I love this idea, but I'm a little worried about ending up with students faking their way through the log, since a one-sentence review doesn't really show their experience with the book. Do you (or any other viewers!) have tips on how to introduce and set expectations for this assignment to encourage students to be as honest as possible? For context, I've done reading logs with one-sentence questions attached (that I give them in class once a week -- things like "Describe your favourite character in exactly nine words" or "What's your antagonist's biggest fail so far?" that they don't mind answering but still show some level of comprehension), and I've liked that okay, but I've still had to have several conversations with students whose pages or answers don't add up. I would love to use this if I can find a good way to make it work for my students!!
In a faculty meeting yesterday, we were discussing ideas on promoting literacy. I feel like I was meant to see this video. I shared it with my entire school. Thank you.
Scrolling yt and saw this AR and just memories came back of how much I hate the school system for implementing it when I was a kid. I went from reading books like they were candy - reading HS level in 4/5th grade and then 6th grade AR came out. I completely stopped reading- I couldn’t sit there in a silent room being forced to read. I just stared at the same page and then we had to test. I tested on books I already read in elementary school for the 3 years of middle school. I’m 39 and I’ve read a few pages here and there over the years but no full book - finally this year I was able to read a few books. So much lost knowledge from years of not being able to read 😢
Fabulous idea! I've always done Reading Logs, but didn't make the parents sign it (which shocked students and parents). However, I like your idea much more! I moved from teaching middle school for the past 7 years to primary this year. I had no idea how much I'd miss the conversations and relationships, soooo, my plan is to go back. Wonder of wonders, there always seem to be openings at the middle school level ;-)
Thank you for sharing your reading experience. As a ELA teacher, I have had the biggest headache about independent reading. I dislike reading logs and never thought AR was beneficial. What you shared makes too much sense. Is it possible to do a follow up video after this semester? I'm curious to see if there would be any surprises. Keep up the wonderful job.
Thanks for sharing this! I teach History , science and math...but At home I have 3 kids this New year I gave my kids reading goals and I will be buying them a small toy as they hit milestone goals...my son has a hard time reading so his goal for the year is 20 he is in 5th grade... my 6th grader’s goal is 30 she tends to finish books a lot faster but gets a lot of other school work so this might still be a challenge... my 1st graders goal is 100 we read together so this should be motivating for her to sit with me and read. I like your grading explanation I weighed my grades last Semester... but I’m changing to a point system this semester.
I teach high school. We’re doing a comparative analysis this semester, but I think I can add elements of this to my classroom to encourage more reading. I’ve been looking for a way to get my AP Lang students to read more nonfiction to help prepare them for the exam, but I don’t want to overload them. I love the idea of reading 10 texts in a semester. Thanks for the inspiration.
This is so awesome!!!! EXACTLY WHAT I NEEDED. I’ve been doing reading logs in the form of book marks, and many of my students just refuse to turn them in, even if they read. I will try this, THANK YOU
Awesome! I am glad you enjoyed The Book Whisperer and are seeing positive results in your classroom. More teachers need to understand how beneficial this is. Her other book, Reading in the Wild is great also. I used to do the 40 book challenge and then at the end of the year let them know it was okay if they did not reach 40, just like Donalyn Miller does, but that was when I had a daily 90 minute period for ELA. Now we only have 50 minute periods for ELA so I can only give them 15 minutes of independent reading time per day. I like the bookstagram Google Draw document idea you created! I might try it this semester. I was using the class blog function on the Seesaw app for them to post weekly updates on their independent reading life. No requirements as to length and no specific guidelines for content. It was so awesome to read their discussions and arguments that would happen in the comments below each student's post. I also would post comments and join the discussions if I felt I could add something to it. Happy new year! 🎊
Thank you for being exactly what I need for second semester right now!!! Excited to try this. Your reasoning is solid. Love the template...as usual this is great!
I would totally lie on my reading log! If you got a signature for each day of the month you got monthly prizes! I feel so bad now lol! Thank you for sharing your tips!!!
I know you use Chromebooks at your school, but mine use iPads. Do you know whether the template for Google Drawings is compatible with iPads? I love this idea very much!
I know this probably sounds funny, but I've tried to purchase some English Literature teacher and student books so that I could start to develop my own lessons. I have a BA in English and American Literature and will begin an MA program in English via an online program in Fall, 2020. I'm interested in purchasing some literature books for High School, but when I tried to place the order online, it looks as if I cannot complete the order because I'm not a teacher yet and I don't work for a school district or even a private school right now. Any suggestions?
I, too, loved THE BOOK WHISPERER, and have used many ideas from Donalyn Miller. I'm wondering... why grade independent reading? (And why 20 points?) I'm all for standards-based grading, and do not include points or marks in my gradebook (until I need a grade for the end of the term - the rest of the term I only include narrative feedback). I'd just like to put a bug in your ear for not grading independent reading. That's one more thing that turns off our readers who say they "don't like reading." The skills they'll show during comprehension checks will (many times) show if they're reading or not, and when you provide time in class to read, they'll read if it's a culture we've developed. --- Just a nudge. ;) Some of my shares regarding reading: geniushour.blogspot.com/search/label/Reading
I love this and will put it into a shared Google slidedeck so each student has one slide that way all students could see what people read & their review!
I love this idea and I love the template! I had no idea Google Drawings was even a thing! Could you do a video showing how you use it?
I love this idea, but I'm a little worried about ending up with students faking their way through the log, since a one-sentence review doesn't really show their experience with the book. Do you (or any other viewers!) have tips on how to introduce and set expectations for this assignment to encourage students to be as honest as possible?
