Jeff Young’s Blog Post: Miller Section 2 September

In Section 2, Miller discusses why independent reading matters and the best practices that support it.  If independent reading (time students spend reading self-selected texts) is done correctly, students WILL become better readers.  Miller cites seven “best practices” that are critical for effective independent reading.

The first best practice Miller discusses is giving students “just right” independent reading time based on the proficiency of the reader.  Just the right time may be approximately twenty to forty minutes of daily reading.  The second best practice Miller emphasizes is the importance of allowing students to be able to choose what they read.  Miller states that children who read self-selected texts are more motivated readers and retain more of what they read.  The third best practice teachers must implement is providing explicit instruction on how to choose the right books and how to read genre-specific texts.  The fourth practice Miller discusses is the idea of increasing the number and variety of complex texts students read.  Complex texts that Miller states “offer new language, new knowledge, and new modes of thought.”  The fifth practice Miller writes is the need for students to have easy access to lots of books.  Miller states the importance of not only having a well-stocked school library, but a classroom library full of books that vary in genre and level.  The sixth practice involves the support students need from teachers during independent reading time.  Miller outlines three intervention behaviors teachers need to exhibit during IR.  These include: “teacher responding to student questions, teacher-led discussions, and teacher monitoring and modeling comprehension strategies.” Teachers can accomplish this through whole group instruction leading into IR time followed by conferences directed by the teacher.  Individual conferences provide students with a level of accountability that is needed to boost growth.  Lastly, Miller cites that students need opportunities to share what they read.  Miller states that text discussions can “enhance critical thinking, metacognition, and the ability to structure arguments.”

Miller stresses the importance of the teacher being actively involved with students during independent reading through modeling, guiding, and fostering active discussions.