Developed by Irene Fountas and Gay Su Pinnell
Independent reading offers children the chance to read, write about, talk about, and enjoy self-selected texts. It is nested within an instructional framework of minilessons, conferring, and sharing. Participants in this session will explore how to support student choice during independent reading as well as explore how to have authentic and meaningful conversations with students that will move them forward in their reading competencies. Participants will learn to use The Fountas & Pinnell Literacy Continuum as a valuable resource for observing and selecting teaching goals for individual students.
Course Goals
Participants will:
- Consider the values and characteristics of independent reading
- Develop an understanding of reading as a complex process
- Explore how independent reading resides within a responsive literacy framework
- Use The Fountas & Pinnell Literacy Continuum as a tool for observing and setting goals for individual students
- Explore how to carry on an authentic and meaningful conversation with children that will move them forward as a reader
- Explore ways for students to expand their thinking about books through writing about reading
- Become familiar with the Fountas & Pinnell Classroom™ Independent Reading Collection of books and conferring cards.
Resources Needed
- The Fountas & Pinnell Literacy Continuum
- Fountas & Pinnell Classroom™ Independent Reading Collection Guide
- Books and conferring cards from Fountas & Pinnell Classroom™ Independent Reading Collection
