Every day, my students devote 15 to 20 minutes to Independent Reading. This time allows students to become invested in a book that will hopefully lead to a hobby they look forward to rather than a chore to complete.
To encourage reading beyond the classroom, students need available books and resources that meet and exceed their interests!
My students are 7th and 8th graders from a rural county in West Virginia. They range in reading level and interest, but this year I have seen them continue to reach more and more outside their comfort zones. They have been excited about reading since we began Independent Reading, and they are devouring the books in our classroom library!
My Project
This year, a huge group of students came to me asking for a gaming club. I love board games and strategy games, so I was quick to say yes! We've been meeting for a couple of months now, and one thing is clear: we don't have enough games!
Tabletop strategy games are wonderful tools to teach students how to work together, how to tell compelling stories, how to solve complex problems, and more!
As a colleague of mine told me, you will rarely find as much reading and mental math happening as you do at a gaming table. Participating in these games requires students to focus, learn, and try new strategies. These games can also be used in my English class to encourage complex story-telling and to teach the components of literature in an engaging way!
This club has been a great way for students to feel connected to one another and the school outside of simply the classroom. They have become invested in this weekly meeting, and I want this excitement to continue.
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