Thursday, June 19, 2014

Reading in the Wild: Dedicate Time to Read

 
I am so glad that I'm a part of this summer book study! (It holds me accountable!)
Thank you Catherine from The Brown Bag Teacher for organizing an awesome book study!
These two wonderful bloggers are hosting this week's book study!
http://thirdgradebookworm.blogspot.com/2014/06/reading-in-wild-wild-readers-dedicate.html
I want to share with you what I read about in chapter 1 of Reading in the Wild (Wild Readers Dedicate Time to Read). When you read a book written by a reading guru like Donalyn Miller and learn that you do many of the things she suggests already in your class it makes you feel great about your practice. It confirmed some of my thinking for my reading classroom and gave me some things to tweak and think about. Let me share...
Donalyn Miller discusses the importance of providing students reading time at school and home, which we all know to be true, but sometimes can be challenging with schedules, state mandates, testing, the list goes on. I have independent every day. It is not a center in my classroom...my first year of teaching I realized that didn't work for me. I couldn't monitor their reading, it was loud, and I wasn't always sure if they were skipping or doubling up on the reading center since my groups change so much. So, while I pull my first guiding reading group everyone else is reading. It's perfect because if I finish early I can meet with individual students during this quiet time too. You just have to make sure you rotate which group you call first so the same group doesn't miss it every day.
 
To try to get my parents involved at home, I show this data at open house. I find it to be very eye opening to parents. (Donalyn uses different research in her book, but shows the same results...the more you read, the higher your reading achievement). I encourage my parents to have a family routine for reading time and to be readers in front of their children.
*This chart is a powerful tool to show parents.
 
One of the first things you should do in your reading classroom is build stamina for independent reading. I usually start off with about 10 minutes the first day and add five minutes a day as they are ready until we get to 30 minutes. I explain it's like runners practicing for a marathon, they don't run 26.2 miles the first time they run. We need to take small steps (together).
**I love the first day when I ask them to stop reading after 10 minutes because it's usually not enough time for 4th graders even at the beginning of the year and they get so mad! LOL! Of course, this builds excitement for the next day! I want my students to BEG me for reading time! Sometimes I surprise them with a Reading Recess (ooooh, aaaaah)! This year I plan to create a class graph of our progress. I think this visual will motivate my students to attain the 30 minute goal!
 
We talk about expectations before we begin our reading time, so the tone is set, but we revisit our chart after we read that first day after they observe other behaviors they want or don't want to see again. 
*This anchor chart was compiled by ideas from my class 2 years ago. I make a new one each year.
 
After a couple days of reading, I notice some of my students aren't "reading", so we meet on the carpet to create an anchor chart of what they think fake reading and real reading looks like. I love when they spill all their "fake" reading secrets! Oops!
*This anchor chart was compiled by ideas from my class 2 years ago. I make a new one each year.

One of the ideas I want to implement from Donalyn is recording my observations (for several days) from a student who is fake reading  and then use them when I conference with them. You know those students who spend most of their reading time "looking" for a book, distracted by every little thing around them, or those struggling students you know couldn't possible read The Yearling, but "'pretend" to read it anyway. This will be a powerful tool to use when conferring with them and setting reading goals.
 
Another idea shared by Donalyn (I like calling her by her first name like she's my friend!) was to talk with your class about their favorite places to read. I plan to record all their favorites to try to make sure our classroom is set up with an environment they will all be happy, motivated wild readers.
 
One of the challenges I face every year is giving my struggling readers enough time to read every day in class. Donalyn stresses the importance of allowing this time. "We reduce the effectiveness of reading interventions when we don't provide our lowest-performing students reading time and encouragement. Developing readers need more reading, not less." My problem is these students need double reading groups (I am the ESE/Resource push-in class) and need to be "remediated" more often so they lose that time to read independently. I need to balance my schedule and rotation of groups better so these students can practice the skills and strategies I've taught while reading on their own. Definitely one of my high priority goals for next school year.
 
