Readers are one of my favorite classroom resources. I love the flexibility of being able to choose a class read or silent reading. My library keeps growing and that means that there are more stories, more voices, and more opportunities to connect with every kid in my classroom.
In our program, students read 3 “class reads” in level 1 and 4 in levels 2-4. We select those books both for their teacher materials and their comprehensibility. We often read the same books in levels 1 and 2, but in level 3 and 4 I have several class sets and I try to select books that meet the interest of the class I have that year!
In the past, I have done a class competition when we do our Sustained Silent Reading (SSR) – also known as Free Voluntary Reading (FVR). The class with the highest average number of books read earned a pizza party.
There were a lot of problems along the way: some kids carrying the class by reading while others read nothing, kids reading way too easy books to get to add a post-it to the board, etc. It was not ideal.
In addition, kids would grab a book, read for 7-8 minutes, then put the book back on the shelf with a bookmark… but often they’d forget which book it was, lose their bookmark, or someone in a different class would put the book in the wrong place and they’d have to hunt it down.
This year, we have reading bins. Each class’s books are in their own drawer so they have a MUCH easier time finding and recognizing their books.
Another change is that we are no longer competing as a class and now it’s just and individual quest.
I gave them each a bookmark to use and as they finish each book, they bring the bookmark to me for a stamp. I’ve been asking a question or two about the book as I stamp it. Not “gotcha” questions… more like “Did you like it?” “Anything funny happen?” in the target language.
Students who earn 5 stamps get a small candy (I have a bag with rolos, hershey’s kisses, and starbursts in it). 10 stamps gets them a fun sized candy bar or a sour patch straw. 20 stamps gets them a full sized bar. 30 gets them a king sized. (I do not anticipate many getting that far… I hope I’m not wrong. LOL
It’s going really well and I think this might be a solid solution to the troubles I had with SSR in years past. We’ve only had 4 reading days so far, so I hate to make a statement of success this early in the year. 🙂
We read every Tuesday and Thursday for 7-8 minutes, even during the times that we are reading a class story. I think it’s such a fun way to start the day with a relaxing break from the busyness of school.
How do you run your SSR/FVR?
Have you seen Kristy’s and my podcast series on Robust Reading in the classroom?
Sneak Peek of a new little guy who’s going to be making his debut at ACTFL
