Independent Reading

Independent reading is one major component of our ILA class. Students may choose an independent reading book from the classroom library, Media Center, EB Public Library, Scholastic Book Catalog, bookstore, or from home. Students will carry their independent reading book to and from school each day in a 2 gallon Zip-loc bag. Students are expected to read for at least 30 minutes each night and log the pages that they read on their Independent Reading bookmark. Happy reading :-)

In class, students participate in "Reading Workshop". Reading Workshop consists of a 5 to 10 minute lesson a selected topic. Then, students read independently for approximately 20 minutes. While students are reading, the teacher walks around and conferences with selected students. At this time, the teacher may also work with small reading groups.

Past Reading Workshop Discussion Topics:

-Reading Workshop Guidelines (logging pages, behaviors, choosing the perfect book the "Reading Zone", etc.)

-abandoning a book/giving a book a second chance

-how to give a book talk/what to include in my book talk

-sensory details

-story elements (characters, plot, problem/conflict, theme, setting, and solution)

Non-fiction:

-non-fiction elements

-inferring in non-fiction

-structure of non-fiction

-rereading to find important information

Figurative Language:

-Simile

-Metaphor

-Idiom

-Personification

Character Development:

-How Authors Reveal Characters

-Character Traits

-Character Change

Learning Lessons Through Fiction:

Making inferences

Identifying the lesson learned

Generalizations

Theme

Story Progression:

Cause &   Effect

Summarizing

Sequencing

Setting:

Identifying setting

Understanding the difference between general and specific

Mood and tone

Understanding the importance of setting to the plot of a story

"Social Issues" Book Clubs:

Understanding social issues

How to conduct silent conversations