ABSTRACT
Daily independent reading time provides the opportunity for students to experiment with and develop the skills and strategies that teachers demonstrate during the minilesson. It is during daily independent reading time that students build stamina and endurance for reading. Though students largely work on reading during independent reading time, they'll also need opportunities to write in response to their reading or complete book club work during this time. While some teachers like to begin independent reading time by reading from their own books to model that they are a lifelong reader too. The purposes of a reading conference are many: to encourage and grow readers, to manage instruction, to discover interests, to promote reflection, to formatively assess students’ progress, and to set new reading goals. Teachers will sometimes guide the book selection, monitor use of skills and strategies, teach small groups, hold roving conferences, and help their readers set goals.
