I do a lot of traveling to meet the needs of my students. I don't have my own classroom so I try to bring multiple books for the students to choose from when we read. Sometimes I try to just use the last few minutes to read with them. Other times I check for understanding. If I were to have my own classroom with students in there daily, I would present a wide range of texts for the students to choose from. I would also try the journalling aspect. This gets the students writing along with reading. Reading aloud a text together can also assist the students in increasing their vocabulary. Showing my love for reading will hopefully carry over and lead them to loving reading also. When there is free time, allowing the students to read would also assist in developing life long readers.
When you are a traveling teacher, it is very difficult to take everything you would like to have between classrooms. When I drove between buildings long ago, my vehicle was divided into seat sections for different schools. Heaven help the person who got in and shuffled my piles into one mess! I believe in reading during free time and if a book has captured the reader’s interest, they are willing to read if there is a break. It’s so exciting to see students pick up a book to read, especially when it’s by their choice and not by instructions!
I like the idea of a ‘real’ library in the classroom. I get books from our county library that are being discarded, but would like to add more books with more current publication dates. I would like to be able to purchase books that are being ‘buzzed’ about by students. I would have a time allotment daily for students to read a book of choice, not one assigned by a teacher. I think to learn to love reading, we have to give students a chance to read what they choose to read.
Yes it is about choice of their reading. If you pick up a book not on your interest level you probably would not read it either but if it is something you want to learn more about then reading is more enjoyable on all levels
I Try to have books that interest students close to there reading level and sometimes they like to pick up books that are below there level. I let them read below their reading level now and them. I have favorite children's books I like to read.
I totally agree with your statement about students needing a chance to read things that they are interested in. That is definitely a way to hook them in. I didn't realize you could get outdated books from the library. Great idea!
Being a traveling teacher I have to think different. At the High School I meet with students in the library so we often look at book selections. I have books of mine that I have read with students that loan out to kids. I also read books that students recommend to me, has made me read out of my comfort zone. Encouraging students to use the city library, especially during the summer, makes them more aware of resources. I am going to give a book commercial to a group after state testing and then they are going to do one. I want to be a book advocate!
It is hard for me to read books that I am not as interested in, however, I know I need to if I am going to reach all the students and thier interests. If I have not read some of the books they are reading, how will I be able to relate to them. I also have to read books that are recommended to me or the studnets won't want to read the books I recommend to them. This is a way to earn trust with the students and be able to talk with them about their interests.
I let my son choose the audio book we listened to traveling on spring break. Not my interest but it did catch my attention and we couldn't wait to get back on the car to see what would happen next. So yes our students do take us out of our comfort level.
If I were a classroom teacher, I would have shelves of books and have them organized in some type of order, depending on the age group of my students. (You should see my basement shelves, I have my own library at home!) I would always have at least 2 books on my desk - a book of my choice to read during free reading time, and a book that I read to the class. I would try to use a few alternatives for teaching reading that the author suggests, and really focus on my students' reading interests by letting them have choices in their reading. I think teaching students about how to know the difference in genres is important, as well as keeping a reading notebook.
Yes I think it is about the interest of the students that brings in reading to your classroom. I feel there are so many ways to pull in reading to the classroom but often times teachers are so concerned about this is what I have to get into my day and reading is not one of them unless it is a worksheet or paper based learning. I know in the younger years when AR is going on students get excited about reading to get to go to the AR store but what about for higher grades does that just stop?
I feel that if I had my own classroom I would encourage reading by having a topic area and setting it up according to topic area. I would have a variety of books relating to the subjects that may be taught for that week, I would encourage students that anytime there is a free time to sit and read or look at a book. I am discussing this from a early childhood point of view, during rotation of centers every child would rotate into the reading center where they would have to explain their book after they have had time to look at it to an adult and answer WH questions? Just observing many classrooms reading is not encouraged as often as I feel it needs to be. I hear teachers say the book center is always open but you don't see a full rotation going out of the center. I feel that every child needs to have the rotation of the book center while this is preschool area the students will not be able to read it to you but they can take a picture walk while predicting, and being able to make connections with the pictures and words.
Cher, I agree with you about having the book center be on the rotation with centers. Also, it would be best to have an adult at that center, especially early on. That way the students can see what is expected at that center by looking at the books, talking about them, and getting exicted about reading. The adult could read to them at times, and then ask the students to "read" the books back to her or the other children. Once the students "catch on" to what to do in the center, I think they would be more excited about going there.
