both ways

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both ways
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My students read with partners on Tuesdays. Sometimes I vary it, and have them do group reading--in 3s and 4s. They enjoy doing it. I have them choose a picture card to match up partners--i.e. the mouse card must find
the cheese, shoe to foot, dog to bone, etc. This ensures that the ability mix is varied each time. I let the partners/groups decide if they will read a paragraph at a time or a whole page.

But my kids have LOTS of silent reading time--about an hour a day. They enjoy that, too. During silent reading time, they read books they've chosen themselves. Partner reading is basal or

other reading I have chosen for them. Sometimes, however, I have 2 kids choose the same library book to read together, or I will let a higher level reader read aloud to a lower level reader. Last year that was a GREAT motivator for one little guy who wanted so badly to read the higher level books his buddy had. They read together, and eventually, the weaker reader had progressed to the same book level and could read the books on his own. He was so proud!

I should also have said we are an Accelerated Reading school. I know there are many pros and cons about the program, but I am a fan. My school has had exemplary ratings on our state tests for 3 years in a row. I know that AR has had a bearing on that.