I have found lit circles to be unsuccessful. In the past, over half the students had not read the pages they agreed to read within their group. Many students did not read the book at all, but asked the other students in their circle to tell them what happened in the book.
These were books the students chose to read, NOT books I picked for them. They had time to review the books before making their choice, and I also gave a brief book talk about each book, including an average rating (on a scale of 1 to 10) that previous years' students had given each book. More than 20 percent of my students this year have told me that they have not finished a book since fourth grade. I teach 8th. Our students do well on standardized tests, so I'm not sure what's going on. Jan -------------- Original message ---------------------- From: "Bill Roberts" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Another variation is to use response logs regularly. They can write to one > another about what they are reading. I sometimes interrupt their silent > reading time with a surprise log just to see who is on task. It also > doesn't hurt to ask students individually what they just read. I can read a > lower level book rather quickly, so it doesn't take long to read what they > have read while they are explaining it to me. > > Literature circles might help also. If they are working with a group, they > may be more inclined to stay focused. > > Bill > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: "Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group" > <[email protected]> > Sent: Friday, May 25, 2007 8:58 PM > Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] wAndering minds > > > > Yes, I have them work on predictions and visualizing. They also do > > connections. I think the timer idea is a good one. I don't think they'll > > do that at home, though. > > > > I think I may be the only teacher in my building who teaches strategies. > > In the fall they really dislike the strategies. By now, I think they are > > used to the strategies, but they don't like them. They just complain > > less. > > Jan > > > > > > > > -------------- Original message ---------------------- > > From: "Bill Roberts" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >> > >> One thing you can do is set a timer. When it goes off, have them write > >> down > >> what they are thinking. Or break the reading selection into small units > >> and > >> have them read parts at a time.... > >> > >> But why are their little minds wandering? Is the material interesting? > >> Are > >> they making connections to the topic? Making predictions? Visualizing? > >> Generally, if they are using the strategies, they won't be wandering.... > >> > >> Bill > >> > >> > >> ----- Original Message ----- > >> From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >> To: "Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group" > >> <[email protected]> > >> Sent: Thursday, May 24, 2007 7:59 PM > >> Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] wondering minds > >> > >> > >> > OK... sorry about that. I mean WANDERING. > >> > Ugh. > >> > I really do need reaindg glasses. (Wondering is a good thing.) > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > -------------- Original message ---------------------- > >> > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >> >> > >> >> I still have a month of school -- our last day is June 25! I need > >> >> some > >> >> ideas > >> >> about how students can know when their minds are wondering and they > >> >> are > >> >> no > >> >> longer paying attention to what they are reading. From what my > >> >> students > >> >> say, > >> >> they have this problem a lot. I teach middle school, so I'd love > >> >> hearing > >> >> ideas > >> >> that work with middle schoolers. > >> >> Thanks! > >> >> Jan > >> >> > >> >> _______________________________________________ > >> >> Mosaic mailing list > >> >> [email protected] > >> >> To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > >> >> http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. > >> >> > >> >> Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. > >> >> > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > _______________________________________________ > >> > Mosaic mailing list > >> > [email protected] > >> > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > >> > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. > >> > > >> > Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. > >> > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> Mosaic mailing list > >> [email protected] > >> To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > >> http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. > >> > >> Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. > >> > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Mosaic mailing list > > [email protected] > > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. > > > > Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. > > > _______________________________________________ > Mosaic mailing list > [email protected] > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. > > Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. > _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. 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