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These friends have started independent reading in September. Soon they will be allowed to choose different spots to sit.
Montgomery Township uses the Columbia Teacher's College's Reading and Writing Project model for literacy. We assess children's independent reading level and instructional reading level several times a year to match them correctly to books that are right for them and give them the differentiation they need.
We work on several reading units that help students with skills like:
word decoding, fluency, stamina, summarizing/retelling, understanding plot and characters, analyzing character traits, vocabulary, asking questions/wondering, predicting, using evidence to give answers, text features (non-fiction), answering literal and interpretative questions, setting goals and checking progress toward goals, discussing books with partners, comparing/contrasting texts and characters, and much more.
These partners discuss books and hold each other accountable for their reading that day. They enjoy recommending books to each other.
Our Reading period consists of a mini lesson that will help students become better readers, a chance to try that out, a larger period of independent reading and a partner time to discuss reflect.
During independent reading, teachers will meet with small groups or individual students. Partner time allows students practice at not just today's skill. but prior skills using the books they have read that day. Partners are usually at a similar reading level, and could be working on similar or slightly different goals.
WHY DO YOU USE SO MANY POST ITS?
Our goal is to have 2nd graders who read thoughtfully through books. We want them to stop and think as they read instead of rushing to get to the end to find out what happens. We also want to make sure they are comprehending what they read and have some thoughts to discuss with their partners. Post its help with these goals and to hold students accountable for their reading and understanding.
See the Post It tab for more details about using post its for thinking.
Many students pose questions. These can guide them as they read or show me that they need a skill that will help them understand that idea.
Students may wonder about specific words, ideas, structure, character traits
While students are reading, the teacher will either:
Pull small groups of students who need practice on similar skills either with the same book or with their own choice reading books
conduct individual conferences with with students about what they are reading: gather information, compliment progress, offer suggestions to improve, practice together and check back in
This book club is looking at how their main character's traits have changed over the course of the story and discussing why they think she has changed.
Book Clubs
Book Clubs
Second graders begin to discuss books and topics in larger groups with Book Clubs. We introduce the idea of 4 person book clubs with non-fiction as each member reads books about the same topic in their quest to "Grow Knowledge". They report back to the group to share discoveries and compare/contrast texts and information. This is a great opportunity to practice turn-taking, explaining your thinking and to pose questions that they can search for answers to.
Near the end of the year all students will be reading chapter books and will run series book clubs in a similar way. Each day there are lessons on how a series and its characters work. Groups have some say in choosing a book that they are interested in. Partners read assigned chapters and have a retelling discussion to make sure they understand the plot and characters. Then groups of 4 meet up for a higher-level thinking discussion about the book.
This prepares students for 3rd grade where a lot of time is spent in Book Clubs.
These readers are putting on a Frog and Toad show to celebrate their expression and fluency as they BECOME the characters.
Reading Celebrations
Reading Celebrations
At the end of a reading unit, our class reviews and celebrates what we have learned in different ways. In our first unit where we establish good reading behaviors and find the Best Fit books for us, we visit another 2nd grade to recommend books and share what we've learned. For Non-Fiction Book Clubs, members determine most important ideas and create a poster about their topic to teach others in school. Last year we put on a small reader's theater show to BECOME the characters we were learning about. Celebrations change, but we are excited to show off what we have learned!
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