Summary
- Students need to spend increasingly longer periods of time reading in order to build endurance as readers. If you were to look at the habits of a life reader, the reading time matches what they do. When adult readers finish their work for the day, they reward themselves by snuggling up with their books. Sometimes people read for pure escapism. (84). Teachers should not ignore the cultural trends and issues that interest their students and design classroom reading instruction around books that are “good for you.” Give your approval when students make their own reading choices, no matter what book it is even if it is The Day My Butt Went Psycho; this is far better than them deciding not to read at all. Reading behaviors must be modeled and explicitly taught.
- To get the message to students that reading is important enough to have a set aside place for it in the room. To provide students with comfortable conditions to read so they aren’t confined to mandated seats.
Relevant Vocabulary
Invasive Reading
Sunk Treasure
Sunk Treasure
To Use in Your Classroom
“The more my students read, and grow into a community of readers, the more they want to read” (Miller 50)
2) Warm-ups- 5 minutes of grammar a day is useful how? 5 minutes is not enough for students to gain knowledge and retain
information. It starts to feel like a filler, especially when you have children arriving late and completely miss this part of the morning.
3) When students are done- don’t reward a student when they are finished with more work. This doesn't make sense. Children will
begin to work more slowly so they don’t have to do extra work. Reward them with reading!
4) On picture day- nothing’s better than chaos in line on picture day. Bring a basket to carry a child’s book in so they can sit and read
while they’re waiting on everyone else to finish with their picture.
Picture: http://www.mrswright.com/2007-2008/booktimebeach.jpg
- Increased time for reading each day- by spring, at least 30 minutes of independent reading in class.
- How can we make time for reading? How can you not? “Even if traditional instruction were able to provide equivalent gains, the improvement in students’ attitude toward reading would be cause enough to devote substantial time to independent reading” (Miller 52)
- When to read
2) Warm-ups- 5 minutes of grammar a day is useful how? 5 minutes is not enough for students to gain knowledge and retain
information. It starts to feel like a filler, especially when you have children arriving late and completely miss this part of the morning.
3) When students are done- don’t reward a student when they are finished with more work. This doesn't make sense. Children will
begin to work more slowly so they don’t have to do extra work. Reward them with reading!
4) On picture day- nothing’s better than chaos in line on picture day. Bring a basket to carry a child’s book in so they can sit and read
while they’re waiting on everyone else to finish with their picture.
- Create a reading sanctuary- a classroom with a wide variety of spaces to read
Picture: http://www.mrswright.com/2007-2008/booktimebeach.jpg