True confessions, here...I sometimes fake read. It's true. When I am at the nail salon, having a pedicure and reading a magazine, I'm sometimes fake reading. When I'm tired at night, I choose a magazine and look at the pictures and captions more than the article. I know I'm fake reading because I when I put down the magazine or book that I'm thumbing through, I cannot remember anything about it. My reading didn't matter. My "reading" was really just scanning words on a page.
But when I'm reading a book, especially a chapter book with great characters and an interesting plot, I'm reading for real! My mentor, Lucy Calkins, likes to call this "Reading Alive!" Alive Reading is when you visualize what you read, you back-up and reread because something didn't make sense, you think about the characters. When I Read Alive, I feel like the characters are my friends, like the places in the book are places a can visit in my mind. Reading Alive brings me in and makes me part of the book. I know I my reading is real because I CAN remember it. Real reading stays with me even when I've put the book away and sometimes I don't want the story to end.
Mrs. Jenkins' homeroom had a great debate the other day about when we are reading, and when we are "thinking reading." Many of you argued that unless there was a lesson or assignment, a task along with the reading, that the reading didn't require thinking. Others of you argued that readers are always thinking, regardless of time, day, place. It's a Reading Alive vs. Fake Reading!
What do you think? Are you only Reading Alive when the teacher gives you a task to do or a lesson to think about? Or are you Reading Alive all the time? Explain what Alive Reading feels like to you. How is reading at home different from independent reading time at school? Do you feel less Alive at certain times?
Answer the questions in bold. You must edit your writing before submitting.
42 comments:
THIS IS MY ROUGH EXAMPLE TO SHOW YOU WHAT IS EXPECTED. DO NOT SIMPLY COPY MY EXAMPLE! USE YOUR OWN THINKING. BUT YOUR WORK SHOULD BE THE SAME QUALITY.
Ms. Sikes,
I completely relate to the feeling of fake reading. At times, I notice that I fake read when I...
When I am reading a book, I know that I am Reading Alive because...
Alive reading to me feels like...
Reading at home and school are very similar. I enjoy reading both places. I do notice that when I read at home I... and when I read at school...
Ms. Sikes,
I think that everyone should always read alive because I think it's important to think about what your reading at that moment. Most of the time I read alive but some times in bed at night I get really sleepy and sort of fake read but I'm trying to read alive. When I read alive I get lost in the reading zone and don't want to stop. I don't think that there is a difference between reading at home and at school other than being able to read longer at home.
I think most of the time I am reading alive but when but when I`m tired I don`t read alive and when the teacher gives me a task I do read alive. When I do read alive I feel like i`m in the story.Reading at home and school are simalar because if it is quiet where I am reading i`m am reading alive most off the time.Sometimes I am not reading alive because I have a lot of energy.
To be totally hounest I do not always alive read. Sometimes when I can't focus I fake read.But now I realize that I should always alive read.I think that I might just be alive reading when the teacher tells us to think while we read and when we do our 25 minuets of reading,but probably not when we have snack or extra time to read.Reading at home is really different because it is always so loud and the way I read at school I can consontrate but with all of my things and other distractments around it is sosrt of hard.I would say that I feel less alive at certin times on the weekend. Mabye since I am at a sleepover or I just do not want to read,but I try to read but I can't because there is so much distaction.Reading alive feels really good since I am focused and completly lost in the book and understanding every single word and the words are just flowing and sooooo smoth in my mind.All I can really say is that it feels amazing reading alive.
Ms. Sikes,
I know how it feels to fake read. "Fake reading" happens to me a lot. When I finish "False reading" I don't know what happened in my book. And I always have to start from where I started my "False reading". Sometimes the problem why i'm fake reading is the book is not interesting to me and tells me I need to find a just right book. I always try my best to not "False Read" but if the book is to hard or too easy or not interesting to me It's hard to not "False Read". I know its never good to "fake read" so I try to look for a book that is "Just Right" and the type of genre I like.Sometimes the book is "Just Right" but it just doesn't catch my intrest which makes me either "False Read" it or not want to read it at all.
How it feels to "True Read"...
"True reading" makes you a better reader. If you pay attention (True read) then it can deepen your thinking and reading level. Personally I "true read" more when the room or area is quiet. (The more silent the room/area is the more I can pay attention to my book). I can true read whenever wherever just as long as I have a "just right book" and it is interesting to me I could easily get lost in the "Reading Zone". A "Just right interesting book" is the key to my "True reading"
Ms.Sikes,
I read alive manily at school. When I am at home and I am focused I can picture myself in the book, but I do not do tt, ts, or tw. Or any stopping and writing.