**Do you have any suggestions or tips for carving out more time for struggling readers?
I'd love to hear your suggestions or thoughts about this post!
 
Check out all the other great posts about this fabulous book! This subject is such a love for me so it's an easy read! Order a copy today to read along with us! You don't have to be a blogger to comment-the more we share, the more we learn!
 
 

19 comments:

  1. Hey friend!
    I love the idea of sharing that chart at open house!!! Great idea!!!! (Can you remind me to do that in August?!?) ;O)
    Love the anchor charts!!!!
    Amanda
    Collaboration Cuties

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  2. Love that chart....and it is so true. My high readers come to school and tell me they were supposed to be in bed, but were using their camping headlights and flashlights under the covers!
    Laurie
    Chickadee Jubilee

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  3. I completely agree with you about needing more reading time for our struggling readers. The last 20 minutes of class, I pull a small group while my other students are making a reading choice. The problem? My lowest students are typically in my small group and lose out on that time. The small group time is so valuable, but I also know they are missing out on that reading community...boo!

    Also, Reading Recess???? I'm so intrigued. :) Thanks so much for joining, friend!

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  4. Question - Is it necessary to read her other book first, before reading this one? The Book Whisperer. I'm wondering if I should get them both, or just try to catch up with you all with this one! Let me know what you think! THANKS!

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  5. Love your anchor charts as well as the data shared with parents. It's awesome that your students see "reading recess" as a fun surprise! That's the ultimate goal.

    Jessica
    Literacy Spark

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  6. It's so true about the struggling readers! So often I pull them for extra instruction. I need to remember to give them more time to actually read!! I love that you show your parents the research on reading and test scores! I need to add this component to my parent night!
    Rachel
    A Tall Drink of Water

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  7. Reading recess sounds like a fabulous idea! Thanks for sharing! ;-)
    xoxo
    Jivey

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  8. I would love to hear more about "reading recess"!

    I try to keep independent reading time as just that! No groups, everyone reading. This year we are revamping another part of our schedule & a suggestion was made to meet with a group of students during that time...I have not been happy about it from the beginning! After reading this, I am determined to find a DIFFERENT time in my schedule to pull that group! ALL of my students need independent reading!

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  10. Your anchor charts are such awesome resources. I'm SO glad you shared them with this post. The slide you use during Open House is such a great tool as well. Do you mind if I pass it along to our school translator? :)

    I have to agree with you on the stamina lessons as well. My Reader's Workshop has a little bit of Daily 5 mixed in it, and my 3rd graders love it. It's such a great feeling when we're working on stamina and we stop and you hear, "Noooooooo!" :)

    Looking forward to checking in with you throughout the study!

    Abby
    Third Grade Bookworm

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  11. This is an awesome book! I just saw Donalyn at a small conference I attended and she is as awesome in person as she is in her books. (Pictures are on my blog!!) One of the biggest changes I've made to my literacy block from reading her two books is to have at least 30 minutes of uninterrupted reading time every day for ALL of my students -- no interventions, no pull outs during this time. It has made a world of difference!

    Jennifer
    Mrs. Laffin's Laughings

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  12. I love the dig deep board! Can I borrow it? I was looking for a title for my anchor chart bulletin board and this would be perfect! I also really love the fake reader/real reader anchor chart. As a new teacher, I do not always spot fake reading. This would help me as well.

    Misty
    Think, Wonder, & Teach

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  13. Funny! I use the same analogy relating reading stamina to training for a marathon! I also tell students that even when they are strong readers, they have to continue practicing. After all, NBA players don't just shoot hoops on game days.
    pearlsinmyclassroom.wordpress.com

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  14. I am behind the 8 ball with getting my hands on this book....well I've had my hands on my teammate's copy but obviously need one of my own! We are remodeling our kitchen and it is eating my time up but I have got to get going! Love your anchors and post:) Thanks for the "spark";)
    4th Grade Frolics

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