silent reading

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Home : 2003 : July : 26

silent reading
By Sue

I call my silent reading time DEAR (drop everything and read). My second grade students come in from morning recess and immediately go to DEAR. I split the kids up into 5 groups (no ability grouping, just friendly groups)
and assign each group a different area in the room for the day. We have a reading loft, carpet area, hallway, seats, and kidney table (usually UNDER the kidney table!) They rotate each day so each group reads in each spot during the week.
I have my books in 5 different baskets, making sure to have a large variety of levels in each basket. Each group is assigned to a basket for 1 week.

At the end of 5 weeks I put new books in each basket.

To keep track of who is where and in which basket, I make a label for each group with all their names, a label for each basket, and a label with each area of the room. I attach magnets and use the side of my file cabnet.

I have not had any problems with discipline. The students are so excited to see their "new" books each week and their new spot each day. They love DEAR time and beg to "have DEAR" several times each day!