To get assessments from independent reading, I use "inside the box". I have to look up the author but it is a book that has ideas and rubrics to use for independent reading......
--- On Fri, 7/9/10, hccarl...@comcast.net <hccarl...@comcast.net> wrote: From: hccarl...@comcast.net <hccarl...@comcast.net> Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] Chapter 1 (Book Whisperer) To: "Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group" <mosaic@literacyworkshop.org> Date: Friday, July 9, 2010, 12:54 PM I so agree with you. In my last district, we just about had a balanced literacy in place with a large place for independent reading. We were in the process of trying to get students to read challenging, rather than easy, text for independent reading. I had written lessons for the strategies for grades 3 through 5. Then, along came a new superintendent with his own personal curriculum director. Out went our balanced literacy and in came the basal. Teachers were told they had to use the basal exclusively and not use anything else! No time for lit circles! No time for independent reading! How sad! In my experience, independent reading is questioned because parents and administrators don't think teachers are "teaching". Unfortunately, the National Panel could not recommend independent reading as an effective practice because there is no "scientific" research to support. (Don't get me started on that.) When a colleague and I wanted to use Nancie Atwell's reading workshop approach in junior high in the early 1990's, our ass't superintendent told us "no." He thought others in our building would jump on the bandwagon, and then how would we provide all the books! Luckily, we convinced our principal, and she told us to go ahead. Of course, no one else wanted to follow us because it is a lot more work than using a basal or other canned programs. Our kids read more that year than others. Our scores kept even with the other teachers'. If we had mapped out skills, I think they would have improved more. We were kind of following Nancie. With all the other support now with Keene and Strategies that Work, we would have even more effective. I love independent reading! I just wish we could somehow measure how much students enjoy reading with this approach. Those students who are most at risk for turning off to reading, are the ones who need this the most but who most often don't get time for independent reading. Carol ----- Original Message ----- From: "Rhonda Brinkman" <rhonda.brink...@sendit.nodak.edu> To: "Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group" <mosaic@literacyworkshop.org> Sent: Thursday, July 8, 2010 10:16:00 AM Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] Chapter 1 (Book Whisperer) Suzanne, Laura and list, I can’t fathom the reason people question independent reading. Reading must be practiced and absorbed. I tell my students reading is just like practicing anything else. . . piano, basketball, soccer, painting etc. It seems in education we must always prove why something is working --- really??? BUT to say independent reading is not beneficial is just crazy! How else can students read if they don’t read?? I agree with Laura we must work to find the right book for the each student. Rhonda > Suzanne, > > You bring up an important point. The reason many of us fall into the trap > of making activities to go with the book is to have something to show the > kids "got it". We also want a product to put in a portfolio to > demonstrate to administrators that the children did indeed do the work. > There isn't a trust in the fact that given the opportunity to do so, kids > will read. I know that several teachers I have worked with have said the > kids are not really reading during independent reading. I feel it is > because they are not engaged, or invested in the text they are reading. > We as teachers have to trust that if we get the right books into kids > hands they will be engaged and reading. It is a great leap of faith. > > Laura > _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive.
