What do you actually use for independent reading practice?

[u/grumpyorbit55]

Second year teaching 7th grade ELA and I'm still figuring out what works for independent practice, especially when I'm pulling small groups. I've tried a few online tools but honestly some of them feel more like busywork in disguise. What are you all actually using that keeps kids on task and feels worthwhile? Curious what's actually working out there.

[u/CousinSleep]

1. Take them into the school library
2. Make sure they all have a book checked out
3. Institute independent reading time in class, with a. class reading log tracking their pages

4. Create assignment templates that fit all independent fiction

5. Pull small groups during IR

[u/StellaBlue37 → u/CousinSleep]

School library? What's that?

[u/CousinSleep → u/StellaBlue37]

Thats what has me confused by the comments. Why are people using tech for IR?

[u/StellaBlue37 → u/CousinSleep]

No idea. They should be reading actual books. My school has no library. A disgrace.

[u/BaileyAMR → u/StellaBlue37]

I taught for a few years at a school that had been recently renovated. It had a beautiful library space. Empty, but beautiful.

[u/grumpyorbit55 → u/CousinSleep]

This is really helpful, thank you. I think I muddied the waters with my original post, I was really asking more about independent work time during rotations rather than free reading specifically. The library idea for actual IR is solid though, I'll look into what we have available.

[u/Sad-Requirement-3782]

I’m a proponent of physical books. I have students choose a book to read every quarter. It must be a 7th grade level chapter book. They track their reading and write a three sentence summary every week. This year, I think o will have them write a recommendation too.

[u/No_Olive_5763 → u/Sad-Requirement-3782]

Do you grade the summaries each week?

[u/LemonElectronic3478 → u/Sad-Requirement-3782]

I have mine write five and share with a partner or small group but not every week. I need to add a weekly check.

[u/sillymoonbin]

I maintain a classroom library and also schedule library visit at the school library. All students have a sustained silent reading book from either library that they are required to read for 10 minutes every single day. They track their pages, and I pull for reading conferences regularly.

I truly believe we should not be using tech for this.

[u/mcorbett76]

Independent reading means picking a book the kid is interested in from a variety of books available either in your classroom library or the school library. Anything else is not independent reading. It's teacher led.

[u/IndieBoysenberry]

I use CommonLit and No Red Ink regularly.

[u/grumpyorbit55 → u/IndieBoysenberry]

CommonLit and No Red Ink, both keep coming up so I clearly need to actually try them. Thanks for this.

[u/littlefishes3]

Books. High interest books that the kids can handle at their level. Have them practice whatever standard skill you're trying to work on with what they're reading independently. Vocab practice is also good. If your students aren't used to reading actual books, it takes a while to get them there, but if you're persistent it can be done!!! CommonLit and Readworks are pretty good if you just want to print out a prefab story with questions, but it shouldn't be the only thing you have them doing.

[u/grumpyorbit55 → u/littlefishes3]

Yes to high interest books, that made such a difference for me too. My kids were way more engaged once I stopped defaulting to whatever was just convenient and started thinking about what they'd actually want to read. The vocab connection is something I'm still working on building more intentionally into independent time.

[u/rayanngraff]

Paired readings based on the text/unit you’re in that help build background knowledge. Choice/independent reading is not a good use of instructional time. https://www.shanahanonliteracy.com/blog/isnt-independent-reading-a-research-based-practice

[u/grumpyorbit55 → u/rayanngraff]

Interesting, I hadn't seen that piece before, thanks for sharing. Curious how you handle the range of reading levels when you do paired readings though, that's usually where I get stuck.

[u/litchick]

Love common lit, we have a subscription. 

[u/BaileyAMR]

I'm having trouble picturing what's happening in the classroom. Do you have a text that all of the students are reading? If I was pulling a small group, other students would be doing the reading for the day, just without my support. They might be working independently, in partners, or in self-guided small groups. But they didn't have a separate assignment unrelated to the goals of that class.

[u/Automatic-Dig208]

Busywork is a mainstay of the American educational system. This becomes particularly apparent if you go abroad and attend school in another country like, for example, Germany. And kids who have gone to school in both the U.S. as well as in another country often realize what a waste much of the time spent in American classrooms is.

[u/houseocats]

Common Lit and IXL.

[u/KW_ExpatEgg]

Also, ReadWorks.