Here it is….. Groundbreaking advice on how to get students to read.!!
It’s
remarkable. It’s phenomenal. It’s actually THE TRUTH!!!!
Just a little
background. You all know these teachers
people. The ones who have said OUT LOUD at one time
or another in life the following:
·
I lost so much
weight over Christmas. I can’t seem to
put back on those last 5 pounds.
·
I dread the day I
find a grey hair.
·
My kids NEVER act
that way. Tsk tsk tsk
·
I’ve got to stop
planning so many lessons. I’m about
three months ahead.
Or they at least
have the following:
ü
An Erin Condren
lesson planner in colors that coordinate with their classroom.
ü
Gel pens that their
husband got them for Valentine’s Day that were died specifically in the colors
that match the above mentioned Erin Condren lesson planner.
I’m
not slamming these! I ABSOLUTELY LOVE
THEM!!!!!!!
ü
Vera Bradley’s home phone number to keep up-to-date on when the
newest pattern is being released for that Triple Zip Hipster. (I’m not a fan of Vera, btw)
ü
A dog they carry in a tote bag.
(Also known as a “snack” for my pit bull)
Do you get the picture?
So, you ask this…………………..
“Do your kids enjoy SSR in your classroom?”
Their response…….
Please read the following in the voice of Thurston Howell III. Really jut out your lower chin and teeth and
DRIP with your voice………
Their reponse…….
“My students loooooooooovvvvvvveeeee to read. I have absolutely no problems at all.”
I slither away. Here’s what’s
going down in MY room.
Me: “Students, you have 10
minutes to check out a book.”
Play Jeopardy music in your mind right now…..for
10 minutes.
Me: “Ok, for the next 15 minutes we are going to
enjoy SSR.”
SSR:
Silent
Sustained Reading (public definition)
SSR: SitdownShutupReadthatbookandincreaseyourvocabularysoyouwilldobetteronstandardizedtests
(teacher definition)
Me: “I mean it.
Let’s get quiet and enjoy our book”
---While they are
reading, I spend 15 minutes 30 seconds grading one answer on one
test of 25 questions for 90 students.
Student: “Can I get another book?”
Me: “You just checked that one out!”
Student: “Yeah”
Me: “Well, how much did you read?”
Student: “Three
words. It got boring quick.”
Me: “ly”
Student: “Do what????”
Me: “Quick-ly. You became bored quick-ly”
Student: (Gives me a look. You know the look. Gets another book)
I move on to grade a 2nd
question of 25 out of 90 tests.
Student: “I’ve got a book in my locker I need to check
in. Can I go get it, and take it to the
library?”
Me: “If it was so important to turn it in today,
you would have brought it to class. Sit
down and enjoy your book, please”
Student: (Hearing only the Charlie Brown teacher voice
stands and waits for another answer)
Me: “Sit Down and ENJOY that book!”
Moving on to the 3rd
question of 25 out of 90 tests.
Look at the clock and
realize the 15 minutes of SSR ended 3 minutes ago.
Here comes the secret……….How I finally enjoyed - SUCCESSFULLY - a full 15 minutes of SSR
Ready?
The big secret is………I read, too.
That’s right. I sat down, opened my book, became completely
engrossed in it (truth!), and dared anyone to interrupt. They truly learn from modeling,
right!!!!!????!!!
Guess what????? They all sat there and copied my
actions. Of course, there’s always one
in every crowd who has to test the waters.
Here’s how that went.
Me: reading, reading, reading, reading
Student: “Can I go to the lie-bury?”
Only teachers and mothers
have this super-power that I whipped out at that moment. It’s called the “Peel a Hairy-Eyeball.” Teachers and mothers have special muscles IN
the eyeball, AROUND the eyeball, and in that special “twitch” that happens in
the cheek area. So I look up at
Mr-Can-I-Go-To-The-Liebury? dude and whipped it out.
It had force. It had a laser attachment. It had POWER.
Unable to take his eyes off the wonderment of the eyeball, he backed
away slowly, picked up his book and READ!!!!!!
What a thing of beauty!!!
Keep reading,
people.
