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Giggle Poetry Reading Lessons
Amy Buswell and Bruce Lansky's Giggle Poetry Reading Lessons turns struggling readers into happy readers -- For Grades 2-5.
Many struggling readers are embarrassed to read aloud. They are often intimidated or bored by texts that conventional programs require them to practice. So, instead of catching up, they fall further behind. Currently 67% of American fourth graders can't read grade-level text. Reading specialist Amy Buswell has spent eight years looking for remediation methods that work. "What is needed," Buswell explains, "is a program that improves the motivation of struggling readers, because that accounts for 90% of the problem." Four years ago, Buswell came up with a brainstorm. She knew her best readers enjoyed reading Bruce Lansky's poetry books for pleasure. The more poems they read, the better the reading got. Why not use Lansky's kid-tested poems as texts struggling readers could practice on to improve their reading -- using six research-based choral reading, echo reading, paired reading, repeated reading, sustained silent reading and "say it like the character" reading. -- This book is the result of that brainstorm and the resulting collaboration between Buswell and Lansky. It gives teachers and parents everything they need to help children improve their -35 kid-tested poems by Bruce Lansky -35 customized reading lessons by Amy Buswell -35 off-the-wall illustrations by Stephen Carpenter -35 sets of zany performance tips by Bruce Lansky -- all of which is designed to make the process of reading improvement more like fun than work. -- What Amy Buswell and Bruce Lansky have created is the most entertaining fluency intervention ever. That's why it is so successful at overcoming negative attitudes to improve reading skills and scores. Ninety-five percent of participating students made significant improvement in their fluency (reading rate). And average reading scores on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) for Buswell's school raised her school's rating to an A for the first time. In 2011, Buswell's school achieved one of the highest-percentage reading gains in the county. -- There's no reason parents can't get in on the fun, too. Parents will enjoy Lansky's funny poems and Stephen Carpenter's delightful illustrations as much as their children. By reading the poems with their children and encouraging their children to try some of Lansky's entertaining performance tips (by adding gestures, sound effects, props and finding additional be they friends, family or neighbors), they can dramatically speed up their child's reading progress (and have lots of fun in the process.)
Many struggling readers are embarrassed to read aloud. They are often intimidated or bored by texts that conventional programs require them to practice. So, instead of catching up, they fall further behind. Currently 67% of American fourth graders can't read grade-level text. Reading specialist Amy Buswell has spent eight years looking for remediation methods that work. "What is needed," Buswell explains, "is a program that improves the motivation of struggling readers, because that accounts for 90% of the problem." Four years ago, Buswell came up with a brainstorm. She knew her best readers enjoyed reading Bruce Lansky's poetry books for pleasure. The more poems they read, the better the reading got. Why not use Lansky's kid-tested poems as texts struggling readers could practice on to improve their reading -- using six research-based choral reading, echo reading, paired reading, repeated reading, sustained silent reading and "say it like the character" reading. -- This book is the result of that brainstorm and the resulting collaboration between Buswell and Lansky. It gives teachers and parents everything they need to help children improve their -35 kid-tested poems by Bruce Lansky -35 customized reading lessons by Amy Buswell -35 off-the-wall illustrations by Stephen Carpenter -35 sets of zany performance tips by Bruce Lansky -- all of which is designed to make the process of reading improvement more like fun than work. -- What Amy Buswell and Bruce Lansky have created is the most entertaining fluency intervention ever. That's why it is so successful at overcoming negative attitudes to improve reading skills and scores. Ninety-five percent of participating students made significant improvement in their fluency (reading rate). And average reading scores on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) for Buswell's school raised her school's rating to an A for the first time. In 2011, Buswell's school achieved one of the highest-percentage reading gains in the county. -- There's no reason parents can't get in on the fun, too. Parents will enjoy Lansky's funny poems and Stephen Carpenter's delightful illustrations as much as their children. By reading the poems with their children and encouraging their children to try some of Lansky's entertaining performance tips (by adding gestures, sound effects, props and finding additional be they friends, family or neighbors), they can dramatically speed up their child's reading progress (and have lots of fun in the process.)
- GenresPoetry
95 pages, Paperback
First published May 6, 2014
15 people are currently reading
205 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 3, 2018
I have not had the chance to use this book with my students; however, as a teacher there is a LOT I like about it.
In general, I am a fan of humor and poetry in the class. It helps students think figuratively, focus less on grammar, and help them loosen up in class.
