LiterateLife

So, let’s consider what “authentic” reading experiences. What do I mean by that? I think personal choice is what I mean. Most of my students just don’t like to read. Honestly that’s the hardest thing for me to get, because reading is my lifeline, my ultimate pleasure, and how I explore the world we live in and it’s ideas and offerings.

My first thought is that it must be that my students possibly just haven’t found “that book” that opens the door to pleasure reading.

I have access to a good school library, but my classroom library is weak. I want my students to have at least one day a week of free reading in my room, and everynight to read for at least 30 minutes for homework.

I had that schedule going pretty well for the first semester of school. My students earned tickets for free computer time, a homework skip night, free tardy, etc.

For some reason I abandoned it after the holiday break. I had a tough time keeping up with the reading logs of my students. That is the assessment/organizational piece I need to think through. Can technology help in that area? Can the students keep and online reading log? What program is suited to that? A spread sheet? a blog? I only have 4 computers in my room for student use. Most ofmy students do not have online access at home; many don’t have any computer at all.