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Home Reading: Setting up for Success from School to Home

This post is about setting up a classroom and home reading program in the primary classroom. It includes free printable sheets to create home reading folders.

setting up a classroom and home reading program

Setting Up A Classroom and Home Reading Program

Today I am sharing a way of setting up a classroom and home reading program in your classroom. I have been teaching students to read for nearly a decade, and in that time, I have tried a lot of different approaches. This system is the way that I have set it up in my classroom, and I have had a lot of success with it! I hope that I can help you set-up your class and students for reading success!

Daily Read to Self Time

setting up a classroom and home reading program - daily read to self time
 
I won’t go on and on about what Daily 5 is, but I will tell you that I LOVE the results I get by incorporating Read to Self. I pretty much follow the routines laid out in the book (head here to grab a copy for yourself!), and we work hard at the beginning of the year on building up our stamina (our ability to read for more extended periods).
 
setting up a classroom and home reading program - daily read to self time
 
Here are my students working hard on their reading. They clearly understand the routines, expectations during this time of the day. We all do Read to Self at the same time together. I call it DEAR (drop everything and read) time!
 
setting up a classroom and home reading program - daily read to self time
 
All my students have their reading baskets filled with a combo of books they have chosen themselves and “just right” books (more on this further in the post).
 
setting up a classroom and home reading program - daily read to self time
 
After we have worked on reading to ourselves for a few weeks and they all feel confident on their own (without coming up to me for help, questions, or to share), I begin my guided reading groups.
 

Classroom Reading System

Leveled Book Baskets with “Just Right” Books

 
In my classroom, I use a set of leveled readers (PM Benchmarks) and other books that I level to