Free voluntary reading helps everyone by instilling a love of reading through modeling reading enjoyment, recommending books, and allowing students to choose their own reading material. Studies show students who participate in free voluntary reading programs perform as well or better on reading assessments compared to non-participants and enjoy reading more both during and after programs. Teachers can encourage free reading through classroom book collections, literature circles, reading challenges and signage in school libraries.
1. Free Voluntary Reading
Helps Everyone
Everyone should love to read
Middle School
Teacher-Librarian
A younger and thinner
J.K. – Gr. 5 Teacher-Librarian
4. We believe that as teacher-
librarians our main goal…
is to instill a love of reading
by modeling a love of reading
by reading many books and reviews
by recommending books
5. Try this:
What are you currently reading
(ebook, internet, magazine, print, professional)?
Why did you select this?
Share something interesting?
Will you finish it?
Would you pass it on to a friend?
6. Free Voluntary Reading is:
reading because you want to
reading what you want
reading when you want
what most adults do daily
is often called SSR or USSR or DEAR
in school settings
8. Stephen Krashen is:
professor emeritus at the University of
Southern California
a linguist, educator and activist
has published more than 350 papers and
books
believes that FVR is the most powerful
tool we have in language education
9. Krashen summarizes:
(students involved in FVR compared to those who aren’t)
do as well or better at reading comprehension
do better on tests of writing, writing fluency,
spelling, vocabulary, grammar
read more (both during and after the program
ends)
show an improved attitude towards reading
10. And a few bonuses:
teachers report fewer discipline problems
this works just as well with second language
learners
increased general knowledge
for older adults, less memory loss
11. Donalyn Miller is:
a grade 6 Language Arts and Social Studies
teacher
the author of The Book Whisperer
a Blogger: The Book Whisperer Education
Week Teacher
a Contributor: The Nerdy Book Club Blog
on Twitter @donalynbooks
a champion of free reading
32. You may need to add some new
spine (classification) labels
33. In the classroom
Literature Circles
◦ grouping
◦ real discussions
Assessment
◦ co-creating rubric
Silver Birch Blitz
Success!
34. Student Comments
I read 27 so far!
I'll read poetry now
I've learned I like historical fiction
You`ve gotta read this!
When do we find out who wins?
When is reading today?
35. Link to Free Voluntary Reading
Helps Everyone LiveBinder
for all resources