Not This

Our goal as reading teachers is really challenged here.  Are we only to pass along reading skills, or are we to set up students as life-long readers?  This article clearly stated that independent reading, although hard to fit in a teacher’s jam-packed schedule, is essential to developing a child’s growth as a reader.

Teachers are encouraged to run classes more efficiently to carve out time for a “readers’ workshop”.  The researchers are sure that teachers will find pleasure in a time for just books, kids, and conversations.  Although many teachers could simplify procedures or eliminate fluff activities, I do think that some points made were invalid.  Calendar time is essential for the younger grades and should be repeated yearly.  Students still come to fourth grade not knowing the months of the year or how many days in a week. 

We all have seen a child have the same book for 3 weeks and never finish it, or go through 5 books in a ten minute span.  When set loose with no real goal or purpose, many students will not be successful readers.  During an independent reading time, teachers should be having conversations with students about book choice.  Teachers should be motivating students.  Teachers should be using students as peer models for reading.  Students should be able to get feedback from teachers on their reading progress.

With this approach, teachers will know that students ARE becoming better readers.