Jordan Varn: August Post One: The Habit of Kidwatching

  Many teachers feel the urgent need to check off things in their lesson plans. They want to follow their set plan with no room for "real teaching moments". However, in my experience, it's been through kidwatching during independent reading that I have discovered "real readers" and "fake readers". Through the use of conferencing and taking running records, I can make a true impact in a students independent reading. For the past three years, I have been trying to discover the best methodology for my observations and my anecdotal note taking. Many times have tried to "recreate the wheel" and lost valuable teaching and impacting time with my students because I have wanted to use the "best tool". However, the point isn't in my tools. The point is in the observation. The article stressed the importance of making kidwatching a true habit. As a reading teacher, in a new grade level this year, it is more important than ever that I take the time to observe, listen, and conference with my students and give them time to read independently with their choice of text. Kidwatching is the best way to understand these students as readers.This year, I am going to try to become better at consistently watching and note-taking about my struggling readers. Instead of using a teacher made passage, I want to use the student's choice of text. This gives the better picture of how they see themselves as a reader as well as what they think reading really means as well.  I am stressing the importance of an "independent reading log". The students are already  learning how I am measuring their independence in reading. Many students want to record every book they are reading. However, I am not looking for every book they have read this year. I am looking to see what they are reading when they are independently reading. Their reading log shows if they choose books that are above their development level. It shows if they read too much or too little. It shows if they are reading a wide variety of genres to become a more balanced and well rounded reader. It also so if they abandon books. This tool is a great starting point when conferencing with my students. I am eager to implement more independent reading in my reading block. Dr. Seuss said, "The more you read, the more you know." This is true for kidwatching. The more you observe your students as readers, the better you get to know them as readers.