Julie Brown
September Blog
Post #2
Teacher As an
Active Participant
Well, we know that
the focus is on independent reading. There is a plethora of information in this
section of the book to back up the fact that more time spent reading
self-selected texts is linked to becoming a better reader. Thanks to our
reading coaches we have also learned that teachers play an active role in this
independent reading. “For IR to succeed,
the teacher must be an active participant.
She cannot sit on the sidelines and just watch what is going on.” The author points out five challenges for
teachers near the end of the article.
When we are allowing for independent reading time in the classroom,
teachers need to help students choose the right books. Teachers need to provide a significant amount
of time in class for this reading to take place. Teachers must support readers during the
process with questioning and conferencing.
Teachers must provide instruction on reading strategies. Finally, teachers must allow for small group
discussions. When we begin to look at
independent reading as another method of teaching rather than just wasted time
in the classroom, then we will be more inclined to do it. The way to make it a viable method of
teaching is to have that teacher interaction.
Just as an aside…….I
have to point out that we want the students’ reading material to be
self-selected; however, we want them to read so many books in each genre. Hmmmm.
I personally would NEVER choose history, poetry, science fiction, a
folktale, or really even informational books.
SO there is that small hurdle……How do we get kids to select
different genres?
Julie, Mrs. James is having her 5th graders complete a 40 book challenge that requires books of various genres.
ReplyDeleteI remember SSR years ago . . . while students were reading quietly, I was using that time to get a few housekeeping things done. I wish I had known then how much opportunity I was wasting. It is so important to conference with students. It gives us so much information and allows us to "guide" their "choices." I agree that it is hard to find the balance in giving them choice AND encouraging them to read different genres. Even as an adult, I tend to read the same genres over and over. I think if we encourage them to TRY different genres from time to time (kind of like we do food) they will discover they really do enjoy genres they might not have ever experienced. It is a fine line. . . and once again a tight rope that is hard to walk. Our jobs are definitely not cut and dry!
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