I attended a summer institute hosted by the Reading and Writing Project. The reading program is new to me, so I was in their first year cohort. This is to become familiar with the Units of Study Reading Workshop curriculum for Middle School.

Some of the skills covered included:

• Developing focused read aloud plans which support high level comprehension skills

• Help readers build vocabulary and content knowledge

• Tap research on knowledge building, especially pertaining to text sets and content knowledge

• Foster kids’ sense of agency and their critical thinking through partnerships and book clubs

Personally, this institute was very helpful to learn about new authors and books to introduce to our students next year. This institute pulls away from class novels, and instead emphasizes units that allow for "as much independent reading as humanly possible" and more book clubs. The units have a similar routine to the writing workshop, including a 10 minute mini-lesson with independent work time. A read-aloud session takes more like 30 minutes, with independent work time or partner work for the remainder.

Some of my key takeaways were:

- Emphasize volume (pages read) not just time spent reading. Students should finish chapter books within a week or two. Establish independent reading routine within first two/three weeks to maintain/sustain whole year.

--- Therefore, having a large, comprehensive, and organized classroom library with high-interest books and series is critical (They quoted 1,000!?). Check inventory to update titles every 2-3 years.

- Tip: Let students create their own reading logs! I loved this. Some can make tables, use a calendar with symbols to show progress/interest, or prefer a digital method like on Good Reads. They share with their reading partners every two weeks, not the teacher as homework (teachers check during discussions).

- Read Aloud Lessons in Grades 6-8: Try using some of these recommended middle school picture books and short stories for read aloud lessons (attached below).

- Use the "A Cycle of Talk" routine this year for small reading groups. It reminds me of Kath Murdoch's Cycle of Inquiry.

I found this infographic compelling evidence for how crucial independent reading really is, even if only 10 minutes a day! I plan to show this to my students, so they understand that even just fitting a chapter in on busy nights can make a positive difference in their growth. Overall, I'm really looking forward to beginning this reading program for our 6th graders to encourage a love for reading.