Parkland Teachers' Professional Development Group Sponsors Book Talk on Middle School Reading Instruction

(15-Mar-2005) Members of a Parkland Teachers' book talk club today began a three-part discussion of Laura Robb's Teaching Reading in Middle School: A Strategic Approach to Teaching Reading That Improves Comprehension and Thinking. The book is aimed at teachers of Grades 5 through 9 and advocates a workshop approach to reading instruction for all grade levels. The group of teachers assembled represented every one of the grades addressed by the book — some with large classes, some with high numbers of special needs students, some in team-teaching situations. All agreed that Robb's book offers outstanding food for thought and some wonderful insights, but the conversation quickly turned to ways in which her ideas could be adapted and modified for a wider range of learner styles.

Teachers involved in the book talk were most interested in Robb's tips on getting quality independent work from students, behaviour guidelines for readers' workshop and conferences, guidelines for preventing disruptions, and reading class "choice time" ideas. Lesson ideas and anecdotes shared by those in attendance ranged from the inspirational to the hilarious. Far-ranging and animated the discussion may have been, but the shared experience of reading Robb's book always kept the teachers grounded in common goals. Parkland Teachers who are interested in joining one of these lively and rewarding groups should watch professional development posters in staffrooms and the professional development page on this Web site for details on upcoming opportunities.