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| How do we keep our students engaged--not bored? |
1) Reader's Theater: Most of us are familiar with Reader's Theater but if you haven't tried it out in a while (or even if you have) see if you can incorporate it into your curriculum, perhaps into your Guided Reading lessons. Kids love taking turns reading aloud and many of them will surprise you with their acting abilities. While Reader's Theater is great fun, it's also a great way to build fluency and comprehension. We know that the best way kids learn how to read is by reading and Reader's Theater takes it to the next level, allowing them to read aloud while others are listening. Be smart about assigning parts. Don't give students more than they can handle. Let them practice--a lot!--before any public performances. If they want to bring costumes and really put on a show, let them. You can take it a step farther by creating rubrics for practices and performances that allow students to stay engaged while watching others perform. You can also allow students to create their own Reader's Theaters. Talk about creating an engaging lesson! Reader's Theaters are a great way to get the kids engaged again and they allow you to uncover the curriculum in a fun and enjoyable way.
2) Perform Read Alouds: This is one of my absolute favorite activities for this time of year and the kids LOVE it, too. You simple allow each student to choose a picture book or other story suitable for reading aloud and you let them practice it over and over again, ending with a classroom performance. Kids love it because it gives them the opportunity to imitate you and other teachers. They get to put true expression into their reading and really bring the characters to life. They also like being the center of attention for a few moments. If you have technology available, you can even have them record it on the device to practice or to create a presentation. Let your imagination go wild and see what you and your kiddos can come up with. I guarantee you will have just as much fun watching the pigeon plead to drive the bus as Johnny will reading it to you.
3) Try a new website or app, like CoreClicks: Scholastic is testing an awesome new sight called CoreClicks. If you have't seen it yet, check it out here. This program is specifically designed for students Kindergarten through 5th grade. Each non-fiction topic starts off with a video that really keeps the students engaged. Then, they read a short nonfiction book online. Next, they can answer quiz questions or move to discussion points. Scholastic does a great job of outlining for the teacher exactly which components they recommend are completed in which order, though you can also do your own thing. My students love the video and the pictures. They also appreciate the challenging nature of the questions and discussion topics. It's one of my go-to programs for the next few weeks as I plan lessons for lots of kiddos at different grade-levels who have different needs. There are also super engaging videos for different skill topics, such as Main Idea and Inferring.
The next few weeks don't have to be a borefest for you or your students. Find some creative ways to get both you and your students excited about reading again!
