based on Janice L. Pilgreen’s

based on

Janice L. Pilgreen’s

The SSR Handbook:

How to Organize and

Manage a Sustained

Silent Reading Program

SSR: sustained silent reading program

aka •Uninterrupted Sustained Silent Reading (USSR)

•Sustained Quiet Reading Time (SQUIRT)

•Drop Everything and Read (DEAR)

•High Intensity Practice (HIP)

•Positive Outcomes While Enjoying Reading (POWER)

•Fun Reading Every Day (FRED)

…. etc., etc.

based on

Janice L. Pilgreen’s

The SSR Handbook:

How to Organize and

Manage a Sustained

Silent Reading Program

Why bother?

based on

Janice L. Pilgreen’s

The SSR Handbook:

How to Organize and

Manage a Sustained

Silent Reading Program

Why bother?

Students who do more free voluntary reading do better in every aspect of literacy tested: word recognition, grammar, writing, vocabulary, andreading comprehension.--Krashen, “Foreword,” The SSR Handbook, viii- ix.

based on

Janice L. Pilgreen’s

The SSR Handbook:

How to Organize and

Manage a Sustained

Silent Reading Program

Why bother?

Comprehension Hypothesis: we learn to read by reading.

----Krashen, “Foreword,” x

eight keys

1. access to books/different genres/different materials

2. appeal / self-selection

3. conducive environment

4. encouragement (e.g., teacher reads too; sharing afterwards; selection guidance)

5. staff training / department buy-in

6. non-accountability (no reports/ no records)

7. follow-up activities (usually performance-based)

8. distributed time to read (12 to 20 minutes/day)

most FAQs

Key #1. Access:

“Students take books home and forget to bring them back for SSR the next day.”

most FAQs

Key #1. Access:

“Students get out of their seats to select books from shelves—and just socialize.”

most FAQs

Key #1. Access:

“I’ve spent lots of $$$ on my classroom library… but students don’t return the books.”

most FAQs

Key #1 Access:

“We have a great school library, but some students want to go there 2-3 times a week—and just socialize.”

most FAQs

Key #2 Appeal:

“I can’t get my students to ‘buy into’ SSR. Should I let them read magazines and newspapers?”

most FAQs

Key #2 Appeal:

“I worry about some of the books some students bring from home to read for SSR.”

most FAQs

Key #2 Appeal:

“I’ve relented and allow my students to read magazines. But now they just look at the pictures.”

most FAQs

Key #3 Conducive Environments:

“I don’t like the idea of having students stretched out on the floor or cuddling up on the classroom sofa.”

most FAQs

Key # 3 Conducive Environments:

“I have students who just can’t sit still. They fidget, tap their feet, and generally just annoy people around them.”

most FAQs

Key #4 Encouragement:

“I don’t like that some students read the same series or things that are too easy for them (e.g., romance novels).”

most FAQs

Key #4 Encouragement:

“I see students changing books every day. How long does it take for SSR to ‘catch on’?”

most FAQs

Key #5 Staff Training:

“The principal wants to institute a school-wide SSR program. Some teachers like the idea; others don’t.”

most FAQs

Key #5 Staff Training:

“We did SSR school-wide, but found that some teachers were just giving students ‘free time.’”

most FAQs

Key # 6

Non-accountability:

“Is there some way I can give credit for staying focused during SSR?”

most FAQs

Key # 7

Follow-Up Activities:

“It’s so hard to provide time to read and follow-up activities, too!”

most FAQs

Key #8

Distributed Time to Read:

“I’d rather give students a chunk of time (e.g., on assembly days or on Fridays), so SSR is less distracting to the curriculum content.”

based on

Janice L. Pilgreen’s

The SSR Handbook:

How to Organize and

Manage a Sustained

Silent Reading Program

SAFE DATE

based on

Janice L. Pilgreen’s

The SSR Handbook:

How to Organize and

Manage a Sustained

Silent Reading Program

Staff training

Appeal

Follow-up activities

Encouragement

based on

Janice L. Pilgreen’s

The SSR Handbook:

How to Organize and

Manage a Sustained

Silent Reading Program

Direct access (??)

Accountability (non)

Time to read daily

Environment

based on

Janice L. Pilgreen’s

The SSR Handbook:

How to Organize and

Manage a Sustained

Silent Reading Program

SAFE

CANE

based on

Janice L. Pilgreen’s

The SSR Handbook:

How to Organize and

Manage a Sustained

Silent Reading Program

CAN

FEATS

based on

Janice L. Pilgreen’s

The SSR Handbook:

How to Organize and

Manage a Sustained

Silent Reading Program

CAFE

NATS