Selecting Independent Reading

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Support Independent Reading at Home:
• To support independent reading at home, I will ensure that students have access to books that interest and appropriately challenge them. I would love to invite the public library to class before school gets out. They can promote events, share great reading programs, and have students’ sign-up for a library card (Miller). I will also look into book drives and gift old books from my personal class collection. If students have access to books that are meaningful to them, they are more likely to read at home.
• It is important to get parents involved in ways to make reading meaningful to kids. I will share a variety of resources, websites, library hours, and reading strategies with parents. I will encourage …show more content…

I love the idea of featuring books by propping them up on a ledge, “Mystery check-out Day” and having a “book sale” to expose students to books. Students are more likely to choose a book they know something about. (Gambrell). A “readbox” is a great way to highlight favorite books, new releases, and best-loved authors (TeachThought Staff). If we increase the number of books that students know about, they are more likely to choose that book (Gambrell).
• It is also important for students to make recommendations and talk to each other. Group discussions and pair-shares are techniques that encourage students to share the stories, characters, plots, and their reactions to a book. It also gives students an opportunity to listen to what their classmates are reading (Westmoreland). Talking about a book with others increases curiosity, confidence, interest, and engagement …show more content…

I would begin the year by creating an interest survey and try to connect books that match their personal interest. It is important to offer a diversity of text, find books relevant to their lives, match fiction to their emotional age, non-fiction matches their reading level (Miller). I will also provide “bounded choice” by collecting 4-5 books that are appropriate and interesting to the individual student and have them a choose which book to read (Gambrell).
• It is important to set aside time for independent reading (15-20 minutes is recommended). Read alouds are a great way to model reading, build vocabulary and comprehension, discuss meaningful and current topics, and spend quality time with students (TeachThought Staff).

References:
8 Alternatives to Reading Logs for Student Accountability. (2017, June 30). from http://www.booksourcebanter.com/2017/06/30/alternatives-to-reading-logs-student-accountability/ Gambrell, L. B. (2011). Seven Rules of Engagement: Whats Most Important to Know About
Motivation to Read. The Reading Teacher, 65(3), 172-178. doi:10.1002/trtr.01024
Gambrell, L.B. Teachers ask... How can I help my students choose good books for independent reading? Staff, T. (2017, July 10). 25 Ways Schools Can Promote Literacy and Independent Reading. from

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