Leslie I can't agree with you enough. The benefits of SSR are more than just the reading time that individuals have. It's the routine, the 'expectation' and the modelling. There is some great research on what has happened to library borrowing in middle schools where ALL SCHOOL SSR reading took place at the same time. Last year I had a 'non reader'...who lived for the time to spend devouring 'graphic comics' after having spent probably a good couple of months not motivated to engage with anything during the time. It seems he had never had been given the time to find how to use a quiet reading time and it took experience and the modelling of others. I love this time. I love to grab my latest read or one of the books I plan as a read aloud and use this time to engage in what I am reading, feet curled up, pillow supporting, and just as annoyed as the kids when the time to finish arrives. It's a 'routine' that leads to engaged reading, and it's one that is fostered with modelling, good book selections, comfortable surroundings and an atmosphere of expectation that this indeed our SSR time. Children need to learn to read silently for extended periods but it doesn't happen without 'setting' the conditions up.
--- On Sun, 9/8/09, Stewart, L <[email protected]> wrote: From: Stewart, L <[email protected]> Subject: [MOSAIC] documenting SSR To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> Received: Sunday, 9 August, 2009, 12:01 AM I have a question/concern regarding SSR and accountability. Is there research that says that by making children accountable for personal reading turns them into lifelong readers? Isn't there a point when we can trust the children and ourselves without having to have a document filled out? Last year I had my students keep a silent reading log (along with a guided reading notebook and a homework reading log) and write me a letter once a week about their personal reading book. I did that for much of the school year until I realized it was taking time away from actually reading and diminishing the enjoyment factor for some students. I also did not feel that I learned anything about my students that I didn't already know without all the paperwork. Leslie Grade 3 Teacher [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> 203-481-5386, 203-483-0749 FAX To feel most beautifully alive means to be reading something beautiful, ready always to apprehend in the flow of language the sudden flash of poetry. ~ Gaston Bachelard ~ <http://thinkexist.com/birthday/september_24/> _______________________________________________ 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. __________________________________________________________________________________ Find local businesses and services in your area with Yahoo!7 Local. Get started: http://local.yahoo.com.au _______________________________________________ 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.
