Tired of 'fake' reading?

[Jetta Lovett]

Jetta Lovett logging on....I currently teach Language Arts at Dilworth Middle School in Sparks. My classroom looks more like an elementary class, with student work plastered over every wall and colorful posters on the ceilings. I have a painting of a life-size elephant, Tantor, on the wall, that I adopted from Echo Loder. My shelves are packed with books so that my students can choose a book freely during SSR and other times throughout the day. I try to keep supplies orderly and available for all of my students. I work hard to be consistent, fair, and compassionate to all of my students. I have a passion for reading and writing, but sometimes feel inadequate with my own writing. I'd love to grow as a writer and become more empowered to give my students the feedback they need and deserve.

My topic will be revamping SSR. For years I have been frustrated with students who are pretending to read and write during this class. Over the years I have tried many different things with my students. One of which I will share with you, since I am having much success with it. However, a model is needed, that gets students predicting, questioning, clarifying, and summarizing. I will be using a text from Steve Gardiner, called Building Student Literacy through Sustained Silent Reading.

[Marcell Boyer]

Jetta,

I love the description of your classroom. Kids of all ages need the choice of selecting their own reading materials. I also am a strong advocate of throwing out teacher and store generated posters and replacing those with student generated work. Students are much more likely to pay attention to what is on the walls when they have had part in creating it. My first reaction to your description of your classroom was WOW! she is brave! I teach at an elementary school where my third grade classroom sticks out like a sore thumb. My walls are filled with student work and my shelves are filled with books, all accessible to my students. I was very concerned as I started this year as to how my student's parents were going to react to my classroom. So far my parents have been great. I do however, occassionally get interesting questions from my peers. I also recently found out that my classroom is one of the few that actually has Independent Reading (SSR) time everyday. A lot of the teachers here only allow it during Reading Month. So far no one has pushed me or formally questioned me on my teaching methods. I only hope that if someone does I am brave enough to stand up for what I believe students need.

For more ideas on getting students to predict, question, clarify, and summarize, I would highly recommend Super Six Comprehension Strategies: 35 Lessons and More for Reading Success by Lori Oczkus. Her work can be taken across all grade levels. She is also an excellent presenter if you ever get an opportunity to be some place where she is presenting.

Looking forward to your presentation,
Marcell

[Gisela Daniel]

Jetta, I can’t wait to see your presentation. Fake reading and writing is a problem that all teachers have from kindergarten to college. Some days are better than others and some groups are better than others but we all see it more often that we will like. I’m looking forward to listen to your ideas and hopefully I will be able to adapt them to kindergarten.

[Wendy Ritter]

Hello Jetta,
Your classroom sounds great. As a resource teacher I know the benefits of having posters, references, supplies, and books available for the students. It sounds like your classroom is a safe and comfortable place to learn.
I am very interested in your strategies for SSR. Although our school doesn't have a specific SSR time, in my previous school we had a D.E.A.R (Drop everything and read) time. I was always frustrated with the lack of real reading during that time. I wored primarily with low readers and could understand their difficulties in becoming interested in a book. Although, I was amazed at how many higher level readers had trouble staying focused to read and enjoy one book. I frequently would sit with my resource students and had them read to me. However, if I wasn't there during the next session, the student would pick a new book and never finish the one we started. It saddened me that so few students were really getting lost within the books they were reading because I enjoy and relish that experience.
Currently, much of what I read with my students is done together with comprehension work. I don't often give students time to read silently, just to enjoy a book. I am interested in your strategies for SSR, so I may be able to incorporate some silent reading within my reading groups next year. I will have to check out the Steve Gardiner book, Building Student Literacy through Sustained Silent Reading.

[Jacob Charlebois]

Hello, Jetta (and all who are reading this). So, this "Tantor": is he of the African or Asian variety? I think you ought to post a photo of this pachyderm for all of us to enjoy...

SSR is a bit of a conundrum for me as well. We have an SSR reading period at Spanish Springs High, and it's a daily battle to get some of these students to read. Part of me feels that, at the high school level, students ought to be given the chance to live and die (figuratively speaking, of course) by their own work ethics; conversely, I know it's my responsibility as an educator to ensure they're doing what's good and healthy for their brains. I'm really looking forward to seeing the model you provide to help me bridge the gap between these two modes of thinking.

[Catherine Guild]

I can't wait to see and hear your demo. I'm also frustrated with the "fake" readers in my classroom. SSR can be a very powerful time for students to engage in reading, and I'd love to learn more strategies to get those fake readers engaged. I'm always thrilled with those students who finally become real readers and can't wait to to read in class between assignments, during transitions and SSR. They make my day!

[Stacey Saulsgiver]

Your classroom sounds exciting. I bet the students are empowered by your posting of their work and are engaged in your classroom. I am always thrown by the stat that students only read seven minutes a day. I am thrilled to see SSR in your middle school. At my son's HS they have a mandatory reading period but I don't know how effective it is. They try to teach some reading strategies through a video and hand-out. My son is at grade level and he ignores this presentation so I don't know how it would help low readers or any ability leveled readers. The techniques need to be modeled. As he explains it, it is similar to the Ferris Bueller teacher "anyone" "anyone". What my son has learned is the technique of looking like he is reading but actually doing less than "fake" reading which is no reading!