Research has shown that students will make tremendous gains in their reading if they read at their "Just-Right" level.
We compared it Cinderella and her glass slipper. Every one wears different shoes that work well for them. We don't worry about where other people are going in their shoes. Instead, we think about where we are going. We have discussed that no one should worry about what level everyone else is at. We made goals for ourselves. We talked about how some of us are awesome at drawing, or running, or math, or reading, or writing, or taking care of animals. We are all different and our classroom is a safe place to be yourself. It won't help students become better readers if they are reading texts that are way too hard.
You will notice in many of the pictures below that the students have book bins. One day a week, students go "book shopping" and they get enough books to keep in their bin for the whole week. That way, students spend their precious reading time during the week reading, not wandering around looking for books. Students also keep their binder in their book bins. We are also keeping track of every book we read on our reading log. While students are reading, I am sitting down with as many students as I can and having a reading conference with them. I am listening to them read, asking questions and checking in on their progress.
It is exciting to see how much students are reading!
Next week, a reading log for home will be coming home every day. There is a note that will explain the reading log for home.
Until then, happy reading!