The open-ended questions listed on pg. 124 of Strategies that Work are really good questions to use in any class discussions. I have seen my MT use some of these questions during Reading Street discussions of the question of the week. I think these would also be good for math discussions.
I read chapter 11 in Book Club Plus which was all about using the Book Club Plus method of teaching literacy along with a basal program. I think this chapter was so helpful because I have been wondering about how to use a basal reading program along with other lesson ideas. I think this chapter will be really helpful in creating my unit plan for literacy. It gives week-by-week lesson plans that go with Book Club Plus and with a basal reading program. Another thing I liked about this chapter is that it gives lesson plan examples of how to introduce speedwriting and how to do mini-lessons on literacy centers and book club procedures. I would really like to use the book club idea in my classroom in place of our reading groups. These are kind of the same thing, but the ideas in Book Club Plus will make these reading groups more like a book club than a reading group. Some ideas I will use to make it more like a book club are: use writing as a part of it, have them get in small groups (2-3 students) to talk about the book, and have the books connect in some way so the different level reading groups can talk about the same topic and have a large group discussion or a fishbowl activity. I would like the reading groups to be more than just reading the book, talking about it briefly, and then being done with it. I want there to be activities that extend their thinking and their learning about the book and the theme.
Questions:
Do any of you do fun things as a part of your reading groups? Or at least anything more than just reading the book together and talking about it?
What are some good short activities that we could add to our reading groups to extend the student’s thinking and maybe make it more fun for the students?
Why do you think that basal reading programs are so popular? Popular enough for this book to write a section about how to incorporate other literacy activities into them?
Zoe – I completely agree with you that Chapter 11 in Book Club Plus was a helpful chapter in guiding me to combine these reading strategies with my basal reading curriculum. Sometimes we get so caught up in our Reading Street curriculum and all of the “scripts” they provide that it is easy for instruction to get a little repetitive. I would also love to do more “book clubs” and speed-writing, and center activities during my literacy instruction, but it seems like our scripted Reading Street tasks take up too much time. I often find myself getting frustrated because although the curriculum that we have DOES cover everything, it seems boring to me – too tense and scripted and teacher-centered. I also agree with you on the idea that you had on making reading groups more like “book club groups” – it would be nice to have the students work in small groups at first and then have a classroom discussion on how our books are different/the same.
ReplyDeleteTo answer some of your questions… 1) We do not really do a whole lot more with our reading groups than you do. We do a “picture walk” and make predictions/discuss vocabulary on day 1, read the book on days 2 and 3 and then discuss the book on day 4. (Nothing too exciting!)
2) I think that we should try to incorporate some sort of book club within our reading groups. I, too, would like to see more than just reading the book and quickly talking about it. What about incorporating a writing activity into our reading group time?
MY QUESTIONS:
1) In what ways could we incorporate writing into part of our reading groups? Although we are usually testing on Fridays, do you think that we could save some time for writing then? If so – why/why not?
2) How can we make this Reading Street curriculum more student-centered rather than teacher- centered?
I also found chapter 11 of Book CLub Plus a very helpful one. Especially since i am in the midst of planning for my guided lead teaching. This chapter will come in handy when I am looking for activities that keep the students engaged during reading groups. As of right now our reading groups are very cut and dry. One group meets with the teacher, they predict what the book might be about, read the book together, then talk about what they read. Reading groups continue throughout the whole year and this could get very tedious and tiring for the students. I want to make sure to keep it interesting or at least change it up a bit every so often. I really liked how there were writing samples in the chapter. This gives you an idea of what it might look like or what you might want it to look like. The mini unit lessons are also helpful to get ideas of activities to keep the students engaged. Reading groups is a time when students get to express themselves and show that they are good readers. This can be done more effectively if they have something enjoyable to do that by.
ReplyDeleteFor the advanced reading group in my class my MT and I have them read the book to themselves or with a partner. This gives them an opportunity to feel independent. This is about the only alteration made to reading groups. Other than that I feel as though chapter 11 will be a big help to making reading groups a little more enjoyable for the students as well as the teacher.
My class does not participate in Reading Street but there is a 90 minute Literacy Block that we must include in daily instruction (50 minutes of Reading & 40 minutes of Writing/Listening/Speaking)
ReplyDeleteI found Chapter 11 in Book Club Plus very helpful. It made me aware that reading groups should be active, beneficial, relatable, understanding but yet enjoyable.
There are no useful activities being used after reading groups in my classroom. The class does not talk about the reading as a whole nor do they discuss it in groups. The reading groups are based on the students reading level (so every group is reading something different). I don't understand the purpose of having reading groups if the students are not gaining anything from it. I would like to see the following activities used during reading groups:
1. The class participates in whole-group discussion
2. Students present their reading to the class using a Venn Diagram, Poem, Smart board, Poster Board, or Role-Playing
3. Students take turns reading the story aloud
4. Students recreate the story by rewriting it as a whole
5. Students draw out the story
6. Students make up a song about the story *(using many details)