I highly doubt there are many teachers out there who debate the value of independent reading for elementary students. The NCTE has created a statement on independent reading that states the following: Independent reading leads to an increased volume of reading. The more one reads, the better one reads. The more one reads, the more knowledge of words and language one acquires. (See where ... Read the Post
Taking Reading Status with Independent Reading
Today I want to share with you a little something that I have done in different forms for YEARS. Do you take "status of the class"? It's so much more than tracking student reading. Taking reading status is literally one of my favorite times of the day. I call it... THE POWER OF CONNECTIONS! One of my favorite (and most valuable) times of my school day begins after lunch when my students ... Read the Post
10 Ways to Create a Culture for Reading
Developing a love of reading seems to come naturally for some students, but for some--it takes a loving teacher to make the magic happen! Check out these ten tips for getting started building a culture for reading in YOUR class! 1. Share YOUR love of reading. Whether you are in a "grown up" book club of your own or can simply model your love with HOW you read, how MUCH you read, or your ... Read the Post
Monday Made It: Status of the Class and more!
Holy Smokes...it's "Monday Made It" and I have a lonnnnnnnnnng post for you today--see if you can stick with it to the end! Thanks to Fourth Grade Frolics for the link up! So...to get things started, I feel that I need to give the disclaimer that the number one thing I made this week was... A MESS! That's right...I was cleaning in my classroom and cleaning in my office. ... Read the Post
Monday Made It! Travel Folders and more!
It's Monday Made It time already--and I've linked up with 4th Grade Frolics yet again! Make sure to check out all the great stuff! The reality of my dwindling days of summer has hit, so I have vowed to chip away at some of those tedious tasks that have to be done before that first day of school. This weekend I started work on my "Travel Folders". I know lots of people ... Read the Post
Launching Reader’s Workshop and Independent Reading
One thing I know to be true about fourth graders and intermediate students is that there is no ONE thing true about fourth graders and intermediate students. It seems like the longer I teach, the more compelled I am to find ways to group and individualize for students, but I have to admit--it is NOT easy for me. It isn't that I don't KNOW who the students are or what to do. It's that whole ... Read the Post
Why Mentor Texts?
There are a billion resources out there that are stressing the importance of using "mentor texts" to help students develop as readers and writers. I couldn't agree more! Studying what other writers do can not only help our students become better writers--but better readers as well! In fact, I think it's so important to dig into these texts that we keep an ongoing list in my class ... Read the Post