Patricia Graham- Blog Post 6- Miller Section 2

While Reading Miller’s Chapter 2, I was continually reminded that the Daily Five structure is an effective reading structure that allows teachers the opportunity to provide a quality balanced literacy program for the students.  At the beginning of the year, Michelle and I sat down and discussed the changes that we wanted to make in our literacy instruction.  While it is essential to teach students reading skills, we have often failed to teach students “how to read.”  Michelle purchased an integrated guided reading, shared reading, and writing workshop curriculum that not only taught all the essential skills but also focused on a variety of genres.  Together we have collaborated on how to use this curriculum as a guide to effectively help our students grow as readers and independently apply the skills they have learned. 

            With the Daily Five structure and above mentioned units, independent reading has become an important part of my literacy instruction.  Students are given explicit instruction, choice with their reading, and feedback to help them grow in their reading.  Last summer I worked on my classroom library focusing on organizing the books by students’ interests rather than by levels.  I hope to continue to grow as a teacher to effectively use independent reading as a way to help my students grow.