Finding
time to read in my super busy day is a very difficult thing to do. As I observe my students reading
independently for a selected period of time, I do wonder if they were truly
reading their books or just sitting there staring at the pages. They seem to be engaged for the time
allotted but I do not know if they comprehend what they are reading. This first chapter from Miller and Moss
brought to my attention that just reading for a certain amount of time may not
be the best thing for students without providing instruction on what reading to
comprehend information must include. I
should be modeling the behavior students should be imitating that leads to good
readers. After reading this chapter, I
have implemented the practice of conferencing with my students to give feedback
to help them understand the process of understanding what they read.
While
reading this chapter, I became aware of the fact that by guiding my students I
can help them become aware of any reading difficulties that they may have. My struggling readers need guidance to become
better readings and to build their confidence as a good reader. I do agree with the authors that we could
reevaluate our day and the time that we spend on things that may not be that
necessary to the development of a quality education for our students.
You are so right--time to read is important, but so is instruction embedded in that time to read! Conferences are a great way to provide this embedded instruction. I can't wait to hear how those are going for you!
ReplyDeleteHi Melissa,
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your take aways from this chapter and how you want to provide more than just a set time for your students to read, you want to provide them with support for this time. Modeling in mini-lessons can provide examples and guidance to our students on everything from how to choose a just right book to what questioning during reading looks like and how it helps us. Conferencing and monitoring during independent reading can help us strategically support students where they need it and can also inform our next day's instruction. Thank you! Dawn