1:1 Guided Reading and Comprehension With Black Centered Books

Too often I come across students who struggle with reading or utter the phrase, "I hate reading." Reading a book that you connect with and identify with can change your entire perspective. Books have the power to transport you to faraway places and to take you on the most incredible adventures. Alot of students struggle with reading because they don't practice reading out loud. Alot of students "hate reading" because they haven't found stories or characters that they see as versions of themselves. Let's solve both of those problems at the same time.

This class was designed to give students a book club experience where they practice reading stories of their interest and discussing it. This class will focus on black centered stories because representation matters, and seeing yourself in the stories you read is very important. In this class students will choose a book from the list below (or a book they recommend we read) and will spend the class reading out loud while I follow along with my copy. Reading out loud helps with reading fluency, confidence, reading rate, building vocabulary and comprehension. I will be there every step of the way to provide any assistance, support and encouragement the student needs to help with their reading journey.

I will work with beginning and struggling readers, helping students to feel confident and to love reading. Be sure to let me know the book the student would like to read from the list or one that isn't on the list, so I can purchase a copy as well. I can also recommend books based off of the students interest and to make sure the student sees themselves in the book they choose. Representation is important and can attribute to a student being interested in a story.    

Reading Options:

Stand Alone Books:
Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall (Ages 5-7)
Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry and Vashti Harrison (Ages 5-7)
I Am Enough by Grace Byers (Ages 5-7)

Who is Michael Jordan? by Kirsten Anderson (Ages 6-8)
The Year We Learned to Fly by Jacqueline Woodson  (Ages 6-8)
I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes (Ages 6-8)

One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams Garcia (Ages 8-12)
Clayton Byrd Goes Underground by Rita Williams Garcia (Ages 8-12)
Stunt Boy by Jason Reynolds (Ages 8-12)

Dear Martin by Nic Stone (Ages 12 and up)
All American Boys by Jason Reynolds (Ages 12 and up)
The Skin I'm In by Sharon G Flake (Ages 12 and up)

Book Series:
Track Series by Jason Reynolds (Ages 8-12) - 4 books
Tristan Strong series by Kwame Mbalia (Ages 8-12) - 3 books
New Kid Series by Jerry Craft (Ages 8-12) - 3 books (Graphic Novels)
Legendary Alston Boys series by Lamar Giles (Ages 8-12) - 3 books
Seeds of America series by Laurie Hasle Anderson (Ages 12 and up) - 3 books


While reding the book, we will also work on comprehension. The following are skills incorporated into our sessions:
* Making predictions
* Accurate reading, with gentle and effective assistance on errors
* Summarizing 
* Identifying themes and characters
* Critiquing, would we have made the same choice if we were the author/characters?
* Making connections to real life

We will work on:
* Fluency and reading rate
* Expression when reading
* Decoding skills (how to attack new/unfamiliar words)
* Comprehension (do they understand what they are reading?)

I can't wait to see you in class to start our reading journey! All books are welcome!