I do work with a teacher that uses book centers as rotations with an adult facilitating it. She has four different levels of books ready, on a topic they are learning about. Whenever her groups go in there, they get a yellow level, green level, etc. Her books are even in boxes the same color as the AR dots.
I agree with the thought that each child needs to be directed to the reading center. There are many fun activities to do there if the teacher would have a book of the week. The students could be retelling the stories with puppets and flannel board pieces. I see the same thing in the room I am in. She assigns students to centers, but the reading center is never assigned and no one ever goes there. Too bad:(
I love the idea of having the book center as part of the center rotation. I know that my students love using the flannel board pieces that I have out for stories that I read. My students will sometimes choose to read a book when they are in center time, but I should totally encourage it more!
I am impressed with her classroom library. Mine is miniature compared to hers! Whenever there are "free" books in the teachers lounge I try to get as many as possible for my classroom but those are the ones that are outdated and books that students are not interested in. I think if I had a classroom library like hers it would be easier to promote lifelong readers because I would have an awesome selection for students to choose from! Every year I use some of my money on buying books that students are interested in reading, most are more current books but I do try to obtain some classics as well. Another thing is letting the students see the teacher reading and enjoy reading. When teachers talk to students about books they have read it shows students that teachers read because they want to not because they have to being a teacher. I like the teacher thinking outside the box when it comes to reading and not conforming to tradition, students in this grade have to read certain books, etc... She has so many books that by the end of the year students are able to find what book types interests them.
I am jealous of the author's classroom where students are surrounded by books. I had a room like that when I taught jr. high reading and title I. I too buy the books for my classroom out of my pocket, and therefore, I only buy a few each year. My collection is expanding at a snails pace.
I believe using functional written communication in front of the kids is important. When they see how we use reading and writing in everyday settings, I hope that they recognize its importance. I read an write notes in my planner and have them send & bring messages to & from my classroom teachers. Also, writing & using lists is a skill I believe is important, so I have paper and sticky notes available for them when needed and they love that freedom of being treated like their notes are important.
Also, I think it is important to have a reading- for-pleasure area in the classroom so that kids learn reading is not "work" but for pleasure or reading for information. Unfortunately, I had to loan out my couch and chair this year because some students on my caseload couldn't handle that free area. I will try again next year; it looks like next year's caseload could use it responsibly.
I like the idea the reading is for pleasure not a work time. As teachers we need to see that reading can be fun and not make it always about work,scores and testing.
I like your idea of having a special place in the classroom for reading for pleasure as an option for students. I think as long as students know their boundaries and the teacher's expectations in that area, they will use it correctly for its purpose. Also, they will probably like having that independence to go there to read for fun.
I like the idea of writing notes and reading for pleasure. I think too much emphasis is put on reading so you can take a test! I know I do not want to read for that reason.
I have a huge pile of pillows in one corner of my room. After students have finished an assignment, they go grab a pillow and curl up on the floor to read. It is not uncommon for my students to be sprawled all over in my room. Each one has a favorite pillow and spot they prefer for reading.
I also encourage my students to use the city library. We have some books in the school library that have a waiting list. I tell my students to go to the public library, not sure if they ever do?
I have a class library that has books on many different levels. I have children's books, novels, classics. I have students that who are not my students come in to borrow books. I also have rarely told my children no if they want to buy a book. I also sometimes sit down with students and read with them or sometimes just beside them to show them that reading can be enjoyable.
I also have seen students find that one book that lights their fire for reading. I had a student a few years ago who never read a book until someone loaned her the twilight series. Even now you hardly see her without a book. One time she asked me if I could believe that on vacation she spent her money on books!
My room is a little different since I am a speech-language pathologist but I do teach language through literature. Hopefully, I am creating a desire for students to want to read more through the book studies and activities I present. I have books out at all times and incorporate them in articulation practice as well.
I love the thought of developing lifelong readers in all of our kids. It can kind-of seem hard or difficult with the level of difficulty that our students have with reading. I have a basket full of books that the kids can look through whenever they are done with their work. I, within the last month or so, have started going to the library and getting audio books for my kids to listen to. One of my students has asked for particular books, and I have made sure that I found those books. They really seem to enjoy the library selections. When I taught older students, I loved just sitting and chatting about books that they were reading and taking their suggestions. I stumbled upon the Persy Jackson books (and others by Rick Riordan) a recommendation by one of my students and actually loved the entire series! I had other students who did the same thing. Modeling reading and talking about reading will help facilitate that love.
