R.L. Stine

The school year has been going great!!! We had a little trouble near the beginning when our middle school students took to first part of the MAP testing and everyone with the exception of 3 or 4 students scored extremely below grade level. We concluded that the students did not take it serious but the director changed the afternoon schedule so that it focused completely on reading, just to be on the safe side and provide the extra help they may actual need. The students took the second test and did extremely better! So, while we did the reading intervention, I would read to my students. It began as something fun to do for Halloween. I am a Halloween baby so they know I like to go all out in October. I read a R.L. Stine book titled "Final Grade". My students got into that book as if they were watching a soap opera. I got composition books for them and had them make predictions and write about different topics that had to do with the book. I loved it. They loved it. When I finished the book, I bought another book titled "Silent Night". I began reading it and the students got into this one. But one day, they all suggested I get them individual books so they could take them home and read. Well, I couldn't this idea down. I bought 9 R.L. Stine books for each of my 6th graders. I got the books at a discount bookstore in town so I comfortable buying them. Plus, I had them hyped about READING! I had to keep it going. I brought the books to class and they just crowded around and took their picks. I also made bookmarks them. The purpose of the bookmarks is for them to write down any unfamiliar words on the bookmarks as they read, with the page number, and we discuss all the words in class. We look up definitions, listen to other students' definitions, or look up pictures online and view on the white board from the projector. My students have been learning great vocabulary and we are continuing to write in the writing journals. They even discuss in class what is happening in their books and read aloud. If there are any other things I can do to encourage reading, please let me know. I believe our reading intervention is over and we will go back to our old schedule on Monday after Thanksgiving break. I'm also using the journals for them to practice their writing and communicating skills in math and science (since I teach math and science). So if there are some wonderful ideas I can use (especially as a new teacher) please feel free to share!!! I'm always looking to improve. Thanks!