The Reading Corner
Exploring a Range of Literature (Virtual Tour)
Stage of Literacy Development:
Stage 1: Beginning LiteracyStage 2: Consolidation / Fluency
Stage 3: Literacy for Growth
Ages:
6-12
Grade Range:
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 6thFood Groups:
Primary: Text Structures & Genres, Motivation for Literacy Secondary: Reading Comprehension Strategies
Transcript
I love having a well-stocked bookshelf. It is important to have books in the classroom that refer to current units under study. What I typically do is introduce a topic and ensure that there are books in the shelf as well as around the classroom for students to refer to. This is a great way to engage students in the learning process. Often times, students are very curious to learn more about the topics under study and they will come to the bookshelf to read more. Don't worry if you don't have all these books on hand. I don't. I head to the school library or out into the community into the public library and I find those books that relate to the current topics under study. I enjoy teaching this age group because students are now more fluent in their skills. They are beginning to think more deeply about various types of texts, as well as the authors intent. What I have done is place these baskets here close to the bookshelf. In the basket, I have a wide variety of novels which students tend to enjoy reading at this age group. Here, they can come and refer to the card out front, which indicates some of the things that the novels may be talking about or discussing. Beneath the baskets, you will see that it is a continuation of my bookshelf. Here, students can come and also find more books pertaining to the unit under study, as well as other books that they may find interesting.
Activity Objective
The goal of The Reading Corner: Exploring a Range of Literature (Virtual Tour) is to extend students' learning by allowing them to explore books that are relevant to the current unit of study. The teacher explains various methods of obtaining information about topics of interest, such as going to the school or public library or looking on the internet. However, a key classroom resource is an attractive, easily accessible and comprehensive reading corner that makes it possible for students to jump right into a unit. The reading corner gives students an opportunity to read informational texts as well as fiction related to their topic of study.
Quick Tips
Additional Comments:
- You can create a reading corner that's relevant to a variety of different genres and text structures. - Try to co-create the reading corner with your class to build on some of their existing knowledge and interests. - Invite students to bring in their own books to further engage them in the unit of study. - Displaying books on an open shelf or bookrack, so that the front covers are showing, makes the reading corner more enticing to students and they can select relevant books more easily.
Other Recipes by this Teacher
Make It Personal: Connecting Students to Texts (Virtual Tour)
3rd - 6th
All About Me: Building Class Community and a Sense of Identity (Virtual Tour)
1st - 4th
Early Societies Inquiry: Creating a Timeline About Ancient Egypt (Virtual Tour)
4th - 6th
Building Class Community: Ancient Egyptian Charm Bracelets (Virtual Tour)
3rd - 5th
Social Studies' Culminating Activity: Performance (Virtual Tour)
3rd - 6th
