We are working on building our stamina this week, adding a few minutes each day to our reading time. Our fourth graders need to have the endurance for testing in May: three days of ELA, two days of math, and two days of science. They are used to reading 40-45 minutes at a stretch, but will need 70 minutes of staying power for the TESTS. Therefore, now rather than later we decided to exercise these muscles. The good news is our class read for 55 minutes today. The better news is students are learning more about themselves as readers, recommending books, falling in love with authors, and planning for what they are going to read next. My conferences with individuals and small groups of students are bringing smiles to my face and warming my teaching heart. Our conversations have revealed deeper thinking and wondering. Students are excited about their reading lives and the passion is spreading like good news.
In September and October, we are so diligent about building a classroom community. Then something happens…we jump in the deep end of the pool and paddle around, sometimes barely staying afloat assuming the work we did in the fall will sustain. Sure there will most definitely be moments of angst about the TESTS, but for now we are going to keep stretching and reaching and growing together.
Isn't that the truth? We are so diligent about setting up expectations and modeling at the beginning of the year and things tend to fall apart in the middle of the year. I'm so glad to hear that you are getting them prepared by building their stamina. But even more exciting is there enthusiasm as their stamina grows. Happy Reading!
ReplyDeleteWow. I find that 55 minutes of reading is a luxury. The possibility to get lost in the books (plus talking to you) helps to create more of the love and passion for reading. Building the stamina for the tests is a byproduct, certainly a useful one for such long tests.
ReplyDeleteTerje
It seems that you are so sensitive about the right rhythm that you'd like to support as you move toward the testing. Although you know that you are getting them ready, it sounds like they are learning & growing in so many other ways. That's the great thing.
ReplyDelete