The adult then uses the text on that chart paper for reading instruction, helping the children see the connections between what they signed and what was written. The teacher, knowing the particular skills the students need to work on, uses this language experience to help them learn new vocabulary, letters of the alphabet, capitalization, punctuation, speechreading, or the basics of English grammar. The fact that the students have experienced the story and told it themselves encourages them to read the same, already understood, information in English. Starting with the students' experience and using it as the guiding force, this reading and writing instruction serves to motivate them highly. Independent Reading Students read independently from a wide selection of fiction and nonfiction books through school, classroom, and home libraries.
Students read books that they are able to understand independently.
They demonstrate their understanding of what they have read through a variety of reporting strategies including dioramas, artwork, puppet shows, and traditional book reports. Teachers know the independent reading levels of their students and assure that books they select for independent reading are appropriate. Nothing is worse than having a student spend precious school time leafing through a book that is four grade levels too difficult. Independent reading is liberating when done appropriately because students can enjoy it without any adult intervention. This is a written dialogue or conversation between a student and an educator.