READING – We do it not because we HAVE to but because we WANT to!
Reading is a major focus in my classroom, and as we journey through the school year, I would like to share some of my thoughts about reading with you.
Reading is a skill. The only way to keep this skill sharp is to read – this holds true for ALL readers, even advanced readers. I do not have a set reading goal during the week, however, there will always be book projects in the wings! My students will have differing book projects that will be due throughout the year. I have several motivations for giving these projects. They require your student read outside of class. They require time-management and organizational skills that are often not present in the day-to-day classroom. They give my students opportunities to delve into what they read in unique ways and then share that with their peers. Most teachers will agree that 30 minutes of outside reading time is best, but more is even better!
I have worked hard to develop an extensive classroom library. This library has always been available to any student who wants to choose a book to read. Research shows that the availability of books is a major motivating factor in getting adolescents to read. Students who are surrounded by books at school and at home read more. Students who read more, read better. Given the unknown circumstances we will be facing if/when we return to the classroom, I will have to give further thought as to how to manage the physical checking out of books. We may need to rely more on digital books and/or books students purchase themselves. I will do all I can to ensure students have the texts they need for all assigned school requirements.
Gifted students often have very high levels of reading proficiency, which is fabulous! I try to select books that provide opportunity to delve deeper into the text. Some texts may seem "easy" to read, but are chosen for their complexity in theme, author's purpose, etc. Reading will generally be done in class Google Meets, so that discussion and questioning can be an integral part of the learning. I feel that advanced readers know how to read for basic comprehension, so my goal is to get them to read deeper. I want them to peel back the layers, like those of an onion, and see what lies beneath the obvious. For every novel, there will be a variety of assignments, journals, and projects to enhance our study of the book. For book projects, I encourage students to select books that will challenge them in ways that their recreational reading doesn’t.
I hope we have a great year of literacy. I so look forward to working with your student as we delve into the rich, wonderful world of words.
Reading is a major focus in my classroom, and as we journey through the school year, I would like to share some of my thoughts about reading with you.
Reading is a skill. The only way to keep this skill sharp is to read – this holds true for ALL readers, even advanced readers. I do not have a set reading goal during the week, however, there will always be book projects in the wings! My students will have differing book projects that will be due throughout the year. I have several motivations for giving these projects. They require your student read outside of class. They require time-management and organizational skills that are often not present in the day-to-day classroom. They give my students opportunities to delve into what they read in unique ways and then share that with their peers. Most teachers will agree that 30 minutes of outside reading time is best, but more is even better!
I have worked hard to develop an extensive classroom library. This library has always been available to any student who wants to choose a book to read. Research shows that the availability of books is a major motivating factor in getting adolescents to read. Students who are surrounded by books at school and at home read more. Students who read more, read better. Given the unknown circumstances we will be facing if/when we return to the classroom, I will have to give further thought as to how to manage the physical checking out of books. We may need to rely more on digital books and/or books students purchase themselves. I will do all I can to ensure students have the texts they need for all assigned school requirements.
Gifted students often have very high levels of reading proficiency, which is fabulous! I try to select books that provide opportunity to delve deeper into the text. Some texts may seem "easy" to read, but are chosen for their complexity in theme, author's purpose, etc. Reading will generally be done in class Google Meets, so that discussion and questioning can be an integral part of the learning. I feel that advanced readers know how to read for basic comprehension, so my goal is to get them to read deeper. I want them to peel back the layers, like those of an onion, and see what lies beneath the obvious. For every novel, there will be a variety of assignments, journals, and projects to enhance our study of the book. For book projects, I encourage students to select books that will challenge them in ways that their recreational reading doesn’t.
I hope we have a great year of literacy. I so look forward to working with your student as we delve into the rich, wonderful world of words.
