By the end of this week, all students will have started their first book club of the year! Essentially book clubs are "guided reading"; students read texts within their Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD; see diagram below). Additionally, because choice is so vital in reading with regard to intrinsic motivation, students ranked their top choices for clubs. Based on those ranks (and other contributing factors), I assembled groups.
Quick Facts about Book Clubs:
- I meet with each book club every other day (twice a week)
- Students (with my guidance) decide together how many pages to read for the next meeting.
- Students have time in class to complete their assigned reading and any additional tasks related to the reading.
- Students are allowed to take book club books home, if desired.
- During meetings, the teacher's role is to first ask questions to monitor comprehension, then push students to think more critically about text. This is where the magic really happens... Meaningful and insightful dialogue (and eventually writing) comes out of these meetings.
- Students still have time to read self-selected books during Readers' Workshop, throughout the week.
Reminders:
- Book Fair: Mrs. O'Neill's homeroom will shop for books during Library tomorrow.
- PTA meeting tonight in the cafeteria, at 6:30
- Get Caught Reading: Remember to email in pictures when you "catch" your child reading! Hadley.ONeill@hcps.org
Upcoming Dates:
- Harford Glen: Permission slips due Friday, Nov. 4 or your earliest convenience.
- Parent-Teacher Conferences: Monday, Nov. 7
- All students and families should have been notified of their conference time. If you are unaware of your assigned time, please email your homeroom teacher.
Thank you,
Mrs. O'Neill
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