When I taught regular education I always had shelves with a wide variety of books from low to high level and genres. Students could always go pick books off my shelf and I had the old time library cards that they wrote their names on and put it in the box on my desk. When they are done they can check it back in and get a new one if they wanted. I would find students who would spend long periods of time over there looking to see what I had and they would try things and then decide if they liked it or not. If it was a series of books I would let the student know that if they like that one it they could get the next one in the school library or such. The school where I taught every spring cleaned out their library books and I would spend hours down there looking through the books she had to give away and I would fill my library with new books.
I know I have mentioned this before, but I really like using audio books. Students can follow along in their copy and access books at they interest level way beyond what their ability to read the words is. Audio books really make developing a love for reading accessible for students who stumble with decoding the words.
I love the idea of having a library in my room. I also like the idea of letting the students making reading recommendations not only to each other but also to me. I also feel that if I had a libray in my room students wouldnt feel embarrassed to read books at their level and they might try other books.
I'm a librarian at heart but with an itinerant position, that isn't always possible to convey to my students. Have we talked about genre goals? This is the second year I've worked with gen-ed teachers who used this form and it's so helpful. Typically I am going to work with kids who love to read as a gifted facilitator, but that doesn't mean that they will necessarily want to read outside their comfort zones. This helps put some "teeth" into meeting a broader goal and really doesn't feel punitive to the kids.
Recently I used a graphic novel, obtained from the county library to help build comprehension of an old classic that we truly struggled with, then followed it up with a fairly modern-day movie. Now I'm confident that we can get through that dry and stuffy reading material. I talked about how the American public doesn't usually like to read books and tried to appealed to this student's ego/ intelligence. In the past, I usually have tried to follow their "bent" because it's one way for them to be less frustrated with the school day, however, some kids do need to be more well-versed in a broader view of literature & genres.
I do a lot of traveling to meet the needs of my students. I don't have my own classroom so I try to bring multiple books for the students to choose from when we read. Sometimes I try to just use the last few minutes to read with them. Other times I check for understanding. If I were to have my own classroom with students in there daily, I would present a wide range of texts for the students to choose from. I would also try the journalling aspect. This gets the students writing along with reading. Reading aloud a text together can also assist the students in increasing their vocabulary. Showing my love for reading will hopefully carry over and lead them to loving reading also. When there is free time, allowing the students to read would also assist in developing life long readers.
ReplyDeleteWhen you are a traveling teacher, it is very difficult to take everything you would like to have between classrooms. When I drove between buildings long ago, my vehicle was divided into seat sections for different schools. Heaven help the person who got in and shuffled my piles into one mess! I believe in reading during free time and if a book has captured the reader’s interest, they are willing to read if there is a break. It’s so exciting to see students pick up a book to read, especially when it’s by their choice and not by instructions!
DeleteI have a student who likes to walk down the halls with a book in hand and reading it! She always has a book, or 2 around her.
DeleteI like the idea of a ‘real’ library in the classroom. I get books from our county library that are being discarded, but would like to add more books with more current publication dates. I would like to be able to purchase books that are being ‘buzzed’ about by students. I would have a time allotment daily for students to read a book of choice, not one assigned by a teacher. I think to learn to love reading, we have to give students a chance to read what they choose to read.
ReplyDeleteI definately agree with your statement about kids needing a chance to read what they're interested in to become book lovers.
DeleteYes it is about choice of their reading. If you pick up a book not on your interest level you probably would not read it either but if it is something you want to learn more about then reading is more enjoyable on all levels
DeleteI Try to have books that interest students close to there reading level and sometimes they like to pick up books that are below there level. I let them read below their reading level now and them. I have favorite children's books I like to read.
DeleteI too get outdated books from libraries rather than the new up-and-coming ones. Updating would cost me more, but would enhance the kids' excitement.
DeleteI totally agree with your statement about students needing a chance to read things that they are interested in. That is definitely a way to hook them in. I didn't realize you could get outdated books from the library. Great idea!
DeleteI get library culls and buy used. Sometimes you can get used books through Better World Books on a promotional price and not have to pay shipping!
DeleteWhat about e-books for iPads? I recently searched and found a few free books for download.
Being a traveling teacher I have to think different. At the High School I meet with students in the library so we often look at book selections. I have books of mine that I have read with students that loan out to kids. I also read books that students recommend to me, has made me read out of my comfort zone. Encouraging students to use the city library, especially during the summer, makes them more aware of resources. I am going to give a book commercial to a group after state testing and then they are going to do one. I want to be a book advocate!
ReplyDeleteIt is hard for me to read books that I am not as interested in, however, I know I need to if I am going to reach all the students and thier interests. If I have not read some of the books they are reading, how will I be able to relate to them. I also have to read books that are recommended to me or the studnets won't want to read the books I recommend to them. This is a way to earn trust with the students and be able to talk with them about their interests.
