Creating Readers Who Think

Teaching kids to respond to what they're reading goes beyond answering questions with A,B,C,D answer choices.  Before they can do that, kids have to learn how to be engaged and connected to their reading.  One way is to annotate as they read.  We use Project Read (which involves using images of the story elements for fiction and "key facts" for nonfiction. I plan to blog about that at another date.) These two methods really help the kids to have a concrete way to take notes and remember parts of the story, but Close Reading works as well.  As long as they are actively reading.  I have added a new step this year...a reader's response piece.  It seems like it is helping them learn to connect to their reading at a higher level and read for more meaning and purpose. I don't expect them to do to this literally on a test, but hopefully it will train their brains to question and think as they read.  I want them to "respond" in their minds as a final outcome.  I'm going out on a limb letting them take home my pages from Scholastic and Time for Kids to do this homework.  Over time, rather than throw old Highlights, Scholastic News, TFK's away, I tear out the good articles and slip them into a sheet protector.

We use them for different activities and they remain in good shape. You can also go to the Time for Kids website and print off any of their articles or ask around your campus for different levels of leftover Scholastic News, etc....  I've never let kids take my copies home, until now.  You could do it in the classroom just as easily!  I've created a reader's response page {HERE} for free.  You can download and save some articles, slip them in to a sheet protector and do the same thing I've done here!

Click here to download

two pages

I'm hoping for them to think more as they get used to connecting to their reading more and more.  I hope you'll try it and let me know how it goes.