Comments on: Virtual Mailbag: Yes, I do. http://teachingtheoutsiders.com/virtual-mailbag-yes-i-do/ Middle school teaching: Five shows a day, 180 days a year. Mon, 19 Jul 2010 16:01:50 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: mrC http://teachingtheoutsiders.com/virtual-mailbag-yes-i-do/comment-page-1/#comment-549 mrC Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:50:37 +0000 http://teachingtheoutsiders.com/?p=1540#comment-549 Thanks so much for the kudos. I'm always glad to see someone else who gets it about reading to the kids. And, as you say, when you get a double bonus of them liking it AND actual academic benefits, well... I like my popcorn old-school: oil-popped on the stove, with butter and salt. Thanks so much for the kudos. I’m always glad to see someone else who gets it about reading to the kids. And, as you say, when you get a double bonus of them liking it AND actual academic benefits, well… I like my popcorn old-school: oil-popped on the stove, with butter and salt.

]]> By: Sara http://teachingtheoutsiders.com/virtual-mailbag-yes-i-do/comment-page-1/#comment-548 Sara Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:27:19 +0000 http://teachingtheoutsiders.com/?p=1540#comment-548 Mr. Coward, I love your blog. I'm also a seventh grade English teacher and began the year with The Outsiders. I can't agree with you more on the "oral reading" issue. When I have my students reading a novel as a class, I prefer to either A) read the book orally while the kids follow along or B) Play a recorded version while they read along. They BEG to read in class with these methods. I had a teacher criticize/question me on this, and I use the same rationale that you pointed out: Having them read along with a proficient, effective reader is much more educationally productive than having them read along with a stumbling, nervous classmate. I also do something similar to your "KBAR" where the kids are reading independently, and I find that the combination of in-class reading led by myself and personal reading on their own increases their literacy by leaps and bounds. Thanks again for the great blog...your posts are a bright spot in my week! Sara from Ohio Mr. Coward,

I love your blog. I’m also a seventh grade English teacher and began the year with The Outsiders. I can’t agree with you more on the “oral reading” issue. When I have my students reading a novel as a class, I prefer to either A) read the book orally while the kids follow along or B) Play a recorded version while they read along. They BEG to read in class with these methods.

I had a teacher criticize/question me on this, and I use the same rationale that you pointed out: Having them read along with a proficient, effective reader is much more educationally productive than having them read along with a stumbling, nervous classmate. I also do something similar to your “KBAR” where the kids are reading independently, and I find that the combination of in-class reading led by myself and personal reading on their own increases their literacy by leaps and bounds.

Thanks again for the great blog…your posts are a bright spot in my week!

Sara from Ohio

]]> By: mrC http://teachingtheoutsiders.com/virtual-mailbag-yes-i-do/comment-page-1/#comment-546 mrC Wed, 18 Nov 2009 02:17:45 +0000 http://teachingtheoutsiders.com/?p=1540#comment-546 You're so nice. Thanks a lot. Re: reading and writing workshop. Doesn't that involve having the kids in groups? ;) I actually have a post coming up about this sort of thing sometime soon. I don't do a lot of workshoppy things, because in my room, I'm a control freak. "This is not a democracy. This is a benevolent dictatorship." I do some writing grouping, but not much reading grouping at all. Is that bad? You’re so nice. Thanks a lot. Re: reading and writing workshop. Doesn’t that involve having the kids in groups? ;) I actually have a post coming up about this sort of thing sometime soon. I don’t do a lot of workshoppy things, because in my room, I’m a control freak. “This is not a democracy. This is a benevolent dictatorship.” I do some writing grouping, but not much reading grouping at all. Is that bad?

]]> By: Megan http://teachingtheoutsiders.com/virtual-mailbag-yes-i-do/comment-page-1/#comment-541 Megan Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:07:52 +0000 http://teachingtheoutsiders.com/?p=1540#comment-541 Hi Mr Coward, I check your website daily and am always psyched for a new entry to appear. I am curious, how do you feel about reading and writing workshop? Thanks, megan Hi Mr Coward,
I check your website daily and am always psyched for a new entry to appear. I am curious, how do you feel about reading and writing workshop?

Thanks,
megan

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