Giggle Poetry Reading Lessons is a great book for teachers of hesitant readers. I think at an ESL level it works for elementary to high school students. It has vocabulary be introduced in a fun way, and encourages student fluency by having students act / present their plays. Some poems encourage movement, making this a TPR experience.
More or less the first 10% of the book is helping teachers (or parents) learn how to navigate the book. In my opinion, may teacher books spend FAR too long introducing the book and not enough time on the actual content. I am OK with 10%. This portion reviews studies (why they made the book), methods (how they think the book to be used in class) and examples. This part can be ignored if you like, but the content isn't too lengthy and can give you a decent basis on how to proceed.
After the introduction, the book gives you thirty-four different poems. Quite a few of these I like enough to use with my high school students! Several I didn't like at all (but I can see how students would), and the vast majority I found perfect for middle school or elementary students.
The poems are usually 1-2 pages and divided into stanzas. Next to the poem there is often direction as to the desired motions or intonations (e.g. "Act stern. Wage your finger.") While the poems are fairly basic in terms of vocabulary there are some cases where rather advanced words are used. If you are dealing with EFL students, you may like to scaffold more than the book does. An alternative is to substitute advanced words with cognates or more basic synonyms. Most of the poems are written with a rhyme or meter that makes memorizing and reading them easier than a standard text.
After each poem the book provides a lesson plan. As with all prefabricated lesson plans, I suggest you make many adaptations to best suit your class. These ideas area great start! The objective for each poem;s lesson plan is more or less the same, "Objective: The student will read text fluenty, with attention to pace and expression and with a high level of accuracy, as a means of comprehending the text."
Then it walks you through the five steps they suggest you follow:
First activate background knowledge. The book provides sample questions to ask students to get them thinking of the topic. In an EFL environment some visuals would probably be helpful too!
Skim/Scan. Usually they advise students to underline any words they may don-t know without looking at the context or situation. There are other great skimming and scanning activities you could use here.
Modeled Reading. Usually this is set up for the teacher to read (and it gives guidance on how it should be read), but you could do this in many other ways as well.
Guided Reading. Students are given the chance to look at vocabulary, inference, and practice reading as a class (echo reading and choral reading) or in pairs (buddy reading)
Finally students are given time to read on their own during Independent Reading.
The last step is to have a student present (the book emphasizes to encourage them heavilily and focus on their successes rather than failures).
Personally, I feel that after the third poem this lesson plan structure is BORING! It has a great structure, but repeating it again and again isn't very fun to read. Don't be afraid to vary it for your class. Use the skeleton but adapt the activities, or do your own thing!
After the poems, at the end of the book, there are rubrics and suggested assessment methods. Again, feel free to adapt these as needed to keep your class interesting and best suit your students needs.
In general, I am a fan of humor and poetry in the class. It helps students think figuratively, focus less on grammar, and help them loosen up in class.
Giggle Poetry Reading Lessons is a great book for teachers of hesitant readers. I think at an ESL level it works for elementary to high school students. It has vocabulary be introduced in a fun way, and encourages student fluency by having students act / present their plays. Some poems encourage movement, making this a TPR experience.
More or less the first 10% of the book is helping teachers (or parents) learn how to navigate the book. In my opinion, may teacher books spend FAR too long introducing the book and not enough time on the actual content. I am OK with 10%. This portion reviews studies (why they made the book), methods (how they think the book to be used in class) and examples. This part can be ignored if you like, but the content isn't too lengthy and can give you a decent basis on how to proceed.
After the introduction, the book gives you thirty-four different poems. Quite a few of these I like enough to use with my high school students! Several I didn't like at all (but I can see how students would), and the vast majority I found perfect for middle school or elementary students.
The poems are usually 1-2 pages and divided into stanzas. Next to the poem there is often direction as to the desired motions or intonations (e.g. "Act stern. Wage your finger.") While the poems are fairly basic in terms of vocabulary there are some cases where rather advanced words are used. If you are dealing with EFL students, you may like to scaffold more than the book does. An alternative is to substitute advanced words with cognates or more basic synonyms. Most of the poems are written with a rhyme or meter that makes memorizing and reading them easier than a standard text.
After each poem the book provides a lesson plan. As with all prefabricated lesson plans, I suggest you make many adaptations to best suit your class. These ideas area great start! The objective for each poem;s lesson plan is more or less the same, "Objective: The student will read text fluenty, with attention to pace and expression and with a high level of accuracy, as a means of comprehending the text."
Then it walks you through the five steps they suggest you follow:
First activate background knowledge. The book provides sample questions to ask students to get them thinking of the topic. In an EFL environment some visuals would probably be helpful too!
