Hi there!
Hard to believe that Easter is almost here. Hope you have a nice spring break.
BTW, you don't need to read Donalyn's book to blog. Just share what works in your school or classroom. Or comment on something that jumps out at you below.
It will be good to hear from you…
Lynn Gurnee,
CRA Past President
March Chapter 2: “Everybody is a Reader”
- Each chapter begins with a quote from one of Donalyn’s students. Emily’s quote, I’ve learned that you can’t hate a book till you’ve tried it! Bring it on.” is priceless. Wouldn’t you love for one of your students to say that to you? What are some things your students said that you want to capture in a journal? Do share!
- Donalyn said, “What I thought students needed (in my lesson plans) was not as important as how I responded to their expressed needs.” Hmm. She realized this only after 3 years of teaching. Does this surprise you?
- Donalyn’s labels of 3 reading trends fascinated me… how about you?
1.
Her answer for Developing
Readers (often referred to as struggling) is a heavy dose of independent
reading with explicit instruction in relevant reading strategies. Her example of
Kelsey who was given this “rescue recipe” transformed her to a reader! What do you think?
2.
Donalyn describes
Dormant Readers (or unmotivated ones) who read to pass but don’t embrace
reading and often escape notice like Hope who had fallen behind. Her answer was to let Hope browse books
often & have choice in what to read. What outcome can you predict?
3.
Underground Readers are
those like Randy who secretly read his own books rather than those encouraged
by teachers. Donalyn embraces
Cambourne’s Conditions of Learning as a way to help all of these above types of
readers. Do these conditions ring a bell for you? Do you have readers like Hope, Randy, and Kelsey? What are you thinking now?