[etni] fw: reading and book reports

From: "pnina" - <pninap@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: reading and book reports

Reading without book reports
For the past 5-6 years, my pupils have been reading books and
not doing book reports.

In Yod and Yod Aleph, they read in class - about 30-45 minutes
a week.  And I read a book also while they're reading.
Those who don't read do not get full points in their semester
grade but those who do, get the points without writing it up.
Pupils,especially 3 pointers, need help choosing a book and
I try and help them choose a book that suits their level and taste.

In weak classes, I use a set of books. The kids get a book to a
table and I read out to them. They love it. They follow more or
less, and we stop every so often to clarify points. Last year we
read The Wave and watched the movie at the end. Why should
they write a report and ruin the whole experience?

5 point Yod Bet  kids read at home and every couple of weeks
hand up an abbreviated summary of what they have read.
Obviously there are those who can't be bothered and they lose
10 points. They are aware of this and if they choose not to read
then it's their choice. I remind them every so often, but I can't force it on them. 

In the past I have tried creative book tasks, oral testing, regular
book reports - whatever, just to make them read. But those who
wanted to cheat, succeeded and I had no way of proving that they
were cheating. And so they got 10 unmerited, dishonest points.

The best part is when they don't want to stop reading at the end
of the reading session and we go on till the end of the lesson.
Or when they tell me that they don't read in Hebrew but they're
really enjoying the English book they have.

I am lucky that I had and have coordinators who allowed me to
scrap book reports.

That's my 2 cents worth.

pnina


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