Classroom Connection

Welcome to the Classroom Connection teacher blog, offering free ideas and resources for classroom activities.

cc-logo
facebookpinteresttwitterbag
  • ClassroomDirect.com
  • Blog
  • Categories
    • Back to School
    • Classroom Management
    • Classroom Supplies
    • Ideas & Resources
    • Lesson Plans
    • Organization
    • Seasons & Holidays
    • Tips & Tricks
    • All Categories
  • Email Signup
  • Search

13 Ways to Reimagine Reading Time in the Classroom

March 30, 2015

reading time in the classroom

The traditional model goes something like this:

  • Teacher posts today’s chapter on the board and calls out the first student to read by random (but it’s not really random because it’s the person he or she always calls on to start off, because they are the one that won’t complain).
  • Student reads a page or two with no feeling at all, only stopping if the teacher tells them to.
  • When their work is done, teacher selects someone else. It’s either another safe choice or, as punishment, the kid that was fooling around during the first passage. This continues until the end of the chapter or the class, whichever comes first.

No wonder students aren’t engaged with reading. The good news is here are 13 ways to reinvent your in-class reading time.

  1. Workshop – Students read what they want instead of what you tell them. Anything goes. Face it; some kids just don’t like books.
  2. Book blind date – Cover a selection of books so that the covers and titles can’t be seen, then have students pick a book at random for open reading time.
  3. Book talk – Think of it like a living book report. Instead of writing what the book was about, the student’s job is to sell you on reading the book…by any means necessary.
  4. Book trailer – Making videos is easier than ever. Students make a trailer for a book they just read in an effort to entice other readers.
  5. Online book club – Start a Facebook group or similar social tool to facilitate students talking about their outside reading.
  6. Wiki page – Have the students contribute to a Wiki page about the book they’re reading. Another replacement to the traditional book report.
  7. More non-fiction – The next generation standards call for more non-fiction and informational texts. Pick something fun and go for it.
  8. Character’s Facebook profile – Create a profile page for a character from the book. It can either be real (check school/district rules) or on posterboard.
  9. Communal story – One student contributes a line to a story, then passes it to another student until they have all contributed and the class has one full story. Usually this is considered a writing exercise, but students still have to know about plot, characterization, and other reading skills in order to participate effectively.
  10. Illustrate a scene – A simple retention strategy, but teachers don’t realize that students of all ages like it—high schoolers in particular.
  11. Poetry tournament – Organize poets into a bracket-style tournament and spend a couple of weeks reading their work. Students vote on whose work they like the best until they have a champion.
  12. Bumper stickers – Each student creates a bumper sticker that a character would put on their car. Make a car outline and put the stickers up on the wall.
  13. Graffiti board – After reading, let the students write quotes they liked on the board. Kids like expressing themselves and will be reading more closely to find the perfect quote.

All the support you need for reading instruction can be found in our Classroom Direct online store.

Comments

comments

Filed Under: Ideas & ResourcesTagged With: non-fiction, poetry

Recent Posts

Ideas for an End of School Year Celebration

Ideas for an End of School Year Celebration

Filed Under: Ideas & Resources

9 Great End-of-Year Classroom Celebrations and Activities

9 Great End-of-Year Classroom Celebrations and Activities

Filed Under: Ideas & Resources

3 End of the Year Poetry Activities

3 End of the Year Poetry Activities

Filed Under: Ideas & Resources

Two Week Guide to a Spring Cleaned Classroom

Two Week Guide to a Spring Cleaned Classroom

Filed Under: Classroom Management, Classroom Supplies, Organization, Tips & Tricks

