Winter Blog.... 2/8

At the beginning of the year, we started off by telling your students how we read books. As the where in kindergarten we look at the pictures and try and read the words we know. My CT started off by having the students “reading” for about five minutes. Now that we are about half way through the year, they are reading for about 20-30 minutes. Routman talked about how you have to build up to reading for a long time. Which is very true in kindergarten, they start off with very small reading workshops then build up to longer times. As they learn how to read, you can give them more time to explore books. I know that my CT had a bin for where she put books that she has read out loud to the class. Then when it is reading work shop the kids always “fight” over those books, and then may “read” (most of the time they have memorized the book) the book.

Another point that Routman brought up was Independent reading. Based on how Routman described Independent reading this is what my CT does during her reading workshop. On Mondays she has the students come over in their level groups pick new books, (the books are separated by level) so she had them pick from the boxes that will “just right” books for each group. While each group is picking out their books, the other students are independent reading. Before the independent reading time she will give the students reading goals. Right now the students are working on Character, setting, problem, solution. At the end my CT will ask a few students to share what their books were about. If the students are not picking out books, she will work with the different groups.