First, I love how Donnalyn writes. I can just picture her with her students. I'm impressed with how she begins the school year. What a wonderful message she sends to the children! Not only are they expected to read, but she takes the time to choose what she feels are books the students will enjoy. I talked books, but if I was in a classroom now, I'd try to emulate that--if I had the time with 90 students to work with, it would sure take a lot of time! But I'm betting it's worth it!
Re: leveling. I've struggled with this issue for most of the past 15 years, first as a classroom teacher, then as a literacy coach. What students choose is also a result of what else goes on in the literacy block. If there is no time for guided reading, adjustments need to be made. Here is what I've come to believe. 1. There is no right way to meet the needs of individual students. Each community is different. In one school I worked, we had students in 7th grade who had never completely read a novel or who read at a 1st or 2nd grade level. Finding books for seventh graders who read at a 2nd grade level is a real challenge! In another school district, the students scored high in the state tests. I wanted them to read challenging books. 2. For the developing readers, I'd let them read anything if they were reading. If they choose texts that were too difficult, I'd conference with them when they have gotten several chapters into the book. If they couldn't re tell what was happening, I'd explain that I not only want them to read the words, but understand the text. I'd try to help them understand that the book wasn't quite right for them now, but they could put it away for later. I like asking the students to make a plan--that's a great idea! 3. For the dormant readers, I'd also let them read anything. If they continued to choose too easy text, I'd recommend a slightly more difficult author on the same theme or genre. I remember my colleague turning on students to Lois Duncan. Our library had a hard time keeping those on the shelf! 4. For the underground readers, this depended on the community. In the affluent district where I worked, parents were rightfully concerned that their students were not reading challenging text. We changed our independent reading to help students choose text where they could actually practice those strategies. After hearing Ellin Keene, I realized that by reading too easy text, students were not allowed the opportunity to practice the strategies. So, we pushed students to read slightly challenging text. I'm loving the discussion and very happy that I was able to get the book from our public library! However, if I were still teaching, I'd definitely get my own copy. Carol ----- Original Message ----- From: "judy fiene" <jfie...@gmail.com> To: "Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group" <mosaic@literacyworkshop.org> Sent: Wednesday, July 14, 2010 6:26:40 AM Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] Book Whisperer - ch 2 I would never discourage a student from reading a book in which they were interested. The only time this would happen is if the book was not at the student's emotional level. Our goal as teachers is to find that "magic book" that will get them hooked for life. Usually, life long readers have one. I teach my preservice teachers (yes, I am one of those people) the 5 finger test. I'm sure all of you know of that test, but I have a different take on the ending. One finger -- "easy book" -- good place to practice their fluency. Two or three fingers up -- "just right" -- good place to practice decoding and comprehension strategies. More than five fingers up -- this is their "challenge" book and they need a plan. They don't need to put it down -- just find a plan. Are they going to get the book on tape? Are they going to read it with someone? Are they just going to look at the pictures? Whatever the plan, I accept it -- THEY are the keepers of the plan -- not me. As readers ourselves -- we make plans when we decide to read. Think about it....a research paper, I need the TV off and at my desk, no distractions....a book by Nora Roberts, I could be on the couch and the TV could even be on, reading the paper, I could skim it and just look at the captions for insight... So...when I conference with them -- we discuss the type of book they are reading (easy, just right, challenge) and go from there. As you all know comprehension is at all levels. Our ultimate goal is to get our students to pick up a book and read -- because they WANT to not because they HAVE to. Judy On Tue, Jul 13, 2010 at 7:33 PM, <suzteac...@aol.com> wrote: > > I have trouble allowing total free choice because it is so important that > students are reading books at the appropriate level. We were highly > encouraged to tell students that they could not read "Harry Potter" or > "Twilight" > if we know that the book level is too difficult. We were coached at how we > could help the kids come up with these conclusions on their own. I still > felt that I was the one saying no. This makes me uncomfortable. > > > "even the kids who struggle to read these can pair up with a higher reading > > partner for interesting reading and discussions!" > > This sounds like a good plan, except that at books as long as the ones i > mentioned, it would take forever to get through them. > > Suzanne/4th/NY > _______________________________________________ > 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. > > -- Judy Please consider the environment before printing this message. _______________________________________________ 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.