Skim/Scan. Usually they advise students to underline any words they may don-t know without looking at the context or situation. There are other great skimming and scanning activities you could use here.
Modeled Reading. Usually this is set up for the teacher to read (and it gives guidance on how it should be read), but you could do this in many other ways as well.
Guided Reading. Students are given the chance to look at vocabulary, inference, and practice reading as a class (echo reading and choral reading) or in pairs (buddy reading)
Finally students are given time to read on their own during Independent Reading.
The last step is to have a student present (the book emphasizes to encourage them heavilily and focus on their successes rather than failures).
Personally, I feel that after the third poem this lesson plan structure is BORING! It has a great structure, but repeating it again and again isn't very fun to read. Don't be afraid to vary it for your class. Use the skeleton but adapt the activities, or do your own thing!
After the poems, at the end of the book, there are rubrics and suggested assessment methods. Again, feel free to adapt these as needed to keep your class interesting and best suit your students needs.
September 25, 2016
Reading practice doesn't have to be boring. It can be hilarious performance art.
I'm going to put in my two cents here, although I am not a teacher. I HAVE worked with children who were poor (usually reluctant) readers, and everything this author says makes sense to me. Every teacher and parent knows the deadly cycle of failure: the kid is a poor reader, dreads reading, avoids reading, and falls even further behind his peers. Finding a way to make reading fun, while making the young reader feel that he is succeeding is the only way to break that cycle.
This concept isn't Ivory Tower, but common sense built on proven educational techniques. For many generations of school children, "recitation" (memorizing and acting out poems) was a daily feature. Even a kid who wasn't the brightest scholar in the classroom could shine and both speaker and listeners gained a better knowledge of the story and the writer's intent.
Sadly, this custom lost favor with educational experts. Any parent who has read a rhyming book to a child knows how much children respond to rhymes. And rhyming sounds introduce the child to the idea that words that sound alike are usually spelled alike. Phonics!
I emailed the two primary school teachers in my family about this book. If I were the parent of a reluctant reader, I would be on this one like white on rice.
I'm going to put in my two cents here, although I am not a teacher. I HAVE worked with children who were poor (usually reluctant) readers, and everything this author says makes sense to me. Every teacher and parent knows the deadly cycle of failure: the kid is a poor reader, dreads reading, avoids reading, and falls even further behind his peers. Finding a way to make reading fun, while making the young reader feel that he is succeeding is the only way to break that cycle.
This concept isn't Ivory Tower, but common sense built on proven educational techniques. For many generations of school children, "recitation" (memorizing and acting out poems) was a daily feature. Even a kid who wasn't the brightest scholar in the classroom could shine and both speaker and listeners gained a better knowledge of the story and the writer's intent.
Sadly, this custom lost favor with educational experts. Any parent who has read a rhyming book to a child knows how much children respond to rhymes. And rhyming sounds introduce the child to the idea that words that sound alike are usually spelled alike. Phonics!
I emailed the two primary school teachers in my family about this book. If I were the parent of a reluctant reader, I would be on this one like white on rice.
August 18, 2014
I am very impressed with the book! What a fun learning experience for my grandson. The educational approach to assist Grades 2-5 with their reading is perfect for visual learners. I'm a strong believer in teaching little ones songs with hand gestures. So reading, memorizing poetry along with hand motions is popular with kids and successful, too. The brain learns by pattern and seeks novelty. I would say the author and illustrator hit the ball out of the park with this one. My grandson eagerly read 'A Brave Little Fellow Named Brian' and giggled through 'Forgetful', like most boys will. He's only in first grade and reads the poems over and over. This is a must-have for home and school library. I highly recommend this one.
June 27, 2014
I am always looking for new ideas to use in my ESOL class. The poetry readings are easy and amusing - and are able to be acted out. At a literacy level ESOL class - this will be an excellent resource for getting students to read aloud, develop vocabulary, and learn the use of cadence in their speech patterns. I can not wait to incorporate it into my lesson plans!
June 22, 2014
I found this book as a free download on my kindle. I was pleasantly surprised to see that I already do something very similar to this. The plan is simple and easy to follow, and the poems are really funny.
September 27, 2014
I won this book from Goodreads.
The poems are fun. As far as classroom use maybe my sister, the second grade teacher will be able to give a review of that.
The poems are fun. As far as classroom use maybe my sister, the second grade teacher will be able to give a review of that.
August 7, 2014
Cute book and poems. This will be fun in my poetry unit.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews