Comments on: How to Get Students to Read at Home http://penningtonpublishing.com/blog/reading/how-to-get-students-to-read-at-home/ Teaching resources to differentiate instruction. Sat, 13 Mar 2010 02:37:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Mark Pennington http://penningtonpublishing.com/blog/reading/how-to-get-students-to-read-at-home/comment-page-1/#comment-1106 Mark Pennington Tue, 15 Sep 2009 03:08:53 +0000 http://penningtonpublishing.com/blog/?p=771#comment-1106 Nice post. However, I feel that many teachers promote a false dichotomy between free choice and independent reading level. Students should have free choice, as long as the choice falls within the 5% unknown word recognition level. We all read trash. I'm reading a western right now that is probably at the fifth grade reading level. The difference is that we have the responsibility to teach and there is no arguing the fact that a book with some unknown words is better to read for instructional purposes than a book with no unknown words. Can't we can have our cake (limited free choice) and eat it, too? I have the same issues re: poorly equipped parents and those who simply will not discuss the readings with their own children. I partner up kids, ala book club, to pair share. Works great. That use of class time I would support, but not unfettered free reading. Nice post. However, I feel that many teachers promote a false dichotomy between free choice and independent reading level. Students should have free choice, as long as the choice falls within the 5% unknown word recognition level. We all read trash. I’m reading a western right now that is probably at the fifth grade reading level. The difference is that we have the responsibility to teach and there is no arguing the fact that a book with some unknown words is better to read for instructional purposes than a book with no unknown words. Can’t we can have our cake (limited free choice) and eat it, too?

I have the same issues re: poorly equipped parents and those who simply will not discuss the readings with their own children. I partner up kids, ala book club, to pair share. Works great. That use of class time I would support, but not unfettered free reading.

]]> By: Clix http://penningtonpublishing.com/blog/reading/how-to-get-students-to-read-at-home/comment-page-1/#comment-1084 Clix Sun, 13 Sep 2009 23:07:51 +0000 http://penningtonpublishing.com/blog/?p=771#comment-1084 Mark, There's a difference between "independent reading" and "choice reading." Choice reading provides gains in comprehension, but primarily it's an opportunity to model and encourage reading for pleasure. Pushing it out of the classroom implies that it's not as important as "real reading." I give my students 10-15 minutes each day. While that's the only part that I ask them to summarize in their reading log, I've noticed gaps in page numbers, and many of the students say they've started doing more reading on their own because they get started in class. Kelly Gallagher also warns about <i>under-teaching</i> books as well. It's important to provide access to books that are above the student's level; it challenges them in different ways. I like the idea of at-home reading partners, but I work in a rural community with students are often farther along in their education than any of their family members. Many of my students have parents who are unable to be very involved due to work schedules; some are living on their own. What would you suggest in those situations? Mark,

There’s a difference between “independent reading” and “choice reading.” Choice reading provides gains in comprehension, but primarily it’s an opportunity to model and encourage reading for pleasure. Pushing it out of the classroom implies that it’s not as important as “real reading.” I give my students 10-15 minutes each day. While that’s the only part that I ask them to summarize in their reading log, I’ve noticed gaps in page numbers, and many of the students say they’ve started doing more reading on their own because they get started in class.

Kelly Gallagher also warns about under-teaching books as well. It’s important to provide access to books that are above the student’s level; it challenges them in different ways.

I like the idea of at-home reading partners, but I work in a rural community with students are often farther along in their education than any of their family members. Many of my students have parents who are unable to be very involved due to work schedules; some are living on their own. What would you suggest in those situations?

]]> By: Mark Pennington http://penningtonpublishing.com/blog/reading/how-to-get-students-to-read-at-home/comment-page-1/#comment-901 Mark Pennington Tue, 25 Aug 2009 00:48:27 +0000 http://penningtonpublishing.com/blog/?p=771#comment-901 Mary, Students reading below grade level will remain at that level. Reading is not a natural skill; it must be nurtured. There are plenty of choices for students to read at their instructional levels. Mark Pennington Mary,

Students reading below grade level will remain at that level. Reading is not a natural skill; it must be nurtured. There are plenty of choices for students to read at their instructional levels.

Mark Pennington

]]> By: mary http://penningtonpublishing.com/blog/reading/how-to-get-students-to-read-at-home/comment-page-1/#comment-876 mary Sun, 23 Aug 2009 23:11:34 +0000 http://penningtonpublishing.com/blog/?p=771#comment-876 Sounds silly and complicated. What happened to kids finding books that they like and letting them read them no matter what the level. If a 3rd grader likes picture books on a 1st grade level - who cares as long as they are reading. Given time and when left alone - they will naturally move forward. If you pressure them and force them to select books that you deem are appropriate, they will not want to read at all. Let them be who they are. Let them read what they like. Leave them alone! Sounds silly and complicated. What happened to kids finding books that they like and letting them read them no matter what the level. If a 3rd grader likes picture books on a 1st grade level – who cares as long as they are reading. Given time and when left alone – they will naturally move forward. If you pressure them and force them to select books that you deem are appropriate, they will not want to read at all. Let them be who they are. Let them read what they like. Leave them alone!

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