I know a lot of people love the letters. I am curious, what do others use? I felt that when I did the letters that the kids thought this was the only way to respond to a book. I felt they were really forced and that most kids only wrote them because they had to turn something in to me. Thoughts?? Sue In a message dated 8/8/2009 2:03:05 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [email protected] writes:
When I did the letters with junioro high students, I too, loved it because of what Sally outlined. However, with 3 different classes, it did take it's toll, so I didn't do it every quarter. However, I did need some sort of assessment for grades. While I would like to say that I could use my observations and conversations, this did't translate well to grades for some parents. They wanted some proof. And I as a parent would also want some evidence. So at least once or twice a quarter (depending on how many other assignments students turned in), I would ask students to choose their best letter, reflection and turn in to be assessed on the strategies that we were practicing. The students knew they had to respond/write at least a couple sentences around the strategy we were practicing. However, they had flexibility because sometimes what they were reading just didn't work with the strategy we were practicing. I also gave them points for just doing the work. Again, only to explain to parents and students the reason for their quarter grade. This wasn't ideal, but it was the real world. Carol ----- Original Message ----- From: "thomas" <[email protected]> To: "Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group" <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, August 8, 2009 11:31:30 AM GMT -06:00 US/Canada Central Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] documenting SSR I did the weekly letters not for accountability but more for a dialogue/conversation. The kids and I loved talking back and forth. I didn't always have the time I wished for individual conversations in the classsroom though I of course did...but I had 32 kids and no paras or any help so it made for a busy time. I did use the letters as ways to inform me about what the kids were struggling with, great insights into their strengths and so on. So it wasn't accountability assessment but formative for me. And the kids actually really valued using their own letters to self reflect as well. I did not have parents sign anything tho they were informed about reading workshop. I figured and think the kids came to believe that you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink. And kids lived up to the expectation that their own goals were what mattered most!! So it's just a different mind set I think and the kids take it all very differently and it didn't feel like paperwork at all. I loved reading those letters - the best part of my week. And the kids complained when we missed a week! Just an idea that might make a difference for you... PS not my ideas originally - Atwell convinced me. But I made it my own. Sally On 8/8/09 7:01 AM, "Stewart, L" <[email protected]> wrote: > 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. > _______________________________________________ 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.
