Building A Reading Life with Lucy Calkins

To grow as a reader we need to look at our reading habits. Although we tracked the books we read last year in second grade, in third grade our Reading Log is much more sophisticated. This year not only do we write the book title and author, but we are keeping track of the level, starting - ending pages, starting - ending times, and minutes read. After a few days we will look for patterns and self-assess ourselves as readers. What genres do we choose? How long does it take us to read a page (or ten)? Do we read fiction books quicker than nonfiction books? Are we reading so fast that we are choosing books that may be too easy for us? Is the opposite true - are we reading books that are so difficult that it is taking us a long, long time and perhaps, interfering with comprehension?

One student's reading log.

Reading with our logs ready to fill out.

Third graders read and enjoy chapter books.

.  Our goal is to read three quarters of a page a minute for at least an hour a day between school and home. We will work to achieve this goal in third grade. We know we can do it because as Lucy says... "You are in charge of your reading life." 

Choosing Independent Reading Books

Each Friday we return the books from our independent reading bags and choose ten new ones for the following week.  We have loads of books in our classroom!  Students are encouraged to pick out a variety of genres.  Some favorites include fictional picture books, poetry, nonfiction books - particularly about animals or earth/space, Magic School Bus, and series chapter books - especially Magic Tree House or Junie B. Jones.  After filling their bags, the children get comfortable and read all around the classroom as you can see from our pictures.

Choosing Independent Reading Books

Each student has an independent reading book bag hanging on the back of his/her chair. Every Friday students return the books that they are finished with and choose 10 new books to read the following week. They try to find some "just right" books and vary the genres. Student favorites include poetry books, books of the month, nonfiction books about animals, Magic School Bus books, and chapter books.

Independent Reading Bags

Everyone has an independent reading bag which contains ten books. Every Friday we switch out our books. We all choose 3 easy cheesy books to help our fluency. We also choose 4 just right books, and 3 challenge books. Noah has chosen an Amelia Bedelia book, some Magic Tree House books, an action chapter book, and a favorite picture book to read next week. He is using his bag as a pillow to get comfortable as he reads!

By Noah and Mrs. Metzger