Students Read an Impressive Variety of Literature and Share Their Findings
The Upper Elementary Reading Program is one of the great strengths at Renaissance Academy. Students read an impressive variety of literature which they discuss in small book groups. The reading program is coordinated with the social studies curriculum, and also tied to the science and writing programs. By integrating studies we deepen and enhance learning. Most of the literature is historical fiction, we also include assorted genres and styles. Many award winning novels and classic favorites are intermingled to inspire a life-long love of reading.
Issues this Best Practice Addresses:
Through this program, as our test scores prove, students learn an incredible amount about people, places, literature, writing, and our world, throughout history and today, and they enjoy it along the way.
Benefits Derived from Implementing this Best Practice:
Probably the most noteworthy and beneficial aspects of the reading program is that children read … and read … and read some more. As a result, they develop into superior, well read young people, who will forever have a wealth of accessible information they have gained.
Evidence Illustrating Success:
New students and families may find they have to adjust to keep on the reading track. We acknowledge our expectations are high, so are our results! To help support success, we want to provide a few more details:
- In the first week of school, all students are given reading tests for their grade level. Based on the results of this test, and teacher knowledge of each child, students are placed into reading groups of nine to twelve children.
- Students of different ages and classes, are mixed as groups are arranged by reading level. Each group has a leader that may or may not be the regular classroom teacher.
- Each group has their own reading list with a detailed schedule. Many books are the same, with several easier books read by every group to provide commonality across levels, but the time spent on each book is adjusted .
- Reading is required every day, even if the groups do not meet.
- There are five or six assignments per week for every student but the difficulty and quantity of reading is adjusted according to group level, with assignments varying from 10-15 pages per day for the easier groups, to 25-35 pages each day for our highest level readers.
- Reading groups meet and discuss reading at least twice a week; groups who may need more direction meet every day.
- After all this reading, we have a special event twice a year – Name That Book. At this fun event students are formed into teams with representatives from all different reading groups and compete to see who can best identify quotes from the different books. We make Name That Book an exciting contest that is part of a celebration day the students really enjoy.
Additional Materials:
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Submitted By: Kieran McHugh, Renaissance Academy