Lower Readers

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Home : 2002 : January : 27

Lower Readers
By Elaine

I have felt the same way about some of my lower readers. It sometimes feels like a full-time job just keeping them on-task. But then I stop and think how difficult it would be get on-task and stay on-task if the book I'm
reading is too difficult for me to read independently.
That may not be your students' problem, but I find I don't have too many choices of really good books for my lower readers. Our school's literature choices are often higher level than even my best readers in 4th grade. I have gone searching for high interest lower reading level books and they just aren't the same. Here's how

I've solved some of my problems in this area this year. I've purchased (my own $$$$) books on tape. I buy the highest interest books/tapes regardless of reading level. I also purchased cheap ($5.00 at Walmart) cassette players (not recorders) that come with headphones. I have students who listen to these tapes and follow along with their books. I also have 3 students who listen/read (in a storage room just across the hall from our classroom door) to a book together on our boom-box. They are currently reading BUD, NOT BUDDY and are absolutely loving it.

I also have used a point system where students are able to earn points for their reading grade according to their on-task behavior during reader's workshop. We brainstorm together what on-task behavior would look like and sound like, and establish a point system on which they are graded. It does not work for all students but it's worth a try.

Another important thing to remember is modeling. Model (I do this by acting it out.) exactly the kind of behavior I expect during reader's workshop. I also establish a rule about interrupting a discussion group. "Don't do it unless you are almost ready to die!!!!!!" Somewhere on these Boards I saw a teachers list of acceptable reasons for interrupting a group. I can't quite recall the whole list but it included "bleeding" and "throwing up." It made me laugh but it also emphasized the improtance of protecting group time from uneccesary interruptions.
Good Luck,
Elaine