. In between you can do a trade book andbase your centers on the skills of that week pulled form the book. Its a week program so you really have to supplement a lot. good luck.
S
Sandi2
Guest
Confused by Rigby
I just started working for a school that uses Rigby and I am just confused and amazed that they are using this program. The program is very weak and there seem to be no organization to the system at all. I can't read one big book for ten days. My children are just as bored as I am. As for phonics, I have to do alot of supplementing. We also do Writer's Workshop minus a real grammar program and my children are suffering. I would like to know more about how this program is suppose to be so successful with all the confusion going on.
I just started working for a school that uses Rigby and I am just confused and amazed that they are using this program. The program is very weak and there seem to be no organization to the system at all. I can't read one big book for ten days. My children are just as bored as I am. As for phonics, I have to do alot of supplementing. We also do Writer's Workshop minus a real grammar program and my children are suffering. I would like to know more about how this program is suppose to be so successful with all the confusion going on.
A
A Mom
Guest
I have a child that is dyslexic! Yikes!
I have a child that is dyslexic and the school is using the Rigby program for teaching reading. It is not a recommended reading program for children who have reading difficulties and from the sounds of things I see why. Disorganization and methods that do not make sense are a dyslexic readers doom. I'm glad I checked this out! My daughter has been in the special reading program and I can see it is doing absolutely no good! This confirms why!
Thanks and good luck with your teaching.
I have a child that is dyslexic and the school is using the Rigby program for teaching reading. It is not a recommended reading program for children who have reading difficulties and from the sounds of things I see why. Disorganization and methods that do not make sense are a dyslexic readers doom. I'm glad I checked this out! My daughter has been in the special reading program and I can see it is doing absolutely no good! This confirms why!
Thanks and good luck with your teaching.
D
Deb from Ma
Guest
From a Dyslexic
Hi, the best reading program is OG for a Dyslexic. Now just to let you know apply to the Masons Chapter that is closest to you. You see they offer free yes free OG tutors to students who need the help. They have set up a special program for OG....
I do hope that helps you out.
Hi, the best reading program is OG for a Dyslexic. Now just to let you know apply to the Masons Chapter that is closest to you. You see they offer free yes free OG tutors to students who need the help. They have set up a special program for OG....
I do hope that helps you out.
K
Kira
Guest
Grammar's cool!
No need to correct others...we are all in this together...stay on task. Rigby has been a great source for our school as we are introducting a balanced literacy program. This program seems to correlate with our Saxon phonics and Readers Workshop skills. It is intended to be a small group activity with Running Records as a frequent assessment.
Keep cool..Grammar!
No need to correct others...we are all in this together...stay on task. Rigby has been a great source for our school as we are introducting a balanced literacy program. This program seems to correlate with our Saxon phonics and Readers Workshop skills. It is intended to be a small group activity with Running Records as a frequent assessment.
Keep cool..Grammar!
L
letitgo
Guest
regarding grammarscool's
Get a life
most people who type in these replys are expecting to be graded they just type
You are the type of teacher who gives teachers a bad name
You are always a teacher and never a human
Get a life
most people who type in these replys are expecting to be graded they just type
You are the type of teacher who gives teachers a bad name
You are always a teacher and never a human
D
duggieteacher
Guest
We hate Rigby!
I teach third grade in Louisiana. The test scores at our school have always surpassed those of the district and state score averages. Now that we have Rigby, we feel that they will drop for sure. Where are the comprehension skills?? Where is the PRACTICE using skills, vocab. Basically the teachers have to pull everything out of their own hats. By third and fourth grade (testing years), the kids need lots of structure and comprehesion skills. Not only do we think most of the series is crap, we KNOW it is crap. The only thing it has going for it is the guided reading groups, which we have always done, so now we have some new leveled books - nice. Somehow they sold our district on their mumbo jumbo. I feel sorry for the students. Hopefully by the time my child gets to third grade they'll get a clue.
I teach third grade in Louisiana. The test scores at our school have always surpassed those of the district and state score averages. Now that we have Rigby, we feel that they will drop for sure. Where are the comprehension skills?? Where is the PRACTICE using skills, vocab. Basically the teachers have to pull everything out of their own hats. By third and fourth grade (testing years), the kids need lots of structure and comprehesion skills. Not only do we think most of the series is crap, we KNOW it is crap. The only thing it has going for it is the guided reading groups, which we have always done, so now we have some new leveled books - nice. Somehow they sold our district on their mumbo jumbo. I feel sorry for the students. Hopefully by the time my child gets to third grade they'll get a clue.
D
duggieteache
Guest
yes, I know!!
We hate it too. See my other post.
We hate it too. See my other post.
W
wto
Guest
rigby
I totally agree! I teach third grade at a high acheiving school in NY and every teacher in my building absolutely hates it! We are knocking ourselves out trying to fill in all the holes. My on level students and high acheiving students seem to be surviving (but not thriving), but my struggling ones are suffering terribly. I just can't believe the tax payers have to pay for this junk. All of us are slowly abandoning a lot of it and just doing what we know to be best practices. Blah! I'm depressed by this whole situation. I used to love my job. I feel like a jerk teaching using this system.
