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Reading
By Kelly

Hi Margaret. I just finished taking a four week course on teaching reading, so I felt compelled to answer your post.
First off, MODEL, MODEL, MODEL. Model reading strategies (what do I do when I get to a word I don't
understand...skip, reread, substitute, etc). Also, model periodic comprehension checks (Stop as you are reading...for example, "Hmmm...so that means that Henry's father doesn't realize that Jon is missing"). Model predicting ("I think Henry's father is going to figure it out when he does the laundry"). Model a LOVE for reading - share with kids how reading affects your life, when you

read, appropriate excerpts from things you are reading, etc. Draft up your own reading log and share it with them. Have them create reading logs to keep track of what they are reading (If they label the genre they are reading it helps them to diversify when self-selecting books).

Try to make reading AUTHENTIC...use REAL literature, as well as a balance of fiction/non-fiction. Consider variety in text as well...children today need to be well-versed in reading and translating all types of texts (television, video, advertisements, newspapers, magazines, internet, etc.). Teach kids how to disect and "read" this information (look for bias, understand what is being sold, what perspective is taken, etc.).

Try to make literature follow-ups meaningful as well. Consider literature circles, or literature conversations (get kids TALKING about what they are reading). Ask MEANINGFUL questions to get them THINKING, not just "What colour was Bill's van?". There is tons of information about literature circles available. Keep in mind how often you do an "activity" after reading something. Meaningful extensions include author studies, reading response logs, reader's theatre, role-playing, etc.

This is also another very powerful thought from my textbook from the course (Conversations by Reggie Routman...FABULOUS BOOK): Sometimes we must just ask ourselves, "Would the timme be better spent with MORE reading?". Quite often, YES, and we forget this in our search for data/marks.

Get kids RELATING and REFLECTING on the literature. (Questions like...What did you feel as you read? What does this remind you of? How is the situation in the book different from something you have experienced? What did you wonder as you read?, etc.)

The other thing is to make sure to introduce each selection with lots of PREREADING stuff...activate children's prior knowledge about what they will be reading so that they can relate and file it appropriately in their brains. (Discuss a similar experience before reading, listen to music, do a prediction activity, etc.).

Above all though, GET KIDS EXCITED ABOUT READING. Make it fun, make it interesting, talk about it, have a "Book Club" where you drink juice and discuss books, etc.

I hope I haven't been preachy. I'm very enthused about this course and all of the great ideas and insights I've gained. If you want more information, please e-mail me.

Best of luck!