DeleteI let my son choose the audio book we listened to traveling on spring break. Not my interest but it did catch my attention and we couldn't wait to get back on the car to see what would happen next. So yes our students do take us out of our comfort level.
DeleteIf I were a classroom teacher, I would have shelves of books and have them organized in some type of order, depending on the age group of my students. (You should see my basement shelves, I have my own library at home!) I would always have at least 2 books on my desk - a book of my choice to read during free reading time, and a book that I read to the class. I would try to use a few alternatives for teaching reading that the author suggests, and really focus on my students' reading interests by letting them have choices in their reading. I think teaching students about how to know the difference in genres is important, as well as keeping a reading notebook.
ReplyDeleteYes I think it is about the interest of the students that brings in reading to your classroom. I feel there are so many ways to pull in reading to the classroom but often times teachers are so concerned about this is what I have to get into my day and reading is not one of them unless it is a worksheet or paper based learning. I know in the younger years when AR is going on students get excited about reading to get to go to the AR store but what about for higher grades does that just stop?
DeleteI feel that if I had my own classroom I would encourage reading by having a topic area and setting it up according to topic area. I would have a variety of books relating to the subjects that may be taught for that week, I would encourage students that anytime there is a free time to sit and read or look at a book. I am discussing this from a early childhood point of view, during rotation of centers every child would rotate into the reading center where they would have to explain their book after they have had time to look at it to an adult and answer WH questions? Just observing many classrooms reading is not encouraged as often as I feel it needs to be. I hear teachers say the book center is always open but you don't see a full rotation going out of the center. I feel that every child needs to have the rotation of the book center while this is preschool area the students will not be able to read it to you but they can take a picture walk while predicting, and being able to make connections with the pictures and words.
ReplyDeleteCher,
DeleteI agree with you about having the book center be on the rotation with centers. Also, it would be best to have an adult at that center, especially early on. That way the students can see what is expected at that center by looking at the books, talking about them, and getting exicted about reading. The adult could read to them at times, and then ask the students to "read" the books back to her or the other children. Once the students "catch on" to what to do in the center, I think they would be more excited about going there.
I do work with a teacher that uses book centers as rotations with an adult facilitating it. She has four different levels of books ready, on a topic they are learning about. Whenever her groups go in there, they get a yellow level, green level, etc. Her books are even in boxes the same color as the AR dots.
DeleteI agree with the thought that each child needs to be directed to the reading center. There are many fun activities to do there if the teacher would have a book of the week. The students could be retelling the stories with puppets and flannel board pieces. I see the same thing in the room I am in. She assigns students to centers, but the reading center is never assigned and no one ever goes there. Too bad:(
DeleteI love the idea of having the book center as part of the center rotation. I know that my students love using the flannel board pieces that I have out for stories that I read. My students will sometimes choose to read a book when they are in center time, but I should totally encourage it more!
DeleteI am impressed with her classroom library. Mine is miniature compared to hers! Whenever there are "free" books in the teachers lounge I try to get as many as possible for my classroom but those are the ones that are outdated and books that students are not interested in. I think if I had a classroom library like hers it would be easier to promote lifelong readers because I would have an awesome selection for students to choose from! Every year I use some of my money on buying books that students are interested in reading, most are more current books but I do try to obtain some classics as well.
ReplyDeleteAnother thing is letting the students see the teacher reading and enjoy reading. When teachers talk to students about books they have read it shows students that teachers read because they want to not because they have to being a teacher. I like the teacher thinking outside the box when it comes to reading and not conforming to tradition, students in this grade have to read certain books, etc...
She has so many books that by the end of the year students are able to find what book types interests them.
I am jealous of the author's classroom where students are surrounded by books. I had a room like that when I taught jr. high reading and title I. I too buy the books for my classroom out of my pocket, and therefore, I only buy a few each year. My collection is expanding at a snails pace.
DeleteI believe using functional written communication in front of the kids is important. When they see how we use reading and writing in everyday settings, I hope that they recognize its importance. I read an write notes in my planner and have them send & bring messages to & from my classroom teachers. Also, writing & using lists is a skill I believe is important, so I have paper and sticky notes available for them when needed and they love that freedom of being treated like their notes are important.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I think it is important to have a reading- for-pleasure area in the classroom so that kids learn reading is not "work" but for pleasure or reading for information. Unfortunately, I had to loan out my couch and chair this year because some students on my caseload couldn't handle that free area. I will try again next year; it looks like next year's caseload could use it responsibly.
