As an interventionist, I spend the bulk of my time with students working on literacy. By 4th grade, our most fragile learners feel defeated as they are very aware of the differences between their reading abilities and those of their typically developing peers. Their motivation to read and actual time spent reading is significantly less which contributes to their reading difficulties. This is evidenced by their results on the Elementary Reading Attitude Survey, that I gave to students at the beginning of the year and my own observations. Donalyn Miller, author of Reading in the Wild, writes, “We reduce the effectiveness of reading interventions when we don't provide our lowest-performing students reading time and encouragement. Developing readers need more reading, not less.” Students engaging with text in a comfortable chair or cozy corner will generate a more pleasurable experience with reading. As they pair this time spent positively engaging with books, the likelihood of them choosing to read recreationally increases.
Comfortable classrooms, physically and psychologically, promote a sense of well-being, keep minds focused, and limit distractions. I have tried to create an atmosphere in which it is desirable to read. I am in need of furniture to create a space for students to enjoy recreational reading, thus impacting their overall reading progress. I will be purchasing movement balls to help students focus in centers and move while learning. I am also looking to get wobble cushions for the students to grab when reading on the floor or during a group setting. For my students with ADHD, wiggling while learning is a must and these seats and cushions help them do just that. Lastly, I am asking to get fluorescent light covers because of the distraction and headache the lights can cause. Please help us make our classroom reading friendly!
About my class
As an interventionist, I spend the bulk of my time with students working on literacy. By 4th grade, our most fragile learners feel defeated as they are very aware of the differences between their reading abilities and those of their typically developing peers. Their motivation to read and actual time spent reading is significantly less which contributes to their reading difficulties. This is evidenced by their results on the Elementary Reading Attitude Survey, that I gave to students at the beginning of the year and my own observations. Donalyn Miller, author of Reading in the Wild, writes, “We reduce the effectiveness of reading interventions when we don't provide our lowest-performing students reading time and encouragement. Developing readers need more reading, not less.” Students engaging with text in a comfortable chair or cozy corner will generate a more pleasurable experience with reading. As they pair this time spent positively engaging with books, the likelihood of them choosing to read recreationally increases.
Comfortable classrooms, physically and psychologically, promote a sense of well-being, keep minds focused, and limit distractions. I have tried to create an atmosphere in which it is desirable to read. I am in need of furniture to create a space for students to enjoy recreational reading, thus impacting their overall reading progress. I will be purchasing movement balls to help students focus in centers and move while learning. I am also looking to get wobble cushions for the students to grab when reading on the floor or during a group setting. For my students with ADHD, wiggling while learning is a must and these seats and cushions help them do just that. Lastly, I am asking to get fluorescent light covers because of the distraction and headache the lights can cause. Please help us make our classroom reading friendly!
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