Encouraging independent reading in middle and high school is very important. Helping students gain and retain a love of reading can be challenging at times. This week on the #2ndaryELA Twitter Chat middle and high school teachers shared their ideas on independent reading. Chat has been curated to reflect the best tips and tricks.
Q1: What types of independent reading occurs in your classroom? Teacher or student selected?
- This year, we have Reading Labs every double period – 45 min SSR, with page goal of 250/quarter for Reg and 500/quarter Honors. A hit!
- I love Independent Reading. It is always student selected per my genre guideline for the month. 2peasandadog.com/2013/08/spice-up-your-book-reports.html
- Both… Independent reading of novels is mostly student selected. We follow the reader’s workshop model
- I do themed lit circles so students choose from usually 5 books on same theme for individual reading
- Started with coming of age theme last yr. Students could pick from a variety of books. Then grouped based on book they chose
- Every student has 40 min of individual reading built into school day. Students select books from library. Also do class novels
- When students finish their book for the month they can choose anything to read https://www.2peasandadog.com/2013/08/classroom-library-makeover.html
- Individual reading is huge for me this year. Tried 1 day/week in past but didn’t work. This year tried 15 min/day 3x/wk. Success!
- Student selected, but we do the 40 in 40 challenge to encourage students to read different genres
- In my Learning Strategies class, we have 1/2 teacher directed 1/2 independent reading every Wed. We all read the same book.
- Both – in my READ 180 class we do leveled/self selected, in ELA, mostly I choose because of homework time limits
- #NSUEngEd does Book Talks on own. They have to read a classic (usually taught), YAL, nonfiction, & PD.
- Student selected…the students choose a novel/text to read that is thematically similar to the text being examined in class
- Students have opportunity to do both self-selected books and class novel as independent reading activity. Choice matters! 🙂
- We also have a book challenge where students compete to see how many texts they can read outside of class
- Here is the PD book we did “line lifts” from last week. @KellyGToGo‘s In the Best Interest of Students
- Going to be starting book clubs…which are teacher selected books but students get to choose from the selection.
- Outside of sci lessons students rewarded for reading during down time (lunch line etc.) & 30 minutes of SSR before dismissal
Q2: How do you hold students accountable for their independent reading?
- I do book conferences with students. 1st quarter this was heavily guided and had more plot questions, but by now we chat more informally
- Students meet w/lit circles (students reading same book) & work on activities once a week. I circulate, see who participates
- Independent reading – so far, either Current Events or Book Talk/Sell This Book presentation
- I assign a monthly book assignment, sticky note responses, reading journals, small group discussions and conferences
- If class novel, complete reader’s response/participate in class discussion & culminating task.
- We use reader’s notebooks for students to gather their thoughts… I try and collect once a week
- They have to present a “reading rainbow”- like segment about their book
- I have a reading menu with various options for students to respond to; it helps show they’re reading but also gives them choice
- Authentic conversation. They share when exciting. I ask questions. No pressure, just enjoyment & they’re reading so much more
- This is tricky – we (the ELA dept.) use a reading log but …
- My students DISLIKE the reading log
- Students do 1-2 book talks a quarter
- It helps when students choose books based on their interests…provides that intrinsic motivation they need to keep reading!
- I’m thinking about doing book conferences in community circles this quarter. Double duty for meeting needs of students & tracking
- I also do book trailers… students love this… lots of fun to watch too. Gets other students interested in new books
- I use reader’s notebooks with a variety of tasks, but I really love to use blogging – kidblog has been awesome!
Q3: What are some of the best independent reading projects/assignments you use?
- Right now, I just do the books conferences, but next year, I will do Genre Reports by @2peasandadog. http://ow.ly/Xzme5
- Set a school-wide goal of all students reading 1,000,000 per year. We track word count publicly and analyze it weekly. Use AR to track
- Discussion, mostly. I don’t want to read a book report, I want to TALK about books! lol Also love Notice & Note signposts
- Fav assignment #1 Tweet sheets http://goo.gl/0dY5dZ Students create Twitter handles & write tweets from character’s POV
- Anything where students can create or make something new!
