To Recently, students completed a reading reflection based on the past nine weeks of monitoring their independent using reading logs. Students reviewed the number of pages they read total since the beginning of September through the month of October and their individual reading rates based on a simple formula that starts with how many pages they read (comfortably and for comprehension) in ten minutes. They wrote about what they're noticing about their reading habits and about their reading skills. They also set a few goals for the rest of the semester.
What I noticed as I read kids' reflections is similar to what I have noticed in the past. Many students are committed to the work of reading not only when I give them independent reading time during class but also when they are at home. They shared how they regularly set aside time at home to read or how they read on the bus to events or in the car on the way to visit family. Others shared that they are discovering genres and authors that they enjoy. Still others wrote about the strides they feel they are making with their reading skills: wanting to try longer books, harder books; visualizing what they read; using clues to determine what unknown words mean. Overall, students are recognizing their strengths and weaknesses as readers.
Here is a sampling of what kids wrote in their reflections:
Do you notice a theme? The key to any student's success with independent reading is the book. Believe me; I have purchased many a book with a specific student in mind (actually, I just went off a Thriftbooks order yesterday), hoping to find the one that would lure a non-reader into the reading zone. Sometimes I'm successful; sometimes I'm not. Sometimes kids find the book while I'm their teacher; sometimes they don't. But I will not give up trying.
To assist me in my quest to find kids the right titles, the titles that will entice them into regular reading, check out the recommended lists I include on the reading page of this website . Christmas is around the corner, you know. : )
What I noticed as I read kids' reflections is similar to what I have noticed in the past. Many students are committed to the work of reading not only when I give them independent reading time during class but also when they are at home. They shared how they regularly set aside time at home to read or how they read on the bus to events or in the car on the way to visit family. Others shared that they are discovering genres and authors that they enjoy. Still others wrote about the strides they feel they are making with their reading skills: wanting to try longer books, harder books; visualizing what they read; using clues to determine what unknown words mean. Overall, students are recognizing their strengths and weaknesses as readers.
Here is a sampling of what kids wrote in their reflections:
- "When the school year started, all I would read is fanfiction. Now, I have noticed I read everything. Reading isn't supposed to feel like homework, people should read for enjoyment rather then making it feel like a dreadful assignment."
- "I don't like reading, I think it's because I'm not interested in the book I'm reading."
- "First, I thought that reading was boring, but then I found a book that was really good with a
genre of mystery which I really like. then after that when Mrs. Moege gave the book talk for
Maze Runner I wanted to read it. Then I got hooked and read then next book and I am now on
the third book." - "Sometimes i have been reading in the car, but I also read at my grandmas house,too. I try to push myself to read almost every night, but we sometimes have other things to do at night so i don't have time to just sit down and read a book. I try to find books that are challenging for me to get to be a BETTER reader."
- "To start off, what I've noticed the most is I'm reading way more than I did in 6th grade. I'm
finding books I like to read and enjoy reading. Last year I read only one book I actually enjoyed." - "I notice that I get a lot more pages done at school because there isn't electronics sitting in front of me and there's teachers walking around that are making sure I'm reading. If I get a really good book from the library or somewhere I will go home right away and sit in my chair and read till I want to be finished ..."
Do you notice a theme? The key to any student's success with independent reading is the book. Believe me; I have purchased many a book with a specific student in mind (actually, I just went off a Thriftbooks order yesterday), hoping to find the one that would lure a non-reader into the reading zone. Sometimes I'm successful; sometimes I'm not. Sometimes kids find the book while I'm their teacher; sometimes they don't. But I will not give up trying.
To assist me in my quest to find kids the right titles, the titles that will entice them into regular reading, check out the recommended lists I include on the reading page of this website . Christmas is around the corner, you know. : )