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Home : 2001 : December : 30
I think you are right about the "psychologist." That person just doesn't understand the joy we derive from finding something that works for our kids or how much fun we have talking about it! I agree that GR
Here's what I require for homework in reading. Keep in mind we are 5th graders, and we do an individualized reader's workshop where students may choose any book off our classroom shelves or from our school library as their literature book for reading and responding. We have a minimum daily requirement to read at least 20 pages. If that reading requirement is not met during the school day, it's homework. The way I keep track of whether a student has read his/her 20 pages is tricky. I've tried lots of methods, but now I record estimated deadlines for finishing books on a blank calendar. Here's how it works. After selecting a new book and before beginning to read, students figure out which day they should complete their book. (Total # of pages divided by 20 pages = how many days you'll have to read before you finish your book. For example: 240 pages divided by 20 pages == 12 days of reading to finish your book.) Then they go to the calendar and count off what day they should be finished with their book and write their name and book title on the appropriate date on the calendar. We only count school days -- not weekends or holidays -- so most students finish their books long before these estimated deadlines. In the meantime I can check the calendar anytime to see where a student should be before he/she falls too far behind. It doesn't take long to figure out which students need consistant monitoring to stay on track. We also have a regular reading assignment for homework: Read 20 minutes at home. (If students have not read their 20 pages for the day, they may do it as part of their 20-minute-at-home assignment.) Now as to how I hold them accountable -- that's even trickier than the 20 pages a day. I ask parents (who are supposed to sign their child's planner every night) to put a little smiley face next to the "Read 20 minutes" entry in the planner. You'd think that would be easy -- right? I sent home an letter about how reading is all set up with an a very specific outline of what I expect of students and parents and even had parents return a slip indicating they had reviewed our reading plan with their child. Well, at conference time several parents told me that their children assure them daily that they have already completed their 20 minutes of reading AT HOME that day AT SCHOOL!!!! Now how in the world is that possible? It is very difficult to enforce, but I won't take it off the assignment board! I'll keep on trying. I intend to be stricter at the beginning of 4th next year (famous last words!). I did see in the GRW book that they advocate 30 minutes each night as homework. I did not read on far enough to determine how they monitor that assignment. I am sorry this is so long, but I get all wound up when I talk about what I'm doing in my classroom. I am hoping if I am specific enough, you'll be able to understand and maybe use something I've said in all the rambling. But I have an even more selfish reason for saying everything. I am hoping that you may see an area, perhaps a real weak spot, that can be strengthened/improved/made easier by sharing your expertise. As far as being ahead of you by doing literature groups, I learned to use them about 5 years ago from a buddy teacher and yet another book -- written by Penny Strube and published by Scholastic. Okay, I'm all reved up now. I think I'll go read a bit in the book. I'll try to find which page I found mention of reading at home for 30 minutes. I am tempted (VERY tempted) to up our daily homework to 30 minutes at the beginning of third quarter. That would give me an excuse to send home another note about reading homework. However, I don't know if I'd require 30 minutes for 4th graders. What do you think? Elaine
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