Lisa Littleton Blog Post 2 No More Independent Reading Without Support Section 2 Why Not ? What Works? Why Independent Reading Matters and the Best Practices to Support It Barbara Moss

In Section 2 of No More Independent Reading Without Support, Moss gives us a clear definition of independent reading.  Independent reading is time students spend reading self-selected texts.  I think students who have a choice in their reading want to read more.  While DEAR or SSR may have been a step in the right direction for independent reading, it was not done consistently, students did not have instructional support or the self-selected option as with IR.

Research has proven that independent reading increases academic achievement.  Hundreds of correlational studies have found that the best readers read the most and poor readers read the least.  To grow as an independent reader, students need explicit instruction about what, why, and how readers read, classroom time to read, access to a wide variety of texts, choice in what they read and to able to talk about what they have read.

It is so easy to pass out books to our students for their book bags.  But this is not an effective practice for becoming an independent reader.  Moss states, “Kids who read self-selected rather than teacher-selected books read more.”  Letting kids choose what to read motivates them to read even when it is not required.  This year I have noticed that my students want to read more.  The books they are reading are self-selected books. 

I also agree that it is very important that student have experience reading a variety of texts.  For them to find things they want to read, they need access to lots of books. Not all students have access to books outside the classroom, therefore classroom libraries with topics that kids want to read about are essential.

I read more as an adult than I ever did as a child.  We did not have class libraries when I was in elementary school.  I remember reading the Dick and Jane books from the reading series.  My favorite teacher was my third grade teacher, Elizabeth Arthur.  She was the first teacher I remember taking time to read to her students.  I love reading to my students.   I want my students to remember me as the teacher who read to them and taught them effective practices that helped them become independent readers.