Sometimes I fake read at home and reading feels like I am just reading boring words. That happens when I’m tired or distracted.
Miss Sikes,
No I read alive alot but sometimes I just fake read. Reading alive feels like I am connecting to the book. Also it feels like I am in the story and that I am a character in the book. Reading at home is different because at school it is more quiet. There are not any doorbells on or T.v. ON. Or the piano os not playing or nobody nis screaming. I do feel less alive at a certain time.
Ms. Sikes,
I can tend to fake read at some points but, I try not to. Some places I do fake read are in the car, at the grocery store, and sometimes even at home (not much though)
When I fake read I feel like the book or magazine I'm reading isn't right for me. For example, if I was reading Narnia by E.B. White, and I drift off I would feel like a whole year has gone by in the book without me. Because, for all I know, there might be 30 characters that I missed out on reading. In other words, I would feel left behind.
So, I always try to read alive so I don't miss out on a book, especially if it's really good.
I've been alive reading for a long time, but evey now and then I fake read. Alive reading feels like magic to me. At home It's more fun,
because at home you can read as long as you want.
Ms. Sikes,
I think that if you fake read you don't know what's going on in the book and if your fake reading nobody knows that you are because it may look like your reading but you’re really skimming through the book. When people give you assessments you focus on what's happening in the book because you want to get the assessment over with. I think we should do something like giving a summary or writing down the plot in the book for homework. I know that I Read Alive when you give us an assessment because I want to get over with. I also Read Alive when the book is very entertaining and is adventurous. If I have a just right book I feel like I can Read Alive but when I have a book that's not just right I can't Read Alive. Reading Alive for me is when I have a just right book and I can "feel" the story in my hand and the action surrounding me. Independent reading time at school is different from my house because it isn't as quite here as it is at my house and I can't focus as much. I feel more alive when the book has action than when a book doesn't have as much action.
Ms. Sikes,
I used to last year and the years before that. Now this year I do Alive Reading. When I started it, it was a little boring. Now it is really fun, and I read a lot more books.
I think reading alive is a lot more fun than fake reading. However at my house I don't like reading because it's so loud. At school I like reading because it's calm and quite.
Ms.Sikes
No I don't stay alive because it's hard to in the classroom because it can be so loud!!! In my bed is almost the only place I can stay alive. And I can only stay alive when I have a really good book!
Ms. Sikes,
I do fake read sometimes too or maybe just thumb through the pages or so. I am most likely to read alive at school than at my house. But at but at my house I can really see the whole picture in my mind and I can just read to myself. Every single night will help me to push my reading and to Read Alive. Sometimes I start to read and I don't even know what I am reading or anything but from now on to help me push my reading to a different level is that I write a summary every night just to myself though. I do reading alive when I am told to or when I need it most.
Ms.Sikes,
I always read Alive sometimes without meaning to, but sometimes if it's NOT a JUST RiGHT book I have to push myself to read alive and I can't foces. I CAN'T read foacesing or alive if somthing eles is on my mind or somthing is bothring me. Reading alive feels like to me that i'm in the book,I can feel the emoshins that the charters are feeling I feel like I can talk to the charters. after I read a book that i'm reading alive because I can remember every dietail and I NEVER forget the book I could Blow by blow storytelling the book SHIFTER that I read last year but I LOVE SHIFTER SOOO MUCH that i'v read it like 5 times SHIFTER IS a book thst is just right and i'll always rember SHIFTER.
Ms. Sikes,
I think you should always read alive because if you don't then you don't really learn anything and you forget what you read.
I read alive more at school than at home. At school I make connections and write down unknown words. I also use fix-up strategies. At home, I usually only use fix-up strategies.
Alive reading feels like I'm enjoying what I read and am using fix-up strategies. It also feels like I'm making connections while reading too.
Reading at home is different because at home I only use fix-up strategies and at school I use fix-up strategies, I make connections, and I write down unknown words.
Ms. Sikes,
I read alive all the time but when I'm really sleepy, at night I'll push myself to read more and then the next morning I'll pick up the book and I'll have no clue what's happening. When I read alive I visualize and it feels like I'm there and experiencing it. I feel the same at home but sometimes I'm a little less focused because my brother is loud.
Miss Sikes I fake read when I am tired and I real read when I’m not tired. Sometimes I read fake when I just read. I also fake read when I don’t have an assinamit. I real read when I have an assignment. I mostly do them evenly.