- Fav assign #2 Character silhouettes – Students fill the outline of chosen character with traits, quotes, etc.
- Thanks to @2peasandadog, I have had success with both Current Events (news) and Sell This Book
- So happy your students are loving these projects: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Oral-Presentations-Bundle-2042163?aref=dzQ2:5byv
- I have my students read a genre each month and reflect on it with a variety of assignments
- Book trailers are awesome! Students also like “character sketches” where they become a character with costumes, props, & scripts
- Students completed mini projects from a menu that had to total 100 pts. Gave choice which we know they love!
- Fav assign #3 Literary Postcards http://goo.gl/ZRK6He Students illustrate key scene & write from character’s POV
- Students may write a review for a book in template form but we’ve worked many incentives into reading I have some reading 3/week
- My class loves making novel tribute pages. They write a big idea/theme in the middle of a page
- Decorate the page based on the big idea/theme…include four pieces of evidence from the book somehow into the picture
- My students love comparing the book and the movie!
Q4: How do you track progress on independent reading projects?
- I keep a book log for each student, with titles, page counts, my recommendations, and their recommendations to other students (always a Q in the conference).
- Students do part 1 of Tweet Sheets in class http://goo.gl/0dY5dZ 2nd part is a way of summarizing their reading
- Participation in discussion. Small classes sizes (about 5-8 students) means everyone talks.
- AR, in room star charts, reading journals/logs
- I do lots of conferencing with the students…. need to check in on a regular basis
- Periodic check-ins/updates/status of the class and chapter due dates. The majority of my students enjoy reading, thankfully. Answer to post: Me too! I’m lucky. The ones that don’t still “buy in” because everyone is doing it together.
- I formally and informally conference with the students. I also use post it notes with questions to see their thinking
- I have made kids tell me the number of pages in their book and then divided by the number of days till the due date. Then using that info, I help them set a calendar.
- I want to try reading ladders but I’ve decided to put it off to next year
- I had students turn in three pieces of the project halfway through the quarter. I also do reading conferences
- Word count/book count trackers in each class and in cafe. Whole school gets weekly report from @firstresponses to analyze
- Book menu; allows students to select from a list of options to respond to
- If a reader has become stagnant I give them a goal of reading x pages by Friday & pass AR – when they do, they receive incentive
- Kids love it! Most get really excited for passing a quiz. We have quarterly incentives for reading
- Goodreads.com! A great site to share, discuss, get recommendations, etc.
- I use Google Classroom. I like to use the ask a question feature to post a question to check in about the reading
- I love ‘think’ pages – fill a whole page in notebook with all words, all images or a combo plus one quote
Q5: How do you motivate your students to complete independent reading in a timely manner?
- Students have a quarter grade, and draw slots for the conferences at the start of the quarter. It’s been a community. building experience since they all read
- We’ve worked hard to make reading a cool thing to do at school. Took several years of school wide effort
- Daily check-ins on logs, pump up reading a lot, staff PD on how to manage independent reading time, a functioning library
- Choosing good books, mostly, & student choice. Also, removal from discussion & having to do written response instead if behind
- Motivation is high for most, but not all. I try to make the project differentiated & fun as incentive for completion
- I have to give due dates for the reading and a grade for the final project
- Most of my students like reading because they have choice. I help the others with calendar method as previously mentioned
- Keeping it positive! Things that seem like punishment will only further deter a student from wanting to complete the reading
- My students love visiting my class library keeps motivation high
- Checking in late! It’s important to define “timely manner” up front. Set expectations and make it clear everyone is capable!
- Students do DEAR every Mon & Fri and do turn and talks with different partners. A lot of my students love to read
- I teach 8th grade and the biggest motivator is that they get a sticker when they finish a book. Stickers never get old!
- Weekly lit circle meetings help re-engage and excite students, also bookmarks to track progress
Other Great Reads
- 10 Books for Picky Middle School Readers
- 12 Ways a School Librarian Can Help Teachers
- 5 Classroom Library Myths
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