For context, I've done reading logs with one-sentence questions attached (that I give them in class once a week -- things like "Describe your favourite character in exactly nine words" or "What's your antagonist's biggest fail so far?" that they don't mind answering but still show some level of comprehension), and I've liked that okay, but I've still had to have several conversations with students whose pages or answers don't add up. I would love to use this if I can find a good way to make it work for my students!!
In a faculty meeting yesterday, we were discussing ideas on promoting literacy. I feel like I was meant to see this video. I shared it with my entire school. Thank you.
Could you do a video on how you use Google classroom in your class? Maybe tips and tricks?
Scrolling yt and saw this AR and just memories came back of how much I hate the school system for implementing it when I was a kid. I went from reading books like they were candy - reading HS level in 4/5th grade and then 6th grade AR came out. I completely stopped reading- I couldn’t sit there in a silent room being forced to read. I just stared at the same page and then we had to test. I tested on books I already read in elementary school for the 3 years of middle school. I’m 39 and I’ve read a few pages here and there over the years but no full book - finally this year I was able to read a few books. So much lost knowledge from years of not being able to read 😢
Fabulous idea! I've always done Reading Logs, but didn't make the parents sign it (which shocked students and parents). However, I like your idea much more! I moved from teaching middle school for the past 7 years to primary this year. I had no idea how much I'd miss the conversations and relationships, soooo, my plan is to go back. Wonder of wonders, there always seem to be openings at the middle school level ;-)
9:39 great idea for tracking reading!
Thank you for sharing your reading experience. As a ELA teacher, I have had the biggest headache about independent reading. I dislike reading logs and never thought AR was beneficial. What you shared makes too much sense. Is it possible to do a follow up video after this semester? I'm curious to see if there would be any surprises. Keep up the wonderful job.
Thanks for sharing this! I teach History , science and math...but At home I have 3 kids this New year I gave my kids reading goals and I will be buying them a small toy as they hit milestone goals...my son has a hard time reading so his goal for the year is 20 he is in 5th grade... my 6th grader’s goal is 30 she tends to finish books a lot faster but gets a lot of other school work so this might still be a challenge... my 1st graders goal is 100 we read together so this should be motivating for her to sit with me and read. I like your grading explanation I weighed my grades last Semester... but I’m changing to a point system this semester.
I think your way it's amazing because even though you are grading them, you are not putting pressure or forcing them to read.
This was very inspiring! I will share with upper elementary teachers at my school.
I teach high school. We’re doing a comparative analysis this semester, but I think I can add elements of this to my classroom to encourage more reading. I’ve been looking for a way to get my AP Lang students to read more nonfiction to help prepare them for the exam, but I don’t want to overload them. I love the idea of reading 10 texts in a semester. Thanks for the inspiration.
This is so awesome!!!! EXACTLY WHAT I NEEDED. I’ve been doing reading logs in the form of book marks, and many of my students just refuse to turn them in, even if they read. I will try this, THANK YOU
Awesome! I am glad you enjoyed The Book Whisperer and are seeing positive results in your classroom. More teachers need to understand how beneficial this is. Her other book, Reading in the Wild is great also. I used to do the 40 book challenge and then at the end of the year let them know it was okay if they did not reach 40, just like Donalyn Miller does, but that was when I had a daily 90 minute period for ELA. Now we only have 50 minute periods for ELA so I can only give them 15 minutes of independent reading time per day. I like the bookstagram Google Draw document idea you created! I might try it this semester. I was using the class blog function on the Seesaw app for them to post weekly updates on their independent reading life. No requirements as to length and no specific guidelines for content. It was so awesome to read their discussions and arguments that would happen in the comments below each student's post. I also would post comments and join the discussions if I felt I could add something to it. Happy new year! 🎊
Thanks for this suggestion! I am looking to change things up next year for independent reading!! Thank you!
Great ideas!!! I teach reading! Soooooo excited! :)
Thank you for being exactly what I need for second semester right now!!! Excited to try this. Your reasoning is solid. Love the template...as usual this is great!
I’m so doing this with my class👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
I would totally lie on my reading log! If you got a signature for each day of the month you got monthly prizes! I feel so bad now lol! Thank you for sharing your tips!!!
LOVE this idea, thank you!!
Love!
super cute idea.
Great idea! Can you share your form you created?
How do you get on the PR list for YA/ Middle Grade publishers? That sounds so smart to do as a teacher and for myself, just being an avid reader.😬
📚📚📚
I know you use Chromebooks at your school, but mine use iPads. Do you know whether the template for Google Drawings is compatible with iPads? I love this idea very much!
I know this probably sounds funny, but I've tried to purchase some English Literature teacher and student books so that I could start to develop my own lessons. I have a BA in English and American Literature and will begin an MA program in English via an online program in Fall, 2020. I'm interested in purchasing some literature books for High School, but when I tried to place the order online, it looks as if I cannot complete the order because I'm not a teacher yet and I don't work for a school district or even a private school right now. Any suggestions?
Can you link the assignment?
It’s the first link in the description 🤗
This is a really random question but what graphics program do you use? Thank you :)
I, too, loved THE BOOK WHISPERER, and have used many ideas from Donalyn Miller. I'm wondering... why grade independent reading? (And why 20 points?) I'm all for standards-based grading, and do not include points or marks in my gradebook (until I need a grade for the end of the term - the rest of the term I only include narrative feedback). I'd just like to put a bug in your ear for not grading independent reading. That's one more thing that turns off our readers who say they "don't like reading." The skills they'll show during comprehension checks will (many times) show if they're reading or not, and when you provide time in class to read, they'll read if it's a culture we've developed. --- Just a nudge. ;)
Some of my shares regarding reading: geniushour.blogspot.com/search/label/Reading
Joy Kirr It was super effective and motivating for them! Considering the values and motivations of my students, this was a great way to do it.
I love this and will put it into a shared Google slidedeck so each student has one slide that way all students could see what people read & their review!