Reading for Real: Teach Students to Read with Power, Intention, and Joy in K-3 Classrooms

by Kathy Collins

Take two to four kids, give them a basket of books that go together in some way, and then provide time for them to read, think, and talk together about their ideas, their questions, their wonderings. That's the simple recipe for a reading club, and Kathy Collins demonstrates the powerful results in her new book, Reading for Real . She writes, The reading clubs I describe are a formal structure providing students with time to read and talk about books with a high level of engagement, purpose, and joy. Just as adults join clubs to share and talk about common interests, reading clubs allow kids to immerse themselves in topics and ideas they care about -- whether it's turtles, fairy tales, a beloved author, a favorite new series, or the desire to get better at reading aloud to a baby brother or sister. While they are reading and talking about their interests and passions, students in reading clubs are also orchestrating all of the reading skills and strategies they've learned and applying them in real-life ways. The book offers step-by-step support for implementing these classroom reading clubs, suggestions for planning cycles of reading clubs;detailed charts with a variety of teaching ideas that can be implemented immediately;ideas for mini-lessons and examples of reading conferences to support students as they learn strategies and hone their reading and discussion skills;suggestions for differentiating instruction; support for launching and fostering reading partnerships across the year;appendixes with examples of note-taking sheets and sample planning guides for several kinds of reading clubs. While Kathy presents ideas for implementing reading clubs during reading workshop in a balanced literacy framework, the information she provides will be helpful for any teacher who wants to foster the joy of reading by offering students support and opportunities to read for authentic purposes and to have conversations about topics that interest and engage them. After all, we don't just want kids to learn to read, we want them to love to read.

Genres: Education, Professional Development

240 pages, Paperback

First published June 20, 2008

Reviews

[Heather Wall · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent description of reading partnerships and reading clubs in action. The big advantage to her approach is that it replicates the real reading we do as adults, and provides a student partnership with a focusing goal for discussing books. She does a great job of explaining how she helps kids take their discussions deeper, past simply, 1CWe think Biscuit likes to play 1D by asking 1CAnd what does that make you think? 1D Kids are guided to think more deeply about books.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read for teachers in early primary grades K-2. Kathy Collins writes in such a way in that you feel like you are having a conversation with an old friend. There are lots of practical examples, teaching points and strategies to try in your classroom for implementing Reading Clubs. Love this author!!!

[Tanja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant - in content and writing style. Anyone who has ever heard the author speak in person will realise immediately that she writes just like she talks. This makes this book such a great, enjoyable and inspiring read, with step-by-step guidance on how to put into practice reading clubs in your (lower) primary classroom.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book for primary teachers who need support with book clubs. Her style is very approachable- unlike Ellin Keene's book (To Understand) which is very dense and would intimidate most teachers.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book, going through the details of how to start authentic book clubs in primary classrooms. It is exciting to read about ways to engage early readers into books that they will love. My only desire would be more specific strategies to assess learning.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Valuable information and relevant for all students!

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read. I enjoy her practical approach to explaining the art of teaching. Great ideas for mini lessons for reading book clubs.

[Mandy Robek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the details, reasons and guidance for book groups with primary students. Lots of suggestions for various types.

[Jessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for all teachers.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent resource for implementing book clubs into your elementary reading program.