how to get it in

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how to get it in
By Carolyn

Each day I teach guided reading--whole class--since I am required to teach state standards for reading. By doing this, everybody will be guaranteed the opportunity to learn the same skills and at the same grade level. (I
teach fifth grade.)
My children leave for PE and other specials after we have guided reading and daily journal writing. Before they leave, they put their self-selected book onto their desk. When they return from specials, they immediately sit down and begin reading their book, since they know that this is their routine. I don't have them read for more than ten or fifteen minutes at

a time, since they do get restless after that amount of time. My children also take tests on the computer to check their comprehension on a given book. We have the Scholastic "Reading Counts!" program on our computer with corresponding tests for our school's book sets. We also occasionally do book talks on books to interest them in books that the children have read.

I have been told by the experts in workshops that we should not combine guided reading with self-selected reading. Guided reading is skill and comprehension practice. We don't use the same novel, for example, for self-selected reading as we use for guided reading. We are also not supposed to use skills practice in self-selected reading, which is supposed to be used strictly for enjoyment. I strongly encourage my students to select books which are no more than two grade levels below fifth grade.

In spite of our best intentions to get children to read, there is always the reluctant reader, or one who doesn't want to challenge himself to reading hard enough books. The child may choose a book which is way too easy. I think it's an important goal for children to select books which will interest them, but also help raise their reading level.

If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to e-mail me.