In-class activities

The apparently relaxed atmosphere of an extensive reading program does not mean that learners are simply left to their own devices. (Richard R Day & Julian Bamford, ER proponents extraordinaire)

Here are some classroom activities suitable for any level of learner:

• Sustained Silent Reading (SSR). Students silently read a book of their choice, while the teacher monitors and counsels students or even makes use of the time to read/evaluate graded-readers
• story telling. A chance for the teacher to, for example, "sell" a new book or encourage students to attempt higher level books
• paired reading. Students read together the same graded-reader while listening to a cassette-recording (bought or teacher-made)
• timed reading repetitions. Aimed at developing sight vocabulary, students begin reading at the teacher's signal, stop after 2 or 3 minutes, mark how far they got to, and then re-read two or more times from the same spot for the same amount of time, comparing how far they advanced each time.
• reading cards. Originally intended for lower-level students, either the Starter or Reading cards are useful sight-vocabulary review/practive for any level of students
• the computer. There are vocabulary-practice software and CD-ROM versions of graded-readers for use in the school's computer lab or at home
• free time. The students and you are free to do anything so long as it is related to ER, for example finishing up book-reports or creating book-promotion posters
• book talks. The teacher or students give short presentations on books they like
• wallcharts. For example, on large-size paper students enter their verdict on a book they have read (singly or as a class), or for a bit of competition, homerooms tally how many pages they've read to see which class has read the most by year's end

In the library