I like the idea the reading is for pleasure not a work time. As teachers we need to see that reading can be fun and not make it always about work,scores and testing.
DeleteI like your idea of having a special place in the classroom for reading for pleasure as an option for students. I think as long as students know their boundaries and the teacher's expectations in that area, they will use it correctly for its purpose. Also, they will probably like having that independence to go there to read for fun.
DeleteI like the idea of writing notes and reading for pleasure. I think too much emphasis is put on reading so you can take a test! I know I do not want to read for that reason.
DeleteI have a huge pile of pillows in one corner of my room. After students have finished an assignment, they go grab a pillow and curl up on the floor to read. It is not uncommon for my students to be sprawled all over in my room. Each one has a favorite pillow and spot they prefer for reading.
DeleteReply to Angela;
ReplyDeleteI would like to organize my books by genre also. I think it might help some students figure out what types of books they like!
Reply to Kim;
ReplyDeleteI also encourage my students to use the city library. We have some books in the school library that have a waiting list. I tell my students to go to the public library, not sure if they ever do?
I have a class library that has books on many different levels. I have children's books, novels, classics. I have students that who are not my students come in to borrow books. I also have rarely told my children no if they want to buy a book. I also sometimes sit down with students and read with them or sometimes just beside them to show them that reading can be enjoyable.
ReplyDeleteI also have seen students find that one book that lights their fire for reading. I had a student a few years ago who never read a book until someone loaned her the twilight series. Even now you hardly see her without a book. One time she asked me if I could believe that on vacation she spent her money on books!
DeleteMy room is a little different since I am a speech-language pathologist but I do teach language through literature. Hopefully, I am creating a desire for students to want to read more through the book studies and activities I present. I have books out at all times and incorporate them in articulation practice as well.
ReplyDeleteI love the thought of developing lifelong readers in all of our kids. It can kind-of seem hard or difficult with the level of difficulty that our students have with reading. I have a basket full of books that the kids can look through whenever they are done with their work. I, within the last month or so, have started going to the library and getting audio books for my kids to listen to. One of my students has asked for particular books, and I have made sure that I found those books. They really seem to enjoy the library selections. When I taught older students, I loved just sitting and chatting about books that they were reading and taking their suggestions. I stumbled upon the Persy Jackson books (and others by Rick Riordan) a recommendation by one of my students and actually loved the entire series! I had other students who did the same thing. Modeling reading and talking about reading will help facilitate that love.
ReplyDeleteWhen I taught regular education I always had shelves with a wide variety of books from low to high level and genres. Students could always go pick books off my shelf and I had the old time library cards that they wrote their names on and put it in the box on my desk. When they are done they can check it back in and get a new one if they wanted. I would find students who would spend long periods of time over there looking to see what I had and they would try things and then decide if they liked it or not. If it was a series of books I would let the student know that if they like that one it they could get the next one in the school library or such. The school where I taught every spring cleaned out their library books and I would spend hours down there looking through the books she had to give away and I would fill my library with new books.
ReplyDeleteI would love to do this in my classroom. What a neat idea!! Plus is would give so much insight on what kinds of books my students were drawn to.
DeleteI know I have mentioned this before, but I really like using audio books. Students can follow along in their copy and access books at they interest level way beyond what their ability to read the words is. Audio books really make developing a love for reading accessible for students who stumble with decoding the words.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree I like audio books as well.
DeleteI love the idea of having a library in my room. I also like the idea of letting the students making reading recommendations not only to each other but also to me. I also feel that if I had a libray in my room students wouldnt feel embarrassed to read books at their level and they might try other books.
ReplyDeleteI'm a librarian at heart but with an itinerant position, that isn't always possible to convey to my students. Have we talked about genre goals? This is the second year I've worked with gen-ed teachers who used this form and it's so helpful. Typically I am going to work with kids who love to read as a gifted facilitator, but that doesn't mean that they will necessarily want to read outside their comfort zones. This helps put some "teeth" into meeting a broader goal and really doesn't feel punitive to the kids.
ReplyDeleteRecently I used a graphic novel, obtained from the county library to help build comprehension of an old classic that we truly struggled with, then followed it up with a fairly modern-day movie. Now I'm confident that we can get through that dry and stuffy reading material. I talked about how the American public doesn't usually like to read books and tried to appealed to this student's ego/ intelligence. In the past, I usually have tried to follow their "bent" because it's one way for them to be less frustrated with the school day, however, some kids do need to be more well-versed in a broader view of literature & genres.