What a Successful Independent Reading Program Requires

When I first began teaching, the independent reading portion of my class was pretty sad. The students didn't enjoy it. I had a hard time monitoring them. It was just a struggle. After a lot of reflecting and some creative thinking, I was much more successful the following year. I suggest that any teacher considering independent reading give it a try! The important thing to keep in mind is that more organized you are, the more successful you will be. Here is what you'll need to begin:

1. A diverse and well-stocked classroom library.

I should begin by saying a school with a great library and cooperative librarian does not necessarily need a classroom library. However, having books in the room is much easier for everyone. The library should have books of various genres and levels. Furthermore, a system should be in place for signing books out and in. Surprisingly, the students take very good care of the books when the issue is stressed. If money is an issue for your school, a post around that issue will be available soon!

2. Composition notebooks or individual binders.

Independent reading is for the students, however, they need to be held accountable for their reading. That is where independent reading responses come in. Everyday, after the teacher has ended independent reading, the students should take 5-7 minutes to write reflectively on what they read. (Note: this shouldn't be a summary. It should be a personal response.) These can be kept in a composition notebook or binder. I prefer binders so that when I collect them every few weeks, I can just collect the independent reading responses I want and I don't have to carry 20+ notebooks around with me.

3. Organization.

Independent reading requires strict organization on the teacher's part from day one. Things you will need:

a. A sign-out binder or notebook for students to use when they check books out and return them.
b. A calendar to keep track of independent reading responses. (I keep this in the sign out binder.) On it, for each day, I mark down the IRR (independent reading response) we are on. I also mark down when I've collected them. Each new marking period, I start from #1. Ideally, they should be collected and reviewed every 2 weeks by the teacher.