This article directly relates to our conversations in class the past couple of days. I was extremely intrigued in class when I found out that reading groups and math groups directly correlate to students reading in the classroom. What I mean is that, if I have 4 reading groups in my classroom that obviously means that I have struggling readers mixed in with on grade level and even above grade level readers. I can not have my entire class read the same assignment in a certain amount of minutes and answer questions. Some students will reach frustration level and others will breeze through the assignment. In order to have all of my students enjoy reading, they need to read on their own level and I, as a teacher, need to take the time to realize and plan for all levels of students.
Classroom level matched texts is an area that I believe many teachers mistakenly use far too often with all of their students. Not all students will be on this level and I think as a teacher it is our job to match the text to each individual student. If lower students read text on their ability level, by the end of the year they will have grown leaps and bounds. They may not be on grade level, but they are on a higher level than when they walked into the room because they did not become frustrated trying to read on a level not suited for them.
I had never really heard of trade books and I am so glad this article was placed in my hands!! Trade books accomadate to all levels of readers and are even more in depth than a regular text book! Finding trade books that integrate with social studies and are on the level of struggling readers is noted to be a difficult task. I love that this article breaks down exactly what a “good book” is and notes that these books should not shame the reader, they just will be more on the reader’s level. As a teacher I must realize that my students can read different books about a topic, as long as the books cover the same topic and my students can come away from their readings reaching similiar ideas about their context.
I will absolutely use this article as a resource in my classroom when I come across the task of implementing books for all levels of readers and the best way to do that.
