Free Read Wednesday

YES!  It's Free Read Wednesday!

In Room NE10 we have Free Read Wednesdays, and this concept has been an evolving journey ever since I started teaching back in 1989.  The beliefs and values of Free Read Wednesday may be a bit uncomfortable for many teachers, but I'd like to share my perspective with you and see if it might work in other classrooms.

Each Wednesday, students are granted 20 minutes to read; they can read anything that is not academic.  In other words, reading the U.S. History assignment due next period is off limits.  I would really prefer students read challenging fiction and non-fiction, but let's face it that not all students enjoy reading or there may be days when students want to read the local newspaper or their favorite magazine.

I do allow students the opportunity to visit our school library to return books, ask for an overdue extension, or look for another book.  I usually give them 5-10 minutes to complete this task, so at least everyone is quietly reading something for 10 minutes.


After getting passes to the library for selected students and before beginning our free reading session, I get my Google timer set for the session, I grab my book, and I get ready to join the students.  I find an unoccupied desk somewhere in the room and start reading myself.

It's important for me to share that if I have recently read a good book or have some other interesting nugget about a book, I do my best to promote reading.  I'm always quick to share evidence I might read or see how reading for enjoyment benefits students - either for standardized test purposes, mental health, or any other of the many benefits science has prove to us.

And we read.  The timer sounds off after the 20 minutes, and we transition to another activity that is planned for the class period.

And THAT'S IT.  Huh?

There are no book reports in Room NE10!  I have found over the years that book reports do more to frustrate me and students more than anything else.  If required to read a book, students go to online sources for a summary or perhaps select a book they have already completed in a previous year - basically, they cheat.

You are skeptical, right?  I find that most students at the beginning of the year tell me they don't like reading or hate reading or don't have the time to read.  My experience has been that by the end of the year, most students are not only reading more...they enjoy the time they get to read and usually end up reading more on their own outside of class.

I read with them.  I promote reading (and good books I have read.)  I get them to the awesome library where Ms. Peterson is great at matching up books with students.  I avoid book reports.

That's my formula - a bit unconventional, but effective.

Have questions?  Send me a comment and ask.

JBiz

p.s.  I selected Wednesdays because at our school we receive a classroom set of free newspapers on Wednesdays from our local newspaper.  If a student has forgotten her or his book or is a reluctant reader (which is okay), I hand them a newspaper.