Classroom Libraries and the Need for Independent Reading

• Respond to an issue raised by Routman in Reading Essentials chapter 5 (Classroom library) or chapter 6 and compare/contrast this issue in terms of other class readings and your field placement.
  
  If you want to become good at something, you need to practice it. This seems like such common sense - but why do we forget it when it comes to reading. And especially reading for comprehension. I will continue this analogy with learning to be a skilled soccer player. You could go out and play every day - by playing you would gradually increase your skills. Or, you could have a coach who gives you specific tools and drills to help your skills. When you practice these specific things, your skill level increases in a much more dramatic fashion. Such is the case with reading. Just time spent reading will help, but if a teacher is there to guide you with selecting just right books and using increasing comprehension strategies, providing a wide variety of book and helping set reading goals. I see this independent reading time in the classroom I intern in and I believe in it's value.
  
  A few other ideas I really liked were the teacher giving book talks. This would help in so many ways - to show enthusiasm for reading and a variety of books and to model a good summary among others.
  
  I liked the idea also of having the students help organize the classroom library as well as create a Top 10 wall. What a great way to have them be vested in their reading, share their own enthusiasm, have them create 'advertisements' of their favorite book in whatever format they chose, and make a presentation to 'sell' their book to their classmates. What better way to get good reading ideas than to hear what books your peers were reading and enjoying!
  
  Lastly, I really was impressed with the list of what makes a book Just Right:
  Something you don't have too much trouble reading
  It's your level.
  Words aren't too big or too small.
  You understand it!
  It has personality, adventure and humor.
  You can visualize what the author wrote.
  It keeps you in suspense.
  You are interested in it.
  You could read it over and over.