Due to crazy scheduling conflicts: doctors' appointments, vacations,. staff development, etc, etc....we have elected to have our final book discussion group online via our blog. (Imagine teachers having all these commitments during the summer! LOL). We hope that if you have read the books The Next Step in Guided Reading or The Book Whisperer, you'll join in the discussion...even if you have not been part of our group previously!
We will post discussion questions tonight, Thursday, and Friday. Tonight's questions are general questions about great moments in the book. If you have read all or part of the book, please share. Friday's questions will be regarding the last half of both of the books. (Yes, that gives you time to finish up the books and add to the discussion of the last chapters. Do us a huge favor and invite your friends to jump in! We truly believe when teachers across counties (or countries) collaborate, everyone wins!
Tonight's Discussion Question:
The Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller- What aspect of The Book Whisperer caused a shift in your thinking? How will this shift directly affect your classroom instruction or climate?
The Next Step in Guided Reading by Jan Richardson- How is the philosophy behind The Next Step in Guided Reading different from traditional teaching you have witnessed in the past, either as a student or a teacher? How is the philosophy similar to approached to literacy you have observed?
*** If you have not read either book, which book seems most compelling to you? Do you have questions about the books? We would love to hear from you.
Please share the general area you are from and your job title, etc. We would love to have teachers comment from across the country and around the globe.
Come join us! Heather and Alicia
The Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller- What aspect of The Book Whisperer caused a shift in your thinking? How will this shift directly affect your classroom instruction or climate?
ReplyDeleteI have been inspired to utilize self-selected, student-engaging books in order to stir passion for reading in the lives of students. I have already had my daughter read one book from "The Ultimate Library" list, and I have used the list to shop at 1/2 Price Books twice (purchasing about 20 books for the beginning of my class library).
As a result of reading this book, I intend to create independent reading time in class for students. I intend to find creative ways to tie the instructional lessons taught in class to the self-selected books my students are reading.
I also recognize that most school districts are steering away from novel-reading, toward short excerpts, articles and online texts. I do believe there is value in this approach, but I also believe that a love for reading is most-often found in whole-book reading. Thus, as much as I can demonstrate the effectiveness of self-selected novel reading, I will intentionally allot and passionately fight for the usage of novels in middle school reading.
Jeremy! SOunds like you have a great start on a classroom library. Your kids will be so inspired by your passion for reading. They are blessed to have such an amazing teacher. Sure will miss working with you next year! --Heather
ReplyDeleteAs will I!
DeleteI am meeting with our ELA coach next week. I am excited to share with her what I have learned about reading instruction. I hope to gain from her vision and insight and combine that with my own creativity and knowledge.
I read "The Book Whisperer" years ago, and most of it jived with what I was doing in my classroom. I lived it for a long time; in fact, the title of my dissertation is "The Impact of Daily, Independent, Self-Selected Reading on Second Grade Students." Bottom line--make time for kids to read daily, provide them with lots of high interest text, and let them choose what they want to read.
ReplyDeleteHaving taught guided reading for years, I thought I was doing a good job...but then I read Jan Richardson's book this past Fall. The biggest changes for me were in seeing kids as readers in developmental stages versus as LEVELS, incorporating word work, and adding a writing portion. I like the two day lesson format. There is absolutely no wasted time in the format Richardson uses. The biggest a-ha's that I try to remind myself of each day are: "What am I showing this child today that he/she can use tomorrow?" and "Teach the reader, not the text." :)
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DeleteComment from Heather Horton--I agree wholeheartedly about the value of self-selected reading, though at times I still may have failed that test as a classroom teacher:). I think Donalyn brought back that spark for me. Now that I am a Reading Specialist, I am hoping to be able to balance the skill work and bring in the encouragement to read for absolute joy..even if it is not while they are sitting with me.
ReplyDeleteI am beyond thrilled to be able to utilize these Guided reading techniques in my new position as I "teach readers". Since my years as a Reading Recovery teacher, many of my groups looked very similar to Richardson's...that must be Marie Clay's influence on me! It was great to see someone organize this philosophy. You know I am NOT an organizer!