Rationale: For students to become independent readers they need to view reading as fun. To view reading as fun is the hard part. We as teachers must encourage them to think in this manner. Some ways of doing this is to make them familiar with the library, talk to other students about books they have read, talk to us (teachers) and their parents. This lesson plan will guide you in accomplishing these goals.
- Selection of books for students grade level
- Bud the Sub and What will the seal eat?
- Schedule a trip to the school library.
- Chart for student’s to record their readings
1. [Introduce lesson] We all like to read stories on our own but sometimes it is hard to find books that we like to read and understand. Today we are going to learn how to find books that we like to read and learn how to share what was learned to other people.
2. [Review cross-checking] Let’s review first to see how to correct our reading mistakes. I will read a sentence and you tell me if it is correct. “Bud the sub is not bug.” Is that correct? NO! You are right. Let me try it again, “Bud the sub is not big.” You are right, that is correct. Remember if you are reading and a sentence does not make sense, go back and re-read it to see what was not correct.
3. [Introduce Library] When you get ready to choose a book go to our section of choices. [Have books marked by grade level.] Choose a book that you think that you might like to read about. Here are two examples, Bud the sub is about a submarine and What will the seal eat is about a seal. Some of us may not like to read a book about a boat and some may not like to read about a seal. Finding one that you like should be pretty easy.
4. [Silent reading time] This should be provided to all students including teachers in the classroom daily. Set aside a specific time and allow the children to get out of their desk to be comfortable and read.
5. [Assessment] Have the students share in groups of two or three about the books they have read. This allows for them to spark interest in their friends to encourage them to continue reading. Also have the students tell you (teacher/parent) about the book. Ask them questions to determine if actually read the book. Also, creating a chart for them to record their readings is a good way to encourage reading.
Reference: Wilson, P. (1992). Among Non-Readers: Voluntary Reading, Reading Achievements, and he Development of Reading Habits. In C. Temple and P. Collins (Eds.) Stories and Readers: New perspectives on literature in the elementary school classroom (pp. 157-169). Norwood, MA: Christopher Gordon.
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