Ms.Sikes,
I'm Alive Reading at home and at school. I Have a movie in my mind and am lost in the book with detail and thought. I only fake read when I am sort of bored of doing a lot of reading and am really not in a reading mood. When books are good I alwas read a lot because that's when the book is in the really good part of it. Alive Reading will be a thought I will have when i'm reading at some times. Whenever I'm reading in bed and I'm tired I might keep reading if it's good even if i'm tired and if the book is at an okay part in the book I might go to bed or fall asleep.
Ms. Sikes,
I think I am always reading alive in the classroom,but sometimes at my house I start to think about something else. But I am still turning the pages and just looking at the words.
Reading alive to me feels like.. I can't get away from the book.
I know whats going on in the book.
I know what characters are in the chapter and when have some left.
And I am focused on ONLY THE BOOK!!
I think reading at home is different from independent reading becuase.....
I think I am a little more focused on my reading at home becuase there isn't as much movement and whispering.Also I don't think I use alot of like fix-up stratigies and things like that.
I think I do feel less alive at times when people are moveing whipering or I hear nioses.
I read alive when there is nothing around me that would be distracting.
i usually am always reading alive when i have focused and reading a something that is intresting and is just right for me.i feel like i am reading alive when i get lost in the book. there are more distracting things at home because everybody at my house is doing something different things but at school everybody is reading. yes but when i do read alive it is more fun!
Ms.Sikes
I think good reders should just automatickly be able to "read alive," but sometimes when they're just at home reding there are so many mor distractions. I fake read when i loose focus from the t.v.,my dogs,my mom talking on the phone,etc. Reading alive should be like getting lost in the reading zone, connecting, vizualizing, and not talking. Reading at home might not be what reading at school is. No talking at home, but more distractions my list could go on. I feel less alive at school than at home.
Ms. Sikes,
I think that you should always READ ALIVE! When you read alive you are lost in the book and you understand the book. I read alive most of the time, but a few times I have not read alive. Though when I don't read alive it is when I read in bed because I sometimes fall asleep while reading.
dear Ms.Sikes,
I think that even when I'm reading magizines I am still thinking because when I see a title that sounds intresting, I go and read it.Sometimes when I think about it its not as good as I thought it would be,but I still rember it.When it is really good I go find someone to talk about it.
I also read with the same focus at school and at home.
Dear Ms.Sikes,
I personaly read alive at school better than at home because at I get more concentratoin at school than at home with Marcel running aroud I can get into my reading soon very easily, but at school it''s quite I still read alive at home it's just a little harder to focus I feel like I read alive better at school!!!
Sincerly
Btr
Ms. Sikes,
A lot of times I`m reading when I`m desteracted by someone when they are talking and I keep reading but my mind is focused one the conversation. This rarely happens though most of the time and so this is a great idea to talk about Reading Alive. This only happens at my house when theres maybe... someone cooking dinner while
I`m reading and someone iscoming through the door and making loud commotion.
Ms. Sikes
I think that when I read at school, I'm reading alive. The reason I think that is because I'm actually assigned to really think about and make connections. But when I read at home or after school, I'm just kindof reading. But, sometimes I'm thinking and asking myself different questins like, why would he do that? Or that doesn't make sense at all. But sometimes It's the complete opposite. I might think that's a great idea he's a genius. Or, Wow that's really smart. That's what I think
Ms. Sikes,
I do the same thing sometimes. I fake read when I don't enjoy a book and when I go to bed I don't remember any thing.
Mrs.Sikes.
I think you should read alive because its better for you. I always read alive to be honest with you. when mrs sikes gives us a task i always do it but when she doesn't give us a task I sometimes do things at my house that we have to do at school. I think that reading alive feels like understanding the book, visulize, and you can write a summery of it. I think that reading at home is better for me that at school because it's more quiter at my house. I don't ever not real alive
Ms.Sikes
I read alive when I have a good just right book or am focused well. I don't read alive when I am distracted and when I don't like my book. I only fake read when I don't like my book,when I am tired or when I just don't feel like reading.
Dear Ms.Sikes,
Most of the time I read alive,but the only time I don't read alive is when I get distracted. It does not happen much.
At home I can consentrate a little better because there is no sound, but at school I can concentrate a but not as well as home.
Ms. Sikes,
I feel like I read almost all the time, but when I book is to hard I don't read alive. When I read alive I get in the reading zone, & I can't hear anybody tell me to stop. At school I feel different because there are people around me. I can read alive at home, but it has to be quiet and comfortable.
