Johnson Memo: Monday Musings

May 11, 2014

Monday Musings - May 12, 2014

I'm continuing to share what I learn as I read Reading in the Wild by Donalyn Miller. Habit 4 of "Wild Readers" is that they have reading plans. Miller writes that "the anticipation of another great reading experiences drives our continued enthusiasm and interest in reading (p.136)." Miller also cites other authors regarding having reading plans:

"The difference between readers and nonreaders is that readers have plans (Kittle, 2012)."
"For children, setting reading goals and reflecting on progress toward these goals increases their self-efficacy as students (Schunk, 2003)."

How do you as a reader have a reading plan? I have piles of to-read books at school and at home, keep a to-read list on Goodreads, request books from the public library that I want to read and often pre-order upcoming books from my favorite authors. How can we help our students to develop this types of "wild reader" habits? I know that several of you have added a "to-read" form to your students' book bins/binders that are used during book talks, library check-out and Daily 5 book shopping times.

Why should we encourage students to keep a to-read list, set aside reading time each day, have them keep track of their reading and challenge themselves to try books in new genres? If we don't, then the students who lack internal motivation for reading may stop reading.

As we get close and closer to summer I encourage you to continue having conversations with your students about their reading habits, but to also start making those summer reading plans. Provide lots of opportunities for students to recommend books so that students can leave the school year with a summer to-read list or make summer reading plans. What other ideas do you have to help students continue the reading habits over the summer that you've been working hard to help them develop?

Here are some ideas I found on Pinterest: