We all know that Independent Reading time can be a tricky time within the classroom. Often we are trying to work with one student, while others are either not reading or talking. Sometimes, it can cause more stress than harm. No More Independent Reading Without Support, gibes us tactics to help keep IR time "hopping."
Tactic 1: You need to get the books in the student's hands. "...you'll need a wide range of text and levels to ensure that all children have books that meet their needs and allow them to participate fully as readers and learners." Ask around for books! You would be amazed at how many books are thrown in the trash (gasp!!) a year.
Tactic 2: Organize your books. This is something that I struggle with as a middle school teacher. I have seen the millions of ways to organize your books - levels, genres, etc, but I have not taken the time to complete it in my classroom. The best way to figure out how to organize your books is to ask your students. I've found with talking to my students over the last week that they love different genre books, so I will be working on organizing by genre, so it is easier for them to find books they enjoy reading.
Tactic 3: Start with small chunks of classroom IR time. "Our job as teachers is to listen to children, learn from them, and teach them something they need to know to move forward and accomplish their goals." I teach a 70 minute block of ELA to my students. I have 70 minutes, five times a week, to teach my students reading, writing, and grammar. To me, giving away time is a sin. However, I have realized that I can use IR time to help strengthen my students reading skills. I've changed my mindset from "giving time away to IR," to "using IR to strengthen reading skills."
Tactic 4: Monitor IR. Guilty as charged. Before reading this book, IR time was often used as a time for me to get things done. I would set the students off reading, get them focused, and then either do some reading of my own, or use it as time to get stuff done. Now, after just taking a few seconds to look around, I can tell so much about my students during IR. I have found that many of my students enjoy reading out of their desk, many have trouble focusing if people are up moving around, and some just plain will not read if they know you are not watching them. It has been such a learning experience to just watch my students read.
.....last five tactics coming next blog!
Books, magazines, cereal box covers, old telephone books, catalogs, menus,etc. are wonderful tools for getting reading material into their hands. Of course my children are 6 years old and these things intrigue them.As I kid-watch during independent reading time, I see many things like you see. They want me to watch. They love sharing what their book was about and showing me their favorite part.
ReplyDeleteMu books are not as organized as my school would like for them to be but my baskets have good books of all genres for a reason. :) Little children like so many types of books!!
Jenni,
DeleteI enjoy reading your blogs. Also, I like how you use various tools as reading materials such as cereal box covers and old telephone books to engage your students. Students can really connect to real-world experiences.
I agree with you about changing my mindset when it comes to IR. I am like so many other teachers who feel like I am just wasting time or "giving it away." As for collecting more materials to expand your library, I have asked students to bring in some materials. I have been surprised and pleased with the outcome. Some students brought in materials to share with classmates and then took them back home. But several students brought in different magazines that they were finished with and left for me to share with my other classes.
ReplyDeleteTactic 4 hit home with me. Monitor IR: I have been one guilty of using that time to do things I needed to do. I have also found that my students do much better if they have purpose for their reading and that they know you are monitoring. It is amazing what you will learn about them as readers. Variety of material is important.
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