Independent Reading and Maintaining Classroom Silence

I suppose I was somewhat spoiled last year because my class really enjoyed independent reading. So much so that I rarely had to ask anyone to stop talking or to be quiet. The class would sit there for up to 30 minutes and read silently without bothering one another. This year, my class is substantially smaller. I only have 21 students. However, not only does it take at least five minutes to calm the class down and begin reading, but I've had to spend the entire independent reading time asking students to be quiet over and over again. Overall, they seem to be a more energetic class. The issue I am now facing though is how to impose consequences for the students that refuse to sit quietly and read. Not completing an independent reading response is not really an option because reading a page or two of a book is usually enough to base a response on. I thought about taking the opportunity to write an independent reading response away all together, but then the student has to reason to stop talking. Yes, their class grade will suffer, but in the meantime, he or she will still disturb everyone else trying to read silently. The students talking are usually the ones sitting in the reading corner. My first plan of attack is to break the group up. I hate doing so because they get along so well and look so precious as they sit on the carpet and beanbag chairs close to one another and read, however, they also have a difficult time not talking to one another.

I try to avoid enforcing so many rules during independent reading. The process should be organic and comfy. At the same time, some students do not do well with too much freedom, so a certain amount of rules are necessary to keep the class in order. This will have to be one of the new rules. Hopefully, in a week or two, these students will be allowed to sit back where they feel most comfortable. I will keep you posted.