READ TO SELF…
I think this is my favorite time of the day.
My class is NEVER quiet… NOT even during READ TO SELF.
But the hmmmmmm of firsties reading …
IT’S THE BEST!
My kiddos each have their own book box..
(Donor’s Choose ladies…gotta get going on that!)
I got mine at REALLY GOOD STUFF.
Mine are the older model…LOVE THEM!
But if I was purchasing TODAY…
I would get the book boxes with
STABILIZERS..
They take up a little more room on the bookshleves..
BUT…They won’t fall over when the kiddos put the bigger books (ANTHOLOGY) in it!
My kiddos get 10 books.
3 are leveled readers from our Journeys Series.
1 is their Journey decodeable that WE ALL have read together!
2 are THEIR CHOICE ( usually picture / theme books that are a stretch for them to read )
and
4 from my leveled library.
They can choose any 4 from the numbered tub
( I tell them their reading level ).
I must admit…
my library is NOT exactly where I want it to be.
CONSTRUCTION IN PROGRESS
(as always)
So how do we do READ TO SELF???
We do READ TO SELF every day after lunch.
They come in get out their book box AND
their Journeys ANTHOLOGY
(which we have read MANY MANY times!)
They are excused by “quiet groups”to
GO ANY PLACE IN THE CLASSROOM
(not underdesks / tables …Safety )
where they can read quietly.
Then they..
“TURN YOUR BACK TO ANYONE NEAR YOU!”
Some face the wall…some stretch out..some stay at their desk..or move to someone else’s desk!
We say “Everyone… WHISPER…and READ!”
And they read!
I use an online countdown timer
and when the timer goes off..we are done!
At the beginning of the year our
STAMINA
was about 3-5 minutes.
Then we discuss what we liked..what changes we wanted to make..etc…
They now read for 20-25 minutes.
They would read longer, but really…
we do math next & I run out of time!
What do I do during READ to self?
CIRCULATE THE ROOM!
If you want kids to stay on task..they have to SEE you!
I also take a few notes on what I hear, I can sit next to a child & assess, whisper discuss any problems, changes, growth I have noticed!
This is a time to let them
ENJOY READING!
And they DO!
PLEASE…..don’t give up independent reading!
I have heard teachers say…I DON’T HAVE TIME!
You always have time to let them READ!
Here’s my cuties in action!
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Thanks for sharing and giving us a little glimpse into your classroom 🙂
My firsties LOVE Read To Self. And that hum…the best sound ever… their little voices using all the decoding strategies we work so hard to instill in them. Success!
My firsties are building up their stamina. We can do about 9 minutes after 6 weeks of practicing – we're in Australia and our year starts at the end of January, however I only got my class in the second week back at school. When did you get to 20-25 minutes?
http://bpps1t.blogspot.com.au/
We are at the end of our school year. We built up stamina at the beginning of 4th quarter. The have to be at a higher reading level to be able to read for that amount of time. My kiddos want MORE time…I wish I had it to give them! We talk about reading ….all the time! My passsion! 🙂 Wendy
You are so welcome! It changes yearly! 🙂 wendy 1stgradefireworks
I have started playing soft classical music during Read to Self…the hum is sooooo beautiful. They LOVE it! Wendy 1stgradefireworks