READING TIPS AND NOTES
What a year for teachers. New standards, new curriculum frameworks and new standardized tests. Many of us have taken courses, attended professional conferences and participated in district in-service training.
Feeling tired?
Summer is here and for many there is a pause from the demands of the classroom and some time to rejuvenate. Here are some humble suggestions.
Start a reflection journal. Buy one of those lovely blank books and start writing to yourself. Find a lovely quiet place, pour yourself something soothing to drink, turn on some music and ask yourself about the school year.
Did you see improvement among your students in reading? Which of your students succeeded, which struggled, and why?
What would you change? What would you like to know for the upcoming year and how can you find it out? How can you work smarter as you teach the most important subject in school: reading?
A great source for reflection strategies is Clifford Knapp’s book, “Lasting Lessons: A Teacher’s Guide to Reflecting on Experience.”
You also might want to visualize your classroom. What would make it a better place to work and learn? A sofa or a few beanbag chairs for students to relax on and read in a corner of the room? A lamp for your desk for reading time? A pillow for your chair?
Make a wish list and share it with your principal and the PTA at your school.
If you’ve never visited the public library nearest your school, talk with the children’s librarian. Find out if he or she can be helpful to you by gathering topical books, planning a field trip or visiting your class. Make arrangements to get library cards for all of your students and yourself.
While you are visiting the library, ask for recommendations for great read-aloud stories for your students. Reading aloud to children--and daily sustained silent reading--are powerful processes that can help children get hooked on good literature.
For more ideas, pick up a helpful book by Jim Trealease titled “The Read-Aloud Handbook.”
(Also, you may be interested in hearing Trealease speak when he visits the South Bay Area Reading Council on Jan. 15 at the Levy Center, Torrance Unified School District, 2335 Plaza del Amo, Torrance.)
You also can join the California Reading Assn. and get connected to your local reading council. The association and its affiliates feature workshops, conferences and in-service training that allow teachers to share their good ideas with each other. You can call the association at (800) 540-7517.
This is a great time to plan your professional development activities for the next school year.
And finally, remember to take care of yourself. You do the most important work in the world, and your students need you. Take walks, grow flowers, sing, dance--and read a few good books.
BOOK EVENTS
* Tuesday in Porter Ranch: Storytelling by Los Angeles Galaxy players at the Porter Ranch Library, 2:30 p.m., 11371 Tampa Ave. (818) 360-5706.
* Tuesday in Ventura: Story time and crafts with the theme “It’s a Jungle Out There,” 10:30 a.m. at Adventures for Kids bookstore, 3457 Telegraph Road. (805) 650-9688.
* Thursday in San Pedro: “Bubblemania,” a show on the magic and science of bubbles, featuring books on this topic, 3:30 p.m. at the San Pedro Regional Library, 931 S. Gaffey St. (310) 548-7779.
