Click here to go to the Introduction Click here to go to Module 4 Click here to go to Module 5 Click here to go to Module 1 Click here to go to Module 6 Pacific Resources for Education and Learning
Graphic of Module 1: Building a Community of Learners
 

Lesson 4.7: Structured Independent Reading and Dialogue Journals

Focus: Understand the importance of a structured independent reading time during the school day. Discuss ways to monitor this time carefully in order to make it an effective use of time.

Prior to the Collaboration Group Meeting

1. Reflection Journal

Write in your reflection journal prior to the Collaboration Group meeting. You are to respond weekly in your journal, reflecting on your learning, observation, questions, and personal connections. Your reflections need to be at least 250 words. You may choose how to format your journal, though you may want to consider the following as you write:

    • What are some new understandings you made this week as a result of the work for this lesson and your work with your students?
    • How has this new understanding influenced your current practice?

Bring your reflection journal to the weekly Collaboration Group meeting, and prepare to share your entries.

2. Readings

NOTE: To print the linked documents, do the following:

    • Put your mouse on the document and right click. You will see a window that asks you where you want to download the document.
    • Determine where you want to save the document.
    • After saving the document, open and print it in MS Word.
  1. Read Structured Independent Reading and Dialogue Journals in this lesson.
  2. Read On Solid Ground (pp. 136-162).
  3. Read Put Reading First (p. 29).

3. Classroom Application

During the Collaboration Group Meeting

  1. Share your reflection journal entries, using the questions in step one to guide your discussion.
  2. Share your experience of implementing independent reading and dialogue journals.
  3. Email your Structured Independent Reading Questionnaire to the instructor.
  4. Determine the facilitator, recorder, timekeeper, date, time, and location for the next Collaboration Group meeting.

After the Collaboration Group Meeting

  1. Email your Structured Independent Reading Questionnaire to the instructor. Send your assignment(s) to the instructor as an attachment to an email message. Be sure to include your name, date, location, and title on the document. Also, include your name and lesson title in the file name, for example, moses_structured_reading.
  2. The recorder emails the Collaboration Group notes to the instructor.
  3. The timekeeper emails the attendance to the instructor.