How do we learn about our students as readers?

1. How do we learn about our students as readers? Advanced English Methods Fall 2015 Deirdre faughey

2. Thinking about student reading behaviors • Focused Freewrite: (10 minutes) • Think about a student you work with (or have worked with) who you think struggles with reading. • Try to describe what you see them do when they try to read. What works for that student? What does not? Why?

3. Reading behavior • In groups of 3-4, create a list of behaviors you expect to see in dependent or struggling readers, and those you expect to see in “good” readers. • Each group will share with the class.

4. “these kids can’t read” • In When Kids Can’t Read, by Kylene Beers, she offers a list of what she calls dependent reading behaviors (p. 24). • Please review this list with a partner and compare/contrast it with the list you created with your group. • What do you notice? How does the Beers list compare with the behaviors you notice in your own students?

5. Learning from student behaviors • Focused Freewrite: (5 minutes) • How do we learn about our students as readers? • What opportunities do they have to share who they are as readers with their teachers?

6. An example • How have I learned about my students as readers? • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHGEOxoUE9c&feature=youtu.be

7. “say something” • In groups of 3-4, review the “Say Something” strategy and try it out. • Pay attention to the experience – how it works for you, and how it might work for your students. • Reflections will be shared with class.