Margaret Quinn - November blog -Miller Section 2 Why Not? What Works? Why Independent Reading Matters the Best Practices to Support It

This chapter stresses the importance of giving children as many opportunities to read as possible. Reading alone will help increase their reading fluency, increase reading rate, improve reading expression, comprehension, self confidence, and social interaction with peers. The more students read inside the classroom, the more they will probably read outside the classroom as well. Unfortunately, teachers feel very limited already with their time and feel pressured to complete all necessary instructional time.
I do feel it is important to model what we teach. A lot of students are visual learners and will learn how to choose a just right book by us modeling how to do so and think out loud. By showing them how to choose an appropriate book, this will cut down on wasted time reading a book that they aren't able to read just yet. It's no shock to me that "the best readers read the most and that poor readers read the least." The more you practice a skill, the better you are at it.
The more texts that students have access to, the more genres they might find they like. Students talk to peers, parents, and teachers about what is on their minds. If students are reading lots of different kinds of books, this will ultimately prompt them to ask more questions and share new things they just learned. Talking with peers will also encourage poor readers to read more, so they too can learn new things. When students have choice on what they can and are allowed to read, they will read more often and be engaged the whole time instead of glossing over words, reading as fast as they can, and not learn one thing. It is important for teachers to teach students hos to read on a deeper level, so they can grow as readers. Students don't always know when a book is too difficult for them verses a just right book that will push them a little harder. That is why we need to monitor and conference with each student. Hold each student accountable for the time allotted for them to read. This will teach students to use every minute that is given to them wisely.