This Learning Unboxed episode discussion focuses on the sixth shift in Katie Engan, Cunningham, Jan Burkins and Kari Yates' book, "Shifting the Balance: Grades Three to Five Six Ways to Bring the Science of Reading into the Upper Elementary Classroom." In this session, the team emphasized ways to make independent reading both meaningful and purposeful in classrooms. They challenged the assumption that independent reading, if self-selected, is meaningful just because students are compliant, quiet and busy.
Motivation, purpose, autonomy, choice of text, teaching students to self-regulate, offering opportunities to respond to texts were all considered to be key in improving independent reading. The podcast also discussed the idea of different levels of reading and the potential impacts of these on a child’s self-perception as a reader. The team gave practical suggestions, such as grading books in classrooms according to different skill sets that students might be working on, performing book talks and book tastings, and fostering a community of readers within schools.

The goal is to provide effective scaffolding for independent reading while also managing small group instruction. The conversation ended on a positive note, urging teachers to make incremental changes to improve literacy instruction. Even the most transformative change begins with a single first step and it is important to keep the momentum going by trying new things.

Resources

·       Mo Willems – Elephant and Piggy

·       Mike Anderson “Learning to Choose and Choosing to Learn”

·       Nell K Duke The Active View of Reading

·       Scarborough’s Reading Rope

·       Mirrors, Windows and Sliding doors

·       Penny Kittle and Kelly Gallagher– 180 Days ·       First Chapter Fridays

·       Book Trailers Tuesdays

·       Book Tasting

·       GIST statements

·       Because, but, so sentence frames

·       Choice Boards