LT
I mostly read alive when told to read in tasks. I always love to think so I love to think about lessons. I am not always reading alive, example: I don't read alive on magazines. Alive reading feels like I am in the book, and I see the characters talking. At home it is more quiet so all the time at home I read better then at school.
Ms. Sikes,
I read alive all the time, but when I'm really sleepy, at night I'll push myself to read more the next morning. In the morning I will pick up the book and start reading. After I read a couple of pages, I'll have no clue what's happening. When I read alive I visualize, and it feels like I'm there and experiencing it. I feel the same at home but sometimes I'm a little less focused because my brother is loud.
When I read at school I feel like I'm reading alive. When I read at home I feel like I'm just reading.
Except sometimes when I'm at home and really into really into a book I'm reading alive. I might be asking questions like, Why would he do that? Sometimes I might say to myself that's a great idea or he's a genius. When I'm at school I'm always reading alive. I have to read alive. I have to right things down in my reading notebook. It feels way better to read alive than to just read.
I read alive when there is nothing around me that would be distracting.
i usually am always reading alive when i have focused and reading a something that is intresting and is just right for me.i feel like i am reading alive when i get lost in the book. there are more distracting things at home because everybody at my house is doing something different things but at school everybody is reading. yes but when i do read alive it is more fun!
October 5, 2011 12:36 PM
Ms. Sikes,
I know how it feels to fake read. "Fake reading" happens to me a lot. When I finish "False reading" I don't know what happened in my book. And I always have to start from where I started my "False reading". Sometimes the problem why i'm fake reading is the book is not interesting to me and tells me I need to find a just right book. I always try my best to not "False Read" but if the book is to hard or too easy or not interesting to me It's hard to not "False Read". I know its never good to "fake read" so I try to look for a book that is "Just Right" and the type of genre I like.Sometimes the book is "Just Right" but it just doesn't catch my intrest which makes me either "False Read" it or not want to read it at all.
How it feels to "True Read"...
"True reading" makes you a better reader. If you pay attention (True read) then it can deepen your thinking and reading level. Personally I "true read" more when the room or area is quiet. (The more silent the room/area is the more I can pay attention to my book). I can true read whenever wherever just as long as I have a "just right book" and it is interesting to me I could easily get lost in the "Reading Zone". A "Just right interesting book" is the key to my "True reading"
I think most of the time I am reading alive but when I`m tired I don`t read alive. When the teacher gives me a task I do read alive. When I do read alive I feel like I`m in the story. Reading at home and school are similar because if it is quiet where I am reading I`m am reading alive most off the time. Sometimes I am not reading alive because I have a lot of energy.
Ms. Sikes,
I think that if you fake read you don't know what's going on in the book. If your fake reading nobody knows that you are because it may look like your reading but you’re really skimming through the book. When people give you assessments you focus on what's happening in the book because you want to get the assessment over with. I think we should do something like giving a summary or writing down the plot in the book for homework. I know that I Read Alive when you give us an assessment because I want to get over with. I also Read Alive when the book is adventurous, and is If I have a just right book I feel like I can Read Alive, but when I have a book that's not just right I can't Read Alive. Reading Alive for me is when I have a just right book, and I can "feel" the story flowing through my body, and the action surrounding me. Independent reading time at school is different from my house because it isn't as quite here as it is at my house, and I can't focus as much. I feel more alive when the book has action than when a book doesn't have as much action.
Ms. Sikes
To be honest I think when I read most of the time. When I am tired or bored I fake read. When you give me a reading lesson I will think when I read. At home when I don't have a lesson I will fake read. Also I don't always think when I read.
Reading alive feels like I am in the book. I think that because I get lost in the book. It makes me feel like I am one of them. I also think reading alive feels like I can remember what I read. I think this because I have wrote it down. I think it is permeably edged into my brain, or it is written down.
AT home reading is different because it is loud. At school it is quiet there are not any dogs, or boys screaming. It is very relaxed, and quiet.
At certain times I do feel less alive. Because it is not a just right book, I do not like the book. I could have lost interest in the book.
Dear Ms.Sikes,
When I read alive I am completely lost in the book.Reading alive feels magical.You feel like you are inside your book. I don't fake read all of the time,but when I do fake read I don't enjoy my book, and I'm just bored with the book. Fake reading is'nt as much fun as reading alive. Fake reading is boring. Reading alive is ,so much fun. Do you fake read or read alive?
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