Shhh!
We're Reading!!
Michael Kellum
Growing Independence and
Fluency
Shhh!
We're Reading!!
Michael Kellum
Growing Independence and
Fluency
Rationale: As
students become better readers many of them enjoy reading silently.
Silent reading is great, but we must also make sure that we are comprehending
what we are reading. So many students want to be fluent readers but
they forget the importance of comprehension. Students need to be
able to interpret what they read either through drawing or writing.
Also students will need to be able to write questions and answer them.
Materials: copies
of Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg; comprehension questions on board;
lined paper for each studendt; pencil; white paper to draw on; crayons,
markers, colored pencils
Procedure: 1.
Have reading group come to table or place on the floor, or if you are doing
it whole group let them all sit on the floor.
2. Ask the students
if they have ever been to the zoo? Take comments for a while and
let them share stories.
3. Ask the students
if they have ever played a board game? Repeat.
4. Here's what you
say: "Boys and girls, today we are going to read a story about some
very interesting events that take place in two children's lives.
We have progressed as readers this year and we are beginning to do more
silent reading. With silent reading comes independence and responsibility.
What I mean by responsibility is that you are in charge of remembering
what you have read and comprehending it. You need to be able to show
that you understand what you have read by either answering questions, writing
questions, drawing the events, or even role play."
5. "Now I am going
to ask you to read Jumanji, this is one of my favorite books by
one of my favorite authors. I think you will enjoy it. Once
you have finished I would like you to answer the comprehension questions
on the board and then write three of your own. Once you have done
this try to draw another event in the story, e.g. if the kids would not
have finished the game what else might have happened?"
6. Let students complete
tasks.
7. Share drawings,
questions, comments, and related stories.
Assessment:
Collect students sheets and observe responses to check for comprehension.
Students will enjoy getting
to draw and tell stories, but be careful not to let them get away from
showing their understanding of the text.