I totally agree! I teach third grade at a high acheiving school in NY and every teacher in my building absolutely hates it! We are knocking ourselves out trying to fill in all the holes. My on level students and high acheiving students seem to be surviving (but not thriving), but my struggling ones are suffering terribly. I just can't believe the tax payers have to pay for this junk. All of us are slowly abandoning a lot of it and just doing what we know to be best practices. Blah! I'm depressed by this whole situation. I used to love my job. I feel like a jerk teaching using this system.
L
lmb
Guest
A first Grader's Mum
Hi,
I am a mum of a first grader. I was educated in Europe. My son is attending a public school that uses the Rigby Reading Program and I think it is a waste of time. He has a fantastic teacher who sends home worksheets with each book (small books). The worksheets allow him to pull the book apart and try to fully understand it from all angles and to try and get him "to think outside ot the box". He is not challenged by the books and is reading above first grade reading level. I have him reading chapter books at home and he is also making good choices with Library books. I think as parents we just have to do extra at home to compliment what they are doing at school as all parents probably do. Children in Europe are way ahead of American children. They have a more complex rounded curriculum.
Hi,
I am a mum of a first grader. I was educated in Europe. My son is attending a public school that uses the Rigby Reading Program and I think it is a waste of time. He has a fantastic teacher who sends home worksheets with each book (small books). The worksheets allow him to pull the book apart and try to fully understand it from all angles and to try and get him "to think outside ot the box". He is not challenged by the books and is reading above first grade reading level. I have him reading chapter books at home and he is also making good choices with Library books. I think as parents we just have to do extra at home to compliment what they are doing at school as all parents probably do. Children in Europe are way ahead of American children. They have a more complex rounded curriculum.
I
ILL Kathleen
Guest
Ms
I just got back from living in Singapore and Australia. I was very good friends with expats from Great Britain and Italy. In comparison, the US has the best curriculum overall..even Singapore, which is must more advanced than Europe, it changing its current mathmatics teaching to a US based system. May I suggest returning to Europe?
I just got back from living in Singapore and Australia. I was very good friends with expats from Great Britain and Italy. In comparison, the US has the best curriculum overall..even Singapore, which is must more advanced than Europe, it changing its current mathmatics teaching to a US based system. May I suggest returning to Europe?
S
sally310
Guest
OG Tutors?
Please could I have more information about the free OG tutors. My daughter has Down syndrome and is going into 1st grade in September. A few weeks ago the school told me they used the wilson program, but today I learned they were introducing the Rigby method, which seems to be not at all liked by teachers. I am very concerned.
Thanks for any help.
Please could I have more information about the free OG tutors. My daughter has Down syndrome and is going into 1st grade in September. A few weeks ago the school told me they used the wilson program, but today I learned they were introducing the Rigby method, which seems to be not at all liked by teachers. I am very concerned.
Thanks for any help.
P
pacerland
Guest
rigby in our school
My son attends a private porachial school. Kindergarten all day. He is very smart and active, but lazy when it comes to school itself. we kept him in preschool an extra year and I have him enrolled in our local sylvan program. This week he got his "rigby literacy eval" and a small book was sent home...It isn't teaching him to read it is teaching him how to memorize by looking at the pictures. He has had the same book all week. I am new to this so I am telling myself be pt , but the sight word books I bought from schalatic seem to do a better job. So if rigby is so unliked by the teaching community why are schools using it? Is it inexpensive compared to others? I am interested in knowing this. any feedback would be great. And please don't correct my grammar. I am typing this inbetween seeing patients. Thank you in advance for the feedback
My son attends a private porachial school. Kindergarten all day. He is very smart and active, but lazy when it comes to school itself. we kept him in preschool an extra year and I have him enrolled in our local sylvan program. This week he got his "rigby literacy eval" and a small book was sent home...It isn't teaching him to read it is teaching him how to memorize by looking at the pictures. He has had the same book all week. I am new to this so I am telling myself be pt , but the sight word books I bought from schalatic seem to do a better job. So if rigby is so unliked by the teaching community why are schools using it? Is it inexpensive compared to others? I am interested in knowing this. any feedback would be great. And please don't correct my grammar. I am typing this inbetween seeing patients. Thank you in advance for the feedback
M
melsjunk
Guest
Now I know why
I have been working with my 1st grade son on his reading and sight words since kindergarten. I was confused when I was told the other day not to teach my kid to "sound" out the words. Now I know why. It sounds like this Rigby program relies on memorization more than phonics. I think I will keep teaching him how to "sound" it out. Thanks.
I have been working with my 1st grade son on his reading and sight words since kindergarten. I was confused when I was told the other day not to teach my kid to "sound" out the words. Now I know why. It sounds like this Rigby program relies on memorization more than phonics. I think I will keep teaching him how to "sound" it out. Thanks.
R
rmd
Guest
sight words
If you are working on sight words - no you do not sound them out. Show the child the word and if he/she doesn't get it in 3 seconds or so -give to to them. Sound out other words if he knows sound letter correlation.
If you are working on sight words - no you do not sound them out. Show the child the word and if he/she doesn't get it in 3 seconds or so -give to to them. Sound out other words if he knows sound letter correlation.