Jennifer, and Bonita..great points! Motivation is certainly a factor, but I think it's essential to monitor the students who want to read books beyond their level. With the younger struggling readers,I believe it's important to stick with leveled reading to increase fluency and comprehension. Using National Geographic readers seems to satisfy both the interest and the leveling for primary readers. Mary
----- Original Message ----- From: "Heather Blau" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group" <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, April 24, 2008 6:50 PM Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] just right books? > It seems to work well to set a ratio (say 5 "just right" books, for > every one "challenge")- this keeps the door open to high interest > books, but also keeps comprehension and fluency on track. Knowing > that a high interest book is just a title or two away is great > motivator, nudging kids to try genres and authors they don't have > much experience with- and if they are truly great texts- kids often > discover they like books on their level. The key is finding really > compelling texts w/ age appropriate theme, message, language in a > wide range of levels. > > > On Apr 24, 2008, at 9:31 PM, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >> I don't know if I disagree, but I do have instances where I think >> allowing "interest" to direct the student to a higher level book >> can be a mistake. The instance I am thinking of, and it occurs >> quite frequently in my classrooms, is a student who simply wants to >> "look" like they are reading a higher level book. I have a number >> of students over the years who believe word calling is the same as >> reading and who demand higher books. I know the main reason they >> are driven this way is to "look" better around their peers, who may >> be reading quite difficult texts. But the end result is they don't >> read at all--just flip pages and go through the actions. I am at a >> school that might over stress fluency in the primary grades and I >> do believe that might be part of the problem. Anyone else have this >> experience? >> >> On the other hand, I have also had students struggle through a >> tough book because they are driven "fervent" about wanting to read >> it. I would never resist such a request. >> >> :)Bonita >> >> ---- HERBERT Suzanne <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >>> Okay Mary, where was the conference and who was doing the talking and >>> was their any 'current research' as everything we are being told >>> to do >>> is based on 'current research'. Interest supercedes level....is >>> there >>> anyone out there who has a different opinion on all of this.? Thanks >>> Mary. >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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. > > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG. > Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.3/1390 - Release Date: 4/21/2008 4:23 PM > _______________________________________________ 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.
