Reader Response Blogs
October 26, 2010
In order to encourage additional reading outside of class, the 6th grade English teachers at my school post a weekly reading assignment. Students read a short story or non-fiction essay and then answer a few questions about the reading assignment on a class blog. They are expected to post their own answers and then comment on at least one other student's response. Students’ written comments are graded on a rubric designed to encourage thoughtful, creative responses to the questions. The best part is that the things we've learned about each of the students have been truly valuable. Often the kiddos who are very quiet in the classroom find their voices when they blog about some of the short stories.