Marsha Ross-March/April Blog Chapter 9- Emphasize Shared Reading

I really enjoyed reading this chapter.  Routman emphasizes the importance of building a community in the classroom where there is no fear.  A place where there is nothing but comfort and safety to enjoy a book.  A place where there is no round robin reading.  A place where children are encouraged and guided.
  .For many years now, I have included Shared Reading in my classroom.  It is a great time in my room and I greatly enjoy it.  It is a time where I pull all my kids to the carpet and we share a text.  We read together and learn together through thoughtful conversation and a sharing of skills.  When I first started, I used big books and the reading book.  Both ways work!  All that matters is that everyone is able to share the same text together.
   When doing Shared Reading, I start out similar to a guided reading lesson.  I start with important vocabulary that the children need to know.  We picture walk the story and find the important words on the different pages through the story.  When finished, we go back to the beginning of the story.  Sometimes I read to my children.  Sometimes they echo me. Other times, I read a page and they read the next.  Each day, we do something different with the story.  We read it together several days throughout the week.  As we read each day we discuss different spelling patterns that we see. We discuss what good readers do like finger track or blend unknown words by using little chunks that we know.  I try to tie as many skills into the story as I can.  We discuss everything that we can.
   This chapter was a great reminder to me of what I really enjoy in my classroom.  It helped me to see that I am doing great things!  It also showed me some ways that I can improve.  As I was reading I saw where Routman kept referring to the shared transparency that you could use to make sure everyone could see a book that they didn't have a hard copy of.  That same day I was introduced to Epic.  I now saw how I could incorporate technology into my classroom. instead of the transparency.  It made me realize I could use Epic and we could share real literature together without having to take pictures or scan a copy into the computer.  It also helped my see how I could incorporate more turn and talks into my lessons.  It was a great read.

Kristin Humphries: Blog Post 7-Emphasize Shared Reading

       As I read about the importance of shared reading, I gained useful information that will be helpful to my students. Routman explains that shared reading helps learners to find reading time more enjoyable. It can be used with any type of text, from non-fiction to poetry. She also clarifies that during shared reading time students encourage each other, it provides time for practice, raises expectations, and builds confidence. A teacher can introduce different genres through shared reading time. This time can be more meaningful than a whole-group lesson or teaching through small groups.

        I look forward to spending more time allowing my students to share read. I have used shared reading in my classroom. I have found it helpful and encouraging. I have tried to use an assortment of strategies to see what has worked best with my students. Shared reading time has been a success for me. I would encourage others to try shared reading time in their classrooms.

Allison Sumerel's March/April Blog Post-Routman Chapter 8: Teach Comprehension

We tend to focus on teaching words at an early age but not how to deeply understand what they are reading.  Routman says, "You can't start teaching comprehension in grade 3.  You start teaching it the day kids enter preschool or kindergarten."(118)  The problem comes in knowing how to effectively teach comprehension.  Studies suggest using high interest novel.  As you read, don't just focus on skills, but what they are actually reading.  I have tried this in my class with more interesting texts.  As they read, we discuss what is being read, and how it relates to what we know.  I encourage my students to make connections.  This helps me to know that they are grasping it.  Balance is also a key aspect.   They suggest a 20 percent-to-80 percent rule.  Giving them time to apply their strategies is key.  The example with spelling made a lot of sense to me.  We give students spelling tests and they can spell all of the words, but when they actually write those words in sentences or summaries, do they remember how to spell them?  The application is important.

Rereading material is also very important.  I have noticed when my students don't understand, simply having them go back and read it me helps.  I have also started to see that my students are improving in comprehension from our close reading strategies.  Having them highlight, underline, and write comments to the side has also helped.  Routman also suggests that strategy for helping with comprehension.  It was very helpful for me to read this chapter to remind myself that "teaching strategies is not enough."