Saturday, November 4, 2017
Units Kristina-Uh Oh
I am in need of some advice on how to best help my students, especially my struggling students. A little more than half of my class is struggling to stick with books that are just right for them. Some of these students are struggling readers and are just having a hard time finding low readability, high interest books that they feel comfortable reading in front of their peers. That is something I feel like I can help them with by accessing special educators and using other teachers, who teach younger grades, as book resources. Where I am really struggling is with my students who can read just about anything but can't seem to stick with anything or pick books that are way too easy and only take them 10 minutes to read. These are the students who seem unmotivated to put their best foot forward. I feel like this is the unanswerable question of "how do you make students motivated?" What are some ways you all help students who struggle to stick with books or read just right books to become better readers?
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Kristina, I have experience the same problem. My high flyers love reading books that are way too easy. When I ask them to step it up, they get upset and tell me they are loving the book they are currently reading. I don't want to discourage them, but I do want to challenge them!!
ReplyDeleteJust recently I have been having my students generate their own vocabulary lists using their independent reading books. Most of them were shocked to discover that they could not find any words they did not know. Aha!!! It actually motivated them to look for more challenging books. Give it a try...
Thanks for the advice. I have been thinking about some sort of vocabulary book. This sounds like a good place to start.
DeleteI'm not sure if this will help, but I just ordered 6 audio books for 2 or 3 or my struggling readers. This will allow them to "read" books that other 4-6 graders are reading. I did find one audio book (only the cd) at my school and then an old cd player that actually works and handed it to my lowest student on Thursday - this student is THRILLED to say the least. "When can we read today?" Wow!! I'll let you know how well this continues.
ReplyDeleteI always forget about audiobooks! Our school library has a small collection. I will start there.
DeleteStep by step...I have a little success with a couple of my high flyers by opening up some collections I have from when I was teaching 6th grade. Just gave them a few more options.
ReplyDelete