HE READ, SHE READ: GETTING STUDENTS EXCITED ABOUT BOOKS

							He Read, She Read: Getting Students Excited About Books - Middle Level Insider                                           12/4/12 8:29 PM




   September 2011

   He Read, She Read: Getting Students Excited About Books

   Christie Beving

   As an avid reader, I am at a complete loss about why my sixth graders don't enjoy reading. During the past few
   years I have required my students to read different genres outside the classroom, and although they did the
   reading, they weren't as excited about the books as I thought they should be. After three years of refining my
   teaching, I think I finally may have hooked them.

   I still require my students to read 14 books of various genres during the year, but have found a few ways for them
   to share that reading in way that is getting them excited about reading and books: reader's notebooks and must
   reads.

   Reader's Notebook. At the beginning of the year, I introduce the reader's notebook. Set up as a log, it's a place
   for students to record what they read (or abandoned), how they felt about the book, how difficult the book was for
   them to read, and what books they want to read. The students turn in the notebook at the end of the year.

   I, too, keep a reader's notebook log and display it prominently on my classroom door so all my students can see
   what I'm reading and how I rated each book. On my log I include young adult books, adult novels, and professional
   books. Most students check my log weekly and often want to discuss books we have in common.

   I also share why I rated some books harder to read than others. For example, I read Brad Thor's The Apostle, but
   my background knowledge on weapons and military tactics isn't very strong, so it took me longer to read that
   particular book than other fiction books on my list.

   Must Read Time. On our double-block literature/English days we have Must Read time during the first 5-10
   minutes of class. During this time, students get up in front of the class and share books they think other students
   should read. They record their recommendations on a card that we post on our Must Read bulletin board. I also
   post book reviews that my students might find interesting.

   Going Deeper. The final piece of the puzzle is related to the reader's notebook. Twice each quarter, the students
   share in detail what they are reading and what they think about the literature. I respond to them, asking probing
   questions to get them to think more deeply about the books and gently encouraging them to spend a little more
   time reading.


   Christie Beving is a sixth grade literature/English and literacy leader at Norwalk Middle School in Norwalk, Iowa.
   E-mail: CBeving@norwalk.k12.ia.us.




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