I teach in the same set up (5th-8th/ separate Writing & Reading) and I don't mind it because it really lets me focus on teaching reading, intervention, conferencing, etc. I also work with the writing teacher a ton to share trade books and align our content. As for the time issue, with a class full of 30 5th graders, it is a real challenge to conference or hold small groups during independent reading if it is only 15 min. many reluctant readers take a few minutes to settle in, or get in the zone, update reading logs, find a book, etc. Right now, our goal is 20 minutes each day in class of pure "in the zone" reading. Some days we reach that, most we average about 15 minutes or so. During that time, I pull a small group for support with a specific strategy (we have reading groups later in the afternoon) and I conference with students. It is our goal to reach 30 minutes by spring. And yes, much of the research (Atwell, Fountas & Pinnell) shows that this is essential to develop the skills, habits, and love of reading.
Hope that helps, Sundown On Mon, Nov 17, 2008 at 2:25 PM, laura herrel < [EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Our middle school 5-8 teachs Language Arts and Reading in two seperate > periods - which I think is a sin. But that's not what I'm coming here to > post about. Our principal recently said he does not want to see the > students > doing independent reading for longer than 15 minute during Reading class. > Does anyone see anything wrong with having a 30 minute reading period a > week? > > It really irks me. > _______________________________________________ > 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. > > -- Sundown Collins Fifth Grade Reading Teacher KIPP San Francisco Bay Academy 415-609-8719 _______________________________________________ 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.
