Assignment for RE 3030

Sustained Silent Reading (SSR) and Reading Log

I encourage you to engage in the wonderful activity of reading. As a teacher you should find time in your classroom to either read to your students or just let them read. You will learn in class that a key to successful reading is having the skill to read fluently. The single best way to increase reading fluency is to read a lot. So this is very much an instructional activity. As a teacher, you need to practice and model this skill, so now is the time to begin the process of reading as much children's literature as you can.

So, in our class I will ask you to explore books. From time to time, I will provide you with selections. If you get into a book and want to check it out, or check out another one, you may do that. There will be a sign up list for books you want to borrow. On your own, I expect you to find children's books in your library, or perhaps if you work in a school you can peruse the school library. You should begin to collect children's books, so look for used book sales. Check out Scholastic.com.

As you read books, I want you to keep a log of what books you read by jotting down key information:

1. Author(s) (Illustrator).

2. Date of Publication.

3. Title.

4. ISBN #

5. Also, comment on what level the book is (what grade level)

6. What it is about

7. What you might be able to do with it in a class: for example what themes could be covered, or what content would link to the book. Is it a read aloud?

Once a week you will post one of these book reviews on your blog, or if you like you may create a page on your blog for all of your reviews. This choice will be up to you; the requirement for this assignment is that you post (on your blog) at least one of these reviews each week we have class during the semester--a minimum of 12 reviews on your blog. These reviews will serve as a resource for you that you can use when teaching.

Please enjoy this assignment and get excited about books!