Reading Without Limits Book Study--Week 4

Hi friends!  We are now on week 4 so we will be going over Chapters 3 and 4 and looking at questions for Chapters 5 and 6!! Sorry that this post is going out so late, I plan to post these on Wednesday and tonight, it is getting posted around 11:30 EST.  I got it on here by the hair of my chinny chin chin!  Please let me know what your thoughts are about the book by answering in the comment area. Last week there were only 2 comments.  =(  <sniff, sniff>

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Just click here to purchase!

And now....here are some answers for Chapters 3 and 4.

1.  What makes an expert reader an expert?

Practice because practice makes perfect!

2.  What does stamina look like?

Stamina 'looks like' students doing what is expected of them for longer periods of time each time the behavior is practiced.

3.  What is a break book?

A 'break book' is a book that a student might read that may be on a lower level or on a topic that is not being studied at the moment.

4.  Why is choice so important in independent reading?

Choice puts the student 'in charge' and validates their learning.  <Jenn here:  There  are different ways to create 'episodes' of choice in your classroom.  There is 'controlled choice' where the student chooses out of a bucket filled with appropriate levels and then there is 'free choice' where the students are free to look through the classroom library. I suggest 'controlled choice' at the beginning of the year and scaffolding and modeling how to make good reading choices as the year goes on.>

5.  What does it mean to read in a state of flow?

Reading in a ‘state of flow’ means that the students are so engrossed in reading that they don’t realize how long they have read and do not want to stop!  I call this ‘high stamina’!

6.  What are book series that you recommend for the classroom and what grade level?

I teach 2^nd grade so I would recommend the Magic Tree House books, Flat Stanley, and Junie B. Jones.

7.  If you were going to create a 'play list', what books would be in it?

For me:  Amelia Bedelia, books by Kevin Henkes and Tomie de Paola, and fairy tales!

8.  Why does Maddie suggest that you have a partner book library?  How is it     organized?

A partner book library has books organized so that multiple copies are bundled and easy for students to grab and go buddy read together!

9.  How would you use/organize a read-a-thon in your classroom?

At the end of the school year when I was trying to get all of my running records done and end of the year testing completed, I had a read-a-thon in my classroom.  I challenged students to read a book, write a 2 sentence summary, and then move on to the next book.  I even had a prize for the student that read the most books and had really good summaries!

10.  What is a book talk?  How can a book talk be used in a classroom?

A book talk can be used to promote a book that others might want to read.  It is often used by librarians or classroom teachers to get students excited about a book.  I often read a snippet of the first chapter or the book jacket to motivate students.

11.  What would a recommendation basket do in your classroom?  How would you set one up?

A recommendation basket would bring lots of excitement to my kids.  They always want to read what I am reading or what I pull out to wow them with next!  I would probably set up a basket with my favorites from up above.

By the way have you seen the book hospitals?  These are great also!

12.  Explain this:  I do.  We do.  You do.

See this link!  It is an excellent explanation!!

13.  What are 'double entry journals' and what are their purpose?

Here is a template for a double entry journal and it even has an explanation!  Go grab this freebie!

14.  What can you learn from the table on pg 105?

I learned how to use symbols to help students link their thinking to reading skills.  Can you imagine having a poster like this?  It would make a great anchor chart!

Chapter 4

15.  How often/how long should shared reading be scheduled in the classroom?  What does it look like/sound like/include?

Maddie recommends scheduling 4 blocks of shared reading each week.  Each block should last at least 30 minutes.  Shared reading can be used to spiral skills that have previously been talked, model new strategies, and plug on ahead with ‘think alouds’.   Don’t forget Close reading!  This information can be found on pages 118-130.

16.  What is 'accountible talk'?

Accountable talk is discussions between the class or partners and often involve using sentence starters.

Jenn here—We often prod student thinking by giving ‘private think time’ after giving a sentence starter so that students have time to gather their thoughts and can be direct with their conversation.

17.  What is assigned reading? Why should we assign reading? At what grade  should assigned reading begin?

Assigned reading is when the teacher says, “Read pages ______. You will need to be done by ______.  Let’s get started!”  Maddie says that assigned reading should be used in the classroom because helps students prepare for deadlines in the real world.  I know that 2^nd graders aren’t ready for assigned reading, as their reading levels differ so greatly.  However, if used in a group by group basis and not in whole group, it might just work!

18.  Steps to Say Something pg 139--paraphrase this!

Students must decide which partner will speak.  Students choose from a list of skills that are used to discuss what was read.  If the students can’t answer any questions or discuss the book, then they reread.

Now, here are the questions for Chapter 5 and Chapter 6!!

Chap 5

1.  Why should a teacher follow the same procedures every time a group meets?

2.  Why do students need to read out loud?

3.  Pages 147-152 have the procedures for a guided reading group. List them in the

order they are prescribed.

4.  What does Maddie recommend on pg 155 as far as grouping?

5.  Look at table 5.1. Pick out your grade level and summarize what needs to be

taught.

Chap 6

6.  What kind of seating is important for your classroom?

7.  What does Maddie mean when she says, ‘Make college visible’?

8.  How is your classroom set up?

9.  What does it mean to ‘market’ your books?

Here are guided reading sheets that I use with my groups.  Just click here!

Here is a list of books that Maddie recommends for these chapters.  Just click on the pic of the book to go to Amazon and read about it!

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