Hanging in my classroom is a poster board that says, "What Stuck With You Today?' I do an activity with my students using sticky notes and this board. The students take a sticky note and post something up on the board explaining what "stuck" with them for that day. After reading and researching independent reading (IR) and Sustained Silent Reading (SSR), what I would write on my sticky note that "stuck" with me is that silent reading should be implemented into the classroom to encourage motivation, find the right books for students, and for peer interaction. What I took away mostly is the peer interaction part. When we think of silent reading, we think that it is specifically done silently. Well, I was wrong. Silent Reading should actually be called Sustained Reading without the silent part. Teachers should be walking around the room observing, taking notes, and conferring with students. Students should be reading, discussing with a partner(s), and forming "book clubs". If sustained reading is done the right way and not how most schools are implementing it, then we can be improving our students scores and seeing academic success. Students should also use reading logs to record what they are reading and to reflect. I challenge you to take what you have read from this blog and research independent reading on your own time to see all of the best practices! Here are great websites to get you started.
Blogging- http://kidblog.org/home/
Reading Log- http://www.k12reader.com/printable-reading-logs/
Sustained Reading- http://www.readingrockets.org/article/reconsidering-silent-reading
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