ideas for Increasing Best Practices in Lit by Megan Kindred

2025-04-08 23:19:43 UTC

I like to read stories to the younger kids, for older kids I like to have them read to each other in small groups

2025-04-08 23:20:02 UTC

Students participate in discussion even with incomplete assignments

2025-04-08 23:20:36 UTC

I try to start most lessons with a discussion question about the topic of the day to see what they can already retrieve

2025-04-08 23:21:00 UTC

We do assigned readings together - listen to audiobook or have teacher read

2025-04-08 23:21:28 UTC

I try to start lit with ten minutes of reading so kids can catch up or pleasure read.

2025-04-08 23:21:37 UTC

Questions are designed as a launch pad for bigger discussions, connections to other subjects such as history, other books, media etc.

2025-04-08 23:21:51 UTC

I try to mix up activities (writing, discussion, activities, etc) often so that kids can tap into multiple ways to engage.

2025-04-08 23:22:06 UTC

ALL novel studies have pre-reading activities and conclude in a project or writing assignment after

2025-04-08 23:22:37 UTC

Find those free audiobooks, pdfs, etc

2025-04-08 23:23:39 UTC

Before our conference I ask students to share what they think the big events or topics were in the chapters and to have an open discussion before focusing on the WF.

2025-04-08 23:23:55 UTC

Discussions ALWAYS allow for tangents to help students make more connections to reading and learning

2025-04-08 23:24:26 UTC

Let students talk in small groups for more idea generation before discussing as a whole group

2025-04-08 23:25:08 UTC

We let the first book of the year be mixed grade level based on interest from a selection by teachers

2025-04-08 23:25:36 UTC

"Anticipation Guides"

2025-04-08 23:26:08 UTC

I love when the students get fired up about a question and the discussion goes down different avenues. It get's them excited and students who don't normally want to talk out end up adding.

2025-04-08 23:27:58 UTC

We often do SQUIRT (Super Quiet UnInterrupted Reading Time) the first 10-15 where students can read the books they want

2025-04-08 23:28:41 UTC

Read the chapters first for fun, next for info, third for evidence during the conference.

2025-04-08 23:29:03 UTC

Students engage with the text individually when completing their Writing Focus. They also refer to the book during Lit Conference. Lastly, they engage with the text again when writing their essay at the end of the unit.

2025-04-08 23:40:33 UTC

Give a grade on work that has already had discussion/instruction (so a paragraph or answer after a writing focus discussion) rather than work done at home.

2025-04-09 15:36:13 UTC

Have students write a paragraph following the Lit Conference to add in writing after reading and discussion.