#6thchat is used to chat, collaborate, and grow with other sixth grade educators from around the globe. Each session we discuss a topic voted on by #6thchat participants. It's a great way to help grow your PLN and share ideas with others.
Welcome to #6thchat and please introduce yourself, where you teach and what you teach. I am Kristin and teach in Lansing, MI. I teach ELA and SS. Tomorrow will be PT conferences! Busy week!
A1) Motivated readers carry books with them, and are constantly talking about books (intrinsic); my other readers need external rewards (what will I get if I read...), or are always looking for a book; change books frequently. #6thchat
Howard from Palo Alto, Ca. Full inclusion middle math science. 3 individual learning plans to create. Restarting up WASC. Thinking about learning about PBL and Inquiry. Currently launching Air Rockets. #6thchat
A2) I grapple with this question a lot. I feel like some of them just are comfortable saying, "I don't like to read." or "I'm not a reader." Some Ps at conferences say this, too. Ideas on how to turn this Titanic around are welcome! #6thchat
A2 confidence and feeling like a reader. I have students who laugh when I say I cried in a book. I think they just haven't experienced that and don't understand why I would have strong emotions. #6thchat
A2 Disengaged readers are more excited about the outcomes of other things they do versus the outcomes they get from reading. Reading is hard for them, they don't see how reading changes their thinking, they ask what's in it for them and their answer = not enough! #6thchat
A2 Often times readers need a connection to the material they read. However, they won't know if there is a connection until they read the book. #6thchat
I was curious as I have done all of the above. After reading Book Whisperer, I have changed my habits a bit, but sometimes my "reluctant" readers sign things or list books for "show." #6thchat
A3) Sometimes literacy circles or partner books help. I have wondered about audio books as well. Are there folks who have easy ways to have students access books via audio? #6thchat
I think your point about "ability to attend to something less than thrilling" is IT. I find my gamers often struggle a bit more with the calm, slower pace of reading. #6thchat
A3 My teaching partner and I worked with some gamification gurus in our building and just gamified Independent reading. The motivation boost has been significant! We also run a book madness bracket with 16 titles to choose our fav of all time. This ups the book buzz! #6thchat
I tried a book challenge the last two months. Random teams. Most books wins a book of choice. It helped motivate them to read more and the winners were so excited to pick a book for me to buy them. #6thchat
Great idea! This sounds like something we do across our small city called Battle of the Books. They read as a team and have a trivia contest. Mostly strong readers participate though. #6thchat
A4) Avoid giving up on the reader. They do that well enough themselves. "Assigning" reading; instead, let readers tell you what they want to read and then check in on them more. #6thchat
A4 I don't believe in forcing a child to read something even though it can be a constant struggle to find something some of them like to read. #6thchat
I love the book madness. We did that a couple of years ago as a school. Very fun, and wish we were doing it again. I am interested in your gamification idea, too. Great! #6thchat
A4 Stop telling these readers, "You just haven't found the right book yet." Honestly, the right book will be the one that fulfills a purpose for them. Help them find their purpose instead of a book! Reading is the ticket to most of the things kids want to be able to do! #6thchat
A4 Assign two books and let them choose which one to go for. That way they feel like they had a part in the selection and it doesn't feel as forced. #6thchat
A4 I don't believe in forcing a child to read something even though it can be a constant struggle to find something some of them like to read. #6thchat
A5) I think that a peer who likes to read can help a friend by partner reading same books, or spending time helping the non-reader search for books. It is highly dependent on the relationship for sure. #6thchat
My Ss who struggle to read want to read. Half the challenge is getting them to stay engaged in the process of learning - grit if you will. I invest in graphic novels. I give them screen readers for my eTextbook. #6thchat
I recently lent one of my reluctant readers my son's hunter safety book because he wants to get his hunters safety. That was a good reason to read for him. #6thchat
I hate reading for the lost part. I loved sports biographies. I found out I like biographies. I tell my Ss this so they will search for their interest as well. #6thchat
A5 Sharing what they are reading and allowing them time for that can spark interest. We play rock paper scissors to decide who will get first dibs on any new classroom books. #6thchat
I hate reading for the most part. I loved sports biographies. I found out I like biographies. I like reading to solve tech problems. I tell my Ss this, so they will search for their interest as well. #6thchat
Here you go #6thchat -- independent reading gamification! It's a work in progress but the kids are so motivated to read. Some aspects aren't visible on the site. Overall book buzz never better! https://t.co/swrcdE1V1p
So good! I do the same. I talk about how it is important to "try" different genres because, like food, you don't really know until you try it out. #6thchat
A6) I think it is important to help Ss find books that meet their goals. I have a Ss right now who has never read a chapter book on his own. He always wants picture books. So, he had a goal to finish one & will check in daily to book talk. #6thchat
I strongly believe it’s developmental. It’s a brain thing. IMO the key is getting them to believe this for the rest of their lives and keep at it. With reading the rich get richer. So what if it takes longer. #6thchat
I strongly believe it’s developmental. It’s a brain thing. IMO the key is getting them to believe this for the rest of their lives and keep at it. With reading the rich get richer. So what if it takes longer. #6thchat
I had a Ss who struggled. reading Kazu Kibuishi’s graphing series Amulet. He did his own drawing from it. I tweeted it to the author. Later he read graphic novel of The Odyssey after I told him they would readnitater in high school. He used it for his book report. #6thchat
A6: it makes it their own goal. I am not telling them what to read. They should be able to decide what is good for them and therefore be more successful. #personalizedreading#6thchat
A6 start with small goals and just build from that. Esepcially with un motivated readers. Start from a picture book, then a book with pictures, then a book without. I think the hardest part is just getting them started and feeling successful. #6thchat
A5 Keep book talk alive and well in your classroom. Encourage students to challenge one another to read things outside their comfort zones and then acknowledge them for taking the challenge! A vibrant book buzz is the lifeblood of an ELA classroom! #6thchat
A7) I think in small bursts they work, but some Ss can grow tired or bored of it, so keeping it fresh and interesting is important. My Ss like that when they finish reading a few books per genre, they get a sticker for their reading passport. Stickers are easy. 6thchat
A6 Student goal setting gives us a way in to recommend books, strategies, and more to our kids. If they acknowledge a growth area, they are more likely to seek and accept guidance from us in that area. #6thchat
A6 sometimes the goal may be to find a book that speaks to a certain message or theme a student likes, or really discovering their personal purpose for reading #6thchat
A5: blogs to find what each other are reading. Book talks. Allowing them talk during reading time😳 I let it slide when I hear them saying how good a book is. #6thchat
A7 I avoid awards for reading other than we are working toward a collective goal of 500 books this year and I have promised a pizza party. We celebrate reading by talking and enjoying books together. #6thchat
A7 Rewards that acknowledge the hard work of readers are more a celebration of a risk or challenge taken than a pay out for compliance. Gamifying has helped me see the power of such celebrations to keep kids reading broadly and deeply as they try and find their why! #6thchat
A7 this is tough. I think I have begun to think of rewards as more for rewarding my readers and not to motivate my reluctant readers. I feel like no matter what I say the reward is, they just aren't motivated. I try to just keep working with them & giving time to read #6thchat
Why does this hour go so fast? I am still catching up on some of the great ideas, thoughts. Thanks to this #6thchat tribe. No matter who is here, I am always deep in thought with you.
I started using @padlet for or class read aloud. Students chat while I read and after. I have loved seeing their conversations. I like their new video and audio feature too. #6thchat
Thank you #6thchat I look forward to more conversations with you next week! Let me know if you have a topic you'd like to discuss, or if you want to lead a chat! :) Have a great week!
