RUTGERS 47TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON READING AND WRITING

GUIDED READING, BOOK CLUBS, AND

LITERATURE CIRCLES

Dr. Sharon McKool

Rider University

Mrs. Bev Gallagher

Princeton Day School

Our Story

Sharon and Bev

Purpose of the session

To discuss the purpose of “intentional” instruction

To discuss the different types of small group instruction

To show the differences between guided reading, book clubs, and literature circles

To discuss the essential traits of a learning environment that fosters successful small group work

It is not enough to be busy;

The question is,What are we busy

about?(Henry David Thoreau)

Teaching with Intention: Defining beliefs, aligning practices and taking actions, Debbie Miller (2008)

Non-negotiable conditions for developing readers

A teacher who models his/her own reading life

Hours and hours of time spent reading The freedom to make their own reading

choices A teacher who models his/her own thinking Reading instruction which is strategic and

focused on meaning making A classroom environment that engages in

small group reading discussions

Being a teacher of reading does not mean simply giving students access to instructional practices. It means giving students access to who you are as a reader, a teacher, and a person. Jennifer Scoggin, Be Fabulous, (2015)

One of the key factors in motivating students to read is a teacher who values reading and is enthusiastic about sharing a love of reading with students. Gambrell (1996)

“While I searched for the key to being a master reading teacher, I forgot what workshop teaching was all about—my role as master reader…” Donalyn Miller, The Book Whisperer (2009)

Greatest gift to students

A teacher who reads A teacher who shares his/her own identity as

a reader A teacher who recommends new and

interesting books to young readers A teacher who makes time for independent

reading everyday A teacher who reads aloud everyday A teacher who continues to expand his/her

own repertoire of books by reading and adding to his/her own classroom library.

How do we get to know about the reading lives of our students?

SurveysClass discussionsReading conferences and informal

conversationsPrevious recordsConversations with past teachersReader’s Bill of Rights

The Right to Not Read?

Why Small Groups?

Active engagement of all learners Ability to differentiate High quality interaction with teacher and

other students Provides students an opportunity to see

literate behaviors being modeled Provides voice and choice Positive social interaction

Reader’s Workshop

1. The Read Aloud and Mini lesson2. Independent Reading3. Guided Reading/Book

Clubs/Literature Circles

Gradual Release of Control

Strategies Texts

Teacher-led X INSTR level

X

Student- X IND level

led

Guided Reading Book Clubs Literature Circles

Guided Reading

Purpose: Strategy instruction Teacher led Teacher selects materials Instructional level materials Homogeneous grouping

Book Clubs

Purpose: To practice strategies while still under the guidance of the teacher

Texts can be teacher or student selected Texts can be selected because of student

interest or because of topic of study Instructional or independent level materials can

be used Homogeneous grouping Stephanie Harvey, Strategies that work and

Colonial Times: Short Nonfiction for American History (Toolkit Texts)

Literature Circles

Purpose: To give students an opportunity to practice, independently, strategies learned

Texts selected by students Authentic conversations led by students Heterogeneous grouping (ideally) Teacher’s role is to silently observe and

take notes A spirit of playfulness pervades the room

Harvey Daniels, Literature Circles (2002)

Gradual Release of Control

Strategies Texts

Teacher-led X INSTR level

X

Student- X IND level

led

Guided Reading Book Clubs Literature Circles

Books Lists

young adult fiction list https://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/20

15/01/02/2014-nerdy-awards-for-young-adult-fiction-announced-by-donalyn-miller-and-nerdy-nation-part-one/

middle grade fiction https://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/20

15/01/01/2014-nerdy-awards-for-middle-grade-fiction-announced-by-colby-sharp/

graphic novels https://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/20

14/12/30/2014-nerdy-awards-for-graphic-novels-by-katherine-sokolowski/

file://localhost/Users/smckool/Documents/Book List 1 for Children.docx (Great for strategy mini-lessons)

file://localhost/Users/smckool/Documents/Book List for Children 2.docx (Book list)

http://readingandwritingproject.org/resources/book-lists (Great for book clubs and literature circles)

Contact us at:

Dr. Sharon S. McKool smckool@rider.edu

Mrs. Bev Gallagher bevgallagher24@gmail.com