My students need individual book baskets that will enable them to have reading material on their level at their disposal. No more searching for books during reading time!
Have you ever gotten lost in a book? My students need to learn that great feeling and giving them sustained reading time is the way to go about it. However, many students are using that time to search for books they want to read instead of actually reading.
I have two single-gender classes in a southern suburban classroom.
Yes, 50 boys! They are active and enthusiastic and at many different reading levels. The trick is to find books they are interested in and have them at the ready. Through my experience I have found that organization is not a natural skill, but one that needs to be taught, especially to boys. Having specific storage places for items helps with this skill.
My Project
I am requesting book baskets for each of my students that will surely last many years. These baskets will be filled with books that fit the needs and interests of each individual student. Instead of using their sustained reading time searching for books, the boys will have their books ready. The baskets will also fit their reading notebooks that they can use during reading to record their thinking and keep track of their progress. The baskets will also help the boys keep their materials organized.
Using these book baskets will make a huge difference in my classroom.
I have found that keeping boys organized is something that needs to be explicitly taught and these baskets will help with that. Each student will be able to fill the baskets with books of his choice and on his level. I will also have easy access to the baskets to see what the boys are reading. Since we do not have traditional desks that hold supplies, these baskets will be invaluable.
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