Tag Cloud

elementary puzzles Ed Tech adaptive art mentor testing Flag Day family Summer Learning focus Classroom Management Arts & Crafts Month upcycle Halloween supplies classroom technology review summer activities critical thinking Mother's Day recycle Classroom Library base 10 recycled priorities back-to-school dancing arts & crafts supplies crafts notes healthy eating Valentine's Day cross-curricular learning Shopping List bird feeder bulletin board National Smile Month inspiration digital photography obesity Active Learning storage Periscope App appreciation poetry breast cancer after school nature art & crafts Fire Prevention engineering Safety indoor activities organization differentiation fractions kindergarten Art music diversity perfectionism health Groundhog Day Classroom Supplies Patriotism study test baseball Get Caught Reading poem holidays Mardi Gras DIY doodling road trip Revolutionary War summer reading geography bullying social skills educational technology emergency back-to-school; teacher tips videos Craft Projects spelling arts & crafts sand government summer break community lesson plans classroom activities bullying prevention Read Aloud exercise Early Childhood STEAM vacation countdown dirt winter break first aid language arts Kinesthetic Learning breaks New Year party reading corner play drama end of school year American Heart Month Declaration of Independence gifts keepsake family projects repurpose clutter teacher humor weather relaxation Dairy Month cold physics Summer Vacation balance chemistry trivia recycled art elections back-to-school; school supplies; budget; grants; saving money letter writing ideas scavenger hunt National Craft Month gak posters multimedia award Valentines filing Black History Month cleaning prepare laminating show and tell Daylight Saving Time certificate calculator garden English flag etiquette healthy lifestyles jokes bulletin Boards group activities National Inventors' Day on task dry erase teambuilding grammar library Independence Day yoga wrapping teaching space zoo germs PE energy coin values icebreakers holiday door quiz dental hygiene museum homeschool DIY Holiday Projects incentives sports memory biology festivals travel cross-curricular stories 4th of July fidget Treats social studies teamwork Classroom Prep physical activity classroom Creative Writing Prompts Upcycling parents gardening instruments Teacher Tips treasure hunt parental involvement winter slump culture Recycling movement Technology educational gifts memory journal Tips & Tricks brushing Dr. Seuss flu field trip parent prize communication comics winter Pumpkin creative writing March practice Teacher's Desk Field Trips cameras charity engagement manners class activities home-school connection Special Needs geocaching sensory spaces mindfulness Restock sensory processing money orientation Book Report multicultural friendships Summer Slide conservation Autumn insects celebrate storytelling fall Chinese New Year books writing prompts classroom decorations Honor Roll Christmas 100th Day of School incentive project book club Seasons & Holidays February celebrations 21st Century Learning lessons teacher sub rewarding moments disninfect suncatcher astronomy camp respect STEM Santa summer School Design patriotic teeth screen-time Teacher Tip voting goals American flag character education teacher appreciation positive reinforcement history writing center Instructional Materials slime decoration decorations chores wildlife letters daily living Science Activities games Secret Santa mural art lesson plans Ideas & Resources animals communication skills wiggle breaks RELAX humor welcome lantern celebration save money writing Furniture concentration budget military passion project craft Math electronics teacher favorites water vocabulary reward outdoor activities classroom decoration art supplies gift ideas behavior measuring Listening Center graduation New Years plan healthy choices apps volunteer summer activity inventors ancestry study habits Earth Day role playing blended learning tricks counting Jr. holiday transition shadow collaboration cooking pets strategy baking non-fiction scrapbooks solar Thomas Edison decorating costumes Student Recognition stocking stuffers lesson plan reflection Bird Feeding Month literacy fitness Chinese studying art technique theater thank you Summer School Valentine Statue of Liberty lesson camping friendship teaching styles stress headphones outdoors Art / Craft Supplies snow citizenship nonverbal seasonal winter activities time management nutrition ideas & inspiration gift autism Free Dr. Martin Luther King classroom organization outdoor base ten Father's Day staycation illustrate tips clay physical fitness Physical Education Reading St. Patrick's Day oral motor awards teacher gifts hibernation substitute solstice fine motor skills Homemade recess homework Mentoring acrostic Ideas and Resources school supplies comprehension Make A Difference Day June Green Memorial Day Presidents' Day newspaper summer safety journal team activities recipe spring visual tracking journaling visual toys birthday reference task management snowman

Subscribe via RSS

  • Back to School
  • Classroom Management
  • Classroom Supplies
  • Ideas & Resources
  • Lesson Plans
  • Organization
  • Seasons & Holidays
  • Tips & Tricks
  • All Topics
Ideas for an End of the Year Celebration

Ideas for an End of School Year Celebration

Filed Under: Ideas & ResourcesTagged With: bulletin board, celebration, DIY, Dr. Seuss, end of school year, graduation, writing

5 Great End-of-Year Classroom Celebrations

9 Great End-of-Year Classroom Celebrations and Activities

Filed Under: Ideas & ResourcesTagged With: celebration, end of school year, graduation

3 End of the Year Poetry Activities

3 End of the Year Poetry Activities

Filed Under: Ideas & ResourcesTagged With: end of school year, music, poetry

Spring Cleaning the Classroom in 14 Days tile

Two Week Guide to a Spring Cleaned Classroom

Filed Under: Classroom Management, Classroom Supplies, Organization, Tips & Tricks

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 100
  • Next Page »

Copyright © 2018 Classroom Direct. All rights reserved. Privacy Statement · Social Media Statement

    • ClassroomDirect.com
    • Blog
  • Categories

    • Back to School
    • Classroom Management
    • Classroom Supplies
    • Ideas & Resources
    • Lesson Plans
    • Organization
    • Seasons & Holidays
    • Tips & Tricks
    • Email Signup
  • facebookpinteresttwitterbag