1. RUTGERS 47 TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON READING AND WRITING GUIDED READING, BOOK CLUBS, AND LITERATURE CIRCLES Dr. Sharon McKool Rider University Mrs. Bev Gallagher Princeton Day School

2. Our Story Sharon and Bev

3. Purpose of the session  To discuss the purpose of “intentional” instruction  To discuss the different types of small group instruction  To show the differences between guided reading, book clubs, and literature circles  To discuss the essential traits of a learning environment that fosters successful small group work

4. It is not enough to be busy; The question is, What are we busy about? (Henry David Thoreau)

5.  Teaching with Intention: Defining beliefs, aligning practices and taking actions, Debbie Miller (2008)

6. Non-negotiable conditions for developing readers  A teacher who models his/her own reading life  Hours and hours of time spent reading  The freedom to make their own reading choices  A teacher who models his/her own thinking  Reading instruction which is strategic and focused on meaning making  A classroom environment that engages in small group reading discussions

7. Being a teacher of reading does not mean simply giving students access to instructional practices. It means giving students access to who you are as a reader, a teacher, and a person. Jennifer Scoggin, Be Fabulous, (2015) One of the key factors in motivating students to read is a teacher who values reading and is enthusiastic about sharing a love of reading with students. Gambrell (1996)  “While I searched for the key to being a master reading teacher, I forgot what workshop teaching was all about— my role as master reader…”  Donalyn Miller, The Book Whisperer (2009)

8. Greatest gift to students  A teacher who reads  A teacher who shares his/her own identity as a reader  A teacher who recommends new and interesting books to young readers  A teacher who makes time for independent reading everyday  A teacher who reads aloud everyday  A teacher who continues to expand his/her own repertoire of books by reading and adding to his/her own classroom library.

9. How do we get to know about the reading lives of our students? Surveys Class discussions Reading conferences and informal conversations Previous records Conversations with past teachers Reader’s Bill of Rights The Right to Not Read?

10. Why Small Groups?  Active engagement of all learners  Ability to differentiate  High quality interaction with teacher and other students  Provides students an opportunity to see literate behaviors being modeled  Provides voice and choice  Positive social interaction

11. Reader’s Workshop 1. The Read Aloud and Mini lesson 2. Independent Reading 3. Guided Reading/Book Clubs/Literature Circles

12. Gradual Release of Control StrategiesTexts Teacher-led X INSTR level X Student- X IND level led Guided Reading Book ClubsLiterature Circles

13. Guided Reading  Purpose: Strategy instruction  Teacher led  Teacher selects materials  Instructional level materials  Homogeneous grouping

14. Book Clubs  Purpose: To practice strategies while still under the guidance of the teacher  Texts can be teacher or student selected  Texts can be selected because of student interest or because of topic of study  Instructional or independent level materials can be used  Homogeneous grouping  Stephanie Harvey, Strategies that work and Colonial Times: Short Nonfiction for American History (Toolkit Texts)

15. Literature Circles  Purpose: To give students an opportunity to practice, independently, strategies learned  Texts selected by students  Authentic conversations led by students  Heterogeneous grouping (ideally)  Teacher’s role is to silently observe and take notes  A spirit of playfulness pervades the room  Harvey Daniels, Literature Circles (2002)

16. Gradual Release of Control StrategiesTexts Teacher-led X INSTR level X Student- X IND level led Guided Reading Book ClubsLiterature Circles

17. Books Lists  young adult fiction list  https://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/2015/01/02/2 014-nerdy-awards-for-young-adult-fiction-announced- by-donalyn-miller-and-nerdy-nation-part-one/ https://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/2015/01/02/2 014-nerdy-awards-for-young-adult-fiction-announced- by-donalyn-miller-and-nerdy-nation-part-one/  middle grade fiction  https://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/2015/01/01/2 014-nerdy-awards-for-middle-grade-fiction- announced-by-colby-sharp/ https://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/2015/01/01/2 014-nerdy-awards-for-middle-grade-fiction- announced-by-colby-sharp/  graphic novels  https://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/2014/12/30/2 014-nerdy-awards-for-graphic-novels-by-katherine- sokolowski/ https://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/2014/12/30/2 014-nerdy-awards-for-graphic-novels-by-katherine- sokolowski/

18. file://localhost/Users/smckool/Documents/Book List 1 for Children.docxfile://localhost/Users/smckool/Documents/Book List 1 for Children.docx (Great for strategy mini-lessons) file://localhost/Users/smckool/Documents/Book List for Children 2.docxfile://localhost/Users/smckool/Documents/Book List for Children 2.docx (Book list) http://readingandwritingproject.org/resources/book- listshttp://readingandwritingproject.org/resources/book- lists (Great for book clubs and literature circles)

19. Contact us at:  Dr. Sharon S. McKool  smckool@rider.edu smckool@rider.edu  Mrs. Bev Gallagher  bevgallagher24@gmail.com bevgallagher24@gmail.com