Mareen's EDU740

1. How to Incorporate Independent Reading
Into The Classroom
While students have much control over what they choose to read, teachers need to
encourage them to choose from different genres. One of the goals of independent
reading is to help students feel confident with their ability. This is accomplished by
reading on a level they feel comfortable with. And when given the opportunities and the
right environment, students are much more likely to develop a love for reading. That’s
why independent reading is more than just letting students pick a book and read while
the teacher does something else. Teachers have a responsibility in this as well. They’re
the ones that need to provide the tools students need to be independent, lifelong
readers. That leads to the four essential elements of independent reading:

2. Element #1 – Element #2 – Element #3 – Element #4 –
Choice Strategies Time Goals
Children are thrilled Before students can How do you get to Encourage students
when they’re given become proficient Carnegie Hall? Practice, to set reading goals
a choice of what to independent readers, practice, practice! How but teachers do need
read. They’re much they must have the do you get to be a to specify what kind
more motivated. tools they need to be proficient (even prolific) of goal. Otherwise, a
Who wouldn’t be? successful. Inside the reader? Practice, student’s goal could
However, since toolbox are two basic practice, practice! As all be to get to the end
students must strategies; decoding musicians and athletes of the book. Because
make a selection strategies and know, practice takes there is already a
that’s on their comprehension time. That’s why time long period of time
reading level, strategies. Decoding should be set aside to set aside for
teachers need to strategies help practice reading as well. independent
have an exceptional children move forward Also, by dedicating long reading, the teacher
classroom library. when they stumble blocks of time to can use this time to
That means books upon a word they independent reading, conference with the
on many different don’t know. They students quickly get the students. Listen to
levels, topics, as know what to do to idea that reading is their reading and see
well as genres. And figure it out. important. how they apply the
like any library, Comprehension strategies. Then help
classroom books strategies guide students set a
need to be students to think reading goal based
organized so about what they’re on the strategy they
students can easily reading – to make need to strengthen.
make a selection. connections, use
visualization, ask
questions, and make
inferences… all to
synthesize the words
they read into
something they
comprehend.

3. Element #1 – Element #2 – Element #3 – Element #4 –
Choice Strategies Time Goals
How do students learn
these strategies? The
teacher models them.
Independent reading
time is when the
students apply them.