Readers Talk About Books

The reason we read it to take meaning from text!  Making sure the reading makes sense as we read is the most important part of reading.  Young readers have so much hard work to do.  They are learning that what they read has to look right, sound right AND make sense. 

Learning how to "listen to oneself read" and to be able to retell and talk about books is where we are headed next in our crew.  I have immersed them in high interest books from the public library.  This past week they began checking into the books in our crew library.

Now we are ready to begin taking "just right books" home Monday-Thursday.
These books should NOT BE books that they have to work hard to read.  They are books they should be able to read fairly easily and understand enough so that they can talk with you about their reading.  They should sound "like the characters" and enjoy retelling the books to you.  Please sit next to your child as they read their book each night.  Look for many more posts about reading throughout the year.

This week I'll set up reading buddies within the crew and the children will have the chance to begin learning how to share read and talk about books.  They LOVE doing this!  This is why Oprah Winfrey's book clubs were so successful!  Good readers want to talk about what they read!

I have completed my beginning of the year reading assessments and have a good handle on what each child needs next.  We only have 10 teaching days before our Voyage.
During this time I will begin reading conferences, working 1x1 with students.  After the Voyage I'll begin teaching reading groups.  For now, I'm still getting to know them and their reading habits.  

Let me know if you have questions or thoughts as we journey literacy together!
Ms. Mary Beth