Each time the student encounters a word that is hard to read, her or she puts down one finger. If all five fingers are in the down position before a student finishes reading the page, the book is probably too difficult. The student probably should put the book back on the shelf and look for one that won't be so hard. Students can read anything and they don't have to report on what they've read. Many other teachers provide follow-up activities for sustained silent reading time.
Some teachers have students keep logs of their silent reading.
Others bring together the class once a week to talk about what they've been reading. Some teachers divide their classes into small groups, so students can share their thoughts about the books they're reading. Sometimes teachers provide a question that will serve as the focus of the group discussion. The discussion question might support the curriculum, focusing attention on the climax, or the author's point of view, or some other element of literature that the teacher has introduced in class. In some classes, teachers invite students to work in pairs during SSR time.