BREAKFAST PROFESSIONAL LEARNINGGOLDFIELDS NETWORK

FEBRUARY, 2010

Independent reading in the classroom

What is independent reading?

Silent reading (USSR, DEAR)Silent reading (USSR, DEAR) Independent readingIndependent reading

Student chooses any book to read

Daily time to read (10-30 mins)

Optional classroom library

Book may be above or below reading level

No checking by teacherNo writing involvedNo teaching involvedNo reading goals set

Student chooses any book to read Teacher may guide selection Daily time to read (30 mins or

more) Excellent classroom library

essential Student reads mostly ‘just right’

books Teacher monitors comprehension Student keeps a reading record Teaching occurs during a

conference Teacher and student set reading

goals

Independent vs Silent Reading

Where does it fit in the literacy lesson?

Most teacher support

Least teacher support

Read aloud Shared reading

Guided reading

Independent reading

Whole class Independent or group Whole class

Mini lessonModelling a strategyDemonstration

•Independent reading•Individual conference•Response to reading•Small group focussed teaching:

Oral languageRead aloudShared readingGuided readingReciprocal readingLiterature circlesBook clubs

Reflection Share time

20% 60% 20%

The reading lesson

Text selection – I PICK

I PICK…. posters /anchor charts / bookmarks

“Until now, I never associated a successful independent reading program with a well- organised classroom library.” (Classroom teacher)

The issues:Teachers control how they are managedStudents don’t know how to select books they

can readThe book collection is too difficult for students

to accessToo little time has been set aside for reading

Classroom libraries

Visible, attractive and inviting area in the roomCollections of books, sorted according to

category (When students help create the library, they use it more.)

Levelled books, clearly labelled so that students can identify their level easily

(40-50% of books should be in this category)Supportive charts and postersStudent and teacher recommendations, ratings,

book talksUse your school librarian!!

“It really doesn’t matter much what kids read as long as they read and enjoy what they’re

reading.”(Regie Routman)

Book collections

Levelled textsAuthor collectionsGenre collectionsTopic collectionsSeries or character collectionsCurrent topic study collectionsOther texts- comics, maps, cards, songs, poems,

magazinesShared reading texts, guided reading textsBooks which have been read aloud Shared writing texts

Book boxes

Mostly ‘just right’ textsA selection of fiction and non-fictionEnough texts to read for the duration of IR

timeLog or journalPencilBookmarkHeadphones

Monitoring independent reading

ConferencesObservationsFocussed teaching groupsReflection timeStudent reading journals

Goldfields network literacy wiki

http://goldfieldsliteracy.wikispaces.com