Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Confering with Students
In the middle school we use reading workshop as the primary method for teaching English content. Students choose their own novels to read, and I come around and confer with students about their books to ensure that they are comprehending their reading. This is something I struggled with last year. I did my first conferring with students this year and it went alright. I'm trying to make sure students have "just right" books for them. Today if I saw students gazing off into the distance, I went over to them, asked them what their book was about and what was interesting about the book. Then I asked if it was easy to read. I suggested to a few students they find an easier book to start the year with. My concern is that I don't know how to say this in a way that encourages them to change books without being embarrassed. I told students that it might not be a good book for now, but that it could be good later. Still, I am working to find better ways to help students find appropriate books. Ideas anyone?
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In 6th grade we spend alot of time talking about when you go to the Media Center how do you locate books? What genres do you tend to go to? When you find the book that you want, what do you do? Do you read the back cover, read a few pages? When you do read, you should be completing the 5 finger rule. If you cannot read 5 words then it might be too hard and you should put it back and try again. We spend time talking about how its okay to put books back and try and find one thats just right because we want them to become successful with the reading they are doing.
ReplyDeleteThe other thing I have done is if they still dont want to give up the book, have them read aloud to you as you are confeering with them. If they are students that are struggling with reading, then afterwards discuss with them how they think it went? Did they think it was easy or hard? Then I often share my thoughts on what I noticed....that some of the words were difficult etc. We then talk about how we will both pick out books together at the library and compare them with each other and see which one might be just right for them, so that maybe they can see the book you are picking out at the same time might be a better fit than the one they picked out. You could also mention for them to try the one you have and then next time they could pick out the book and try the one they have.
I am still working on this too! I agree with Gina...I will have them read aloud too and then have them tell me about what they read. If they struggle with that, it is a good opportunity to discuss just right books. I like your (Connie's) comment about saying it may not be a good book now, but it may be a good book for later. Because you are talking one on one with the student I don't think that is too embarrassing, and you can reinforce how you want the student to develop their reading skills, and when they read books that are too difficult for them it is hard to practice those skills.
ReplyDeleteI also struggle with students giving books a chance. Sometimes they only read a few pages and then give up. If it is too challenging that makes sense, but sometimes I think they are being really picky and expecting too much for the first pages of a book. I think this year I need to go over abandoning books: why we abandon them and when.
Overall, choosing just right books is a skill that students need to work on. They understand what "just right" means, but then actually choosing those types of books is a whole other issue.