Reading Circles Isabelle Giroux, CSRDN Dominique Leblanc, CSPN.

Reading Circles

Isabelle Giroux, CSRDN

Dominique Leblanc, CSPN

Free powerpoint template: www.brainybetty.com

2

Did you say Reading Circles? What’s this?

What do you know about Reading Circles? Do you know any other names used for this

type of activity? Have you ever experienced it as an adult?


3

Reading Circles

A teaching strategy for developing children's independent reading habits and comprehension

The teacher assumes a role of facilitator rather than a group leader


4

Reading Circles activity

Choose a book using strategies (skim-scan-predict-infer-comparing)

Team-up with people that have the same book as you

Take your log book

Assign yourselves roles

Read pages assigned to you and do the task related to your role. (in a SQUIRT moment)


5

But how can I do it in MY class?

Teacher’s guide Presentation of toolbox to start off


6

I can’t do it…

If you were to convince these teachers about Reading Circles, what would you answer to these following comments:

« My students don’t speak English in class » « My students are too young » « My students don’t understand a short text so how can they understand

a book » « My students don’t understand a word of English » « The boys won’t be interested in reading » « I only have an hour a week with my students » « I won’t have time to teach grammar rules » « They don’t even know their colours or their verb To Be » « I don’t have the budget to buy books » « I won’t have the time to do « my program » » « OH no…not reading again » Mathieu 12 years old.


7

Linking it to the different ESL programs?

As a team: Which competecies are developed while

doing the Reading Circles and say why? Give examples of activities that could be

added to develop a particular competency. (C1-C2 or C3)

Share with another group.


8

But what about boys?

Did you know that: Boys take longer to read than girls Boys read less than girls Boys express less enthusiasm for reading

than girls do More boys than girls declare themselves to

be non-readersSource: Me read? No way?


9

13 strategies for Success

1. Have the Right Stuff Boys like to read if:

– Books reflect their image– Books make them laugh– There is more action that emotions– Books are in series– It is Science-fiction or fantasy– They have the impression that they are not reading (ex.

hockey cards, instruction manuals, comic books, etc.)


10

2. Help Make it a Habit

Provide frequent opportunities to read« If you don’t have the time to read, you don’t have the time

or the tools to write. »

King, 2000,p.117

– Create a link between reading and writing


11

3. Teach with Purpose

Understand boys’ learning styles– Boys respond best when:

-work is assigned in bite-sized

-the work seems relevant to them

-the work includes an element of competition and/or involves short-term goals

-they receive regular, positive feedback


12

4. Embrace the Arts

Use the arts to bring literacy to life– Role playing, correspondence, missing-scene scipts,

newscast, etc.


13

5. Let Them Talk

Appealing to boys’ need for social interaction– Literature circles are tailor-made for boys– Students choose their own reading materials– Topics for discussion come from the students themselves– Etc.


14

6. Find Positive Role Models

Influence boys’ attitudes through the use of role models

– « Modelling isn’t one way of influencing people. It’s the only way. » Albert Einstein


15

7. Read Between the Lines

– Bringing critical-literacy skills into the classroom. Exploring interpretations of the text made by the others Adopting a point of view about the text


16

8. Keep it Real

Making reading and writing relevant to boys Boys will be deeply engaged in literacy

when they are deeply engaged in the subject of the reading or writing task itself. Having boys explore real-world themes and issues- particularly, but not limited to, those that touch them personally-taps into their need for academic tasks to be purposeful, and meaning ful to their lives.


17

9. Get the Net

Using technology to get boys interested in literacy– Interactive story CD-ROMs– Web-books– Digital Cameras can be used to produce books– Etc.


18

10. Assess for Success

Using appropriate assessment tools for boys– Design assessment tasks and criteria carefully


19

11. Be in their Corner

– « If we, as teachers, do not look forward to our lessons and do not get excited about learning then we can hardly expect our students to do so. » Cullen, n.d. p.4


20

12. Drive the Point Home

Engaging parents in boys’ literacy– Use home school reading diaries where students write

lists of new words, interesting words, draw scenes or characters, etc.


21

13. Build a school-wide focus

Building literacy beyond the classroom– Get started with a colleague– Involve the librarian, the principal, etc.


22

ChallengeWhat’s yours?

In a week from now: In a month from now: In the year to come:


23

[email protected] [email protected]


24

Evaluation of workshop

Reading Circles Isabelle Giroux, CSRDN Dominique Leblanc, CSPN.

Documents

Transcript of Reading Circles Isabelle Giroux, CSRDN Dominique Leblanc, CSPN.