In the Zone!

Reading is a favorite of mine! Right now I'm mostly reading educational books with a few Harlan Coben and Nicholas Sparks books in the mix. How can I instill the love of reading in my students? How can I help them be passionate about reading? According to Nancie Atwell in The Reading Zone, I need to give my students opportunities to READ, just READ. Not only read, but read books they are interested in and books on their individual reading level. This is also addressed in The Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller.

Enjoying his library book while relaxing in a "butterfly" chair!

That's what I do;  that's what I've been doing for several years now by adopting the Reading Workshop/Daily Five model in my classroom.  My students look forward to "Read to Self time"! When I instruct them to get their book boxes the first thing out of their mouths is, "are we going to "read to self" now?"  When instructed, students find their reading nook and just read for about 20 minutes. They don't take notes, they don't write on "post-it notes", they just read!  It is so quiet, you can hear a pin drop!!!  Just know it took practice, WEEKS of practice building stamina!  In fact, we had to go back and practice after our long winter break!

Enjoying "read to self" time relaxing in the "butterfly" chair!

I have designated 11 "reading nooks" throughout my classroom. They include a tall director's chair, short director's chair, pillows, "butterfly" chairs, etc.  We rotate daily, however students have the choice whether or not to sit in that "nook" or find another comfortable spot.  My students just LOVE to read under their desk!

Enjoying his book in our class library!

Enjoying her book while lying under her desk!

"Read to Self" is a favorite of mine because I then have the opportunity to read with a student!  This is a time where I can listen to a student read, provide feedback, and actually discuss the book. The information I gather is used to form groups and design lessons that target individual and/or group needs!  

Lying on the carpet in our class library!

What are the results you may wonder?  I have four students who already read over 1 million words (one student already read over 3 million words) and 19 out of 21 students show huge gains in their "Lexile" levels (about 50% of my students grew about 1 1/2 years to 2 years).  Do I have students who pretend to read?  Yes, not as many as previous years, but yes, I still have students who pretend to read. Reading with the students and discussing their books help cut down the number of students who pretend to read.  

Reading is important to me.  I tell the students the more they read, the better reader AND writer they will become!  My goal is to have a classroom full of passionate readers!

All About Your Mindset!

While in Tallahassee about a month ago, I was introduced to a book titled Mindset, The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D.   Within minutes, I ordered the book from Amazon and couldn't wait until spring break to read it! (As a teacher, it seems the only time I have to read is spring break, summer break, and winter break).  Just finished it yesterday!  I must say, this is one of the best books I've read and I highly recommend it!  My Assistant Principal and my grade group are reading this book!

Dr. Dweck talks about two mindsets; fixed and growth. Someone with a fixed mindset desires to look smart and avoids challenges because a fear of failing, gets defensive or gives up easily, see effort as fruitless, ignores negative feedback, and feels threatened by the success of others. On the other hand, someone with a growth mindset desires to learn.  He/she embraces challenges, persists when faced with setbacks, sees effort as a pathway to mastery, learns from criticism, and finds inspiration in the success of others.

I must admit when growing up, I would have to say I had somewhat of a fixed mindset.  I was fearful of failing therefore I stayed with what I knew.  At that time I took negative feedback as an attack on me as a person.  Now, I'm thrilled to admit, I have more of a growth mindset.  I welcome challenges, I take negative feedback as a means of learning and growth!

Although this is not solely an "educational" book, there are some techniques I can use in my classroom with my students.  One of the most important, yet easiest to implement, is how we "praise" students.  We can either praise students for their ability ("Wow, you got a 100% on that test, you must be very smart.") or for their effort ("Wow, you got a 100% on that test, you must have worked really hard.") 

According to Dr. Dweck praising students' ability actually lowered their IQs and praising their effort raised them! Another technique that Dr. Dweck discusses in her book is raising standards AND giving students the means in which to reach them.  Examples include Marva Collins having her grade school children reading Shakespeare and Rafe Esquith's fifth graders reading Of Mice and Men, Native Son, To Kill a Mockingbird, etc.

Finally, I have a son who is graduating high school in a short two months.  Yesterday we came back from one of his college auditions (he will be a music major).  After talking, he stated that two of his "Facebook" music friends will be attending the same school (it seems this school has one of the top jazz programs in the country).  He continued the conversation saying, "_____ was actually first chair at Florida Allstate Jazz, he sat right next to me.  I can't wait to learn from him.  We are going to push each other to be and play our best!"  I was beaming!  Before the words came out of my mouth, my son says, "I know mom, I have a growth mindset!" YES HE DOES!  A fixed mindset would have said, "I'm not going to that school, I'm going to ______ where I could be the best saxophonist." A growth mindset says, "This is going to challenge me to be the best saxophonist I can be.  I'm going to learn from this!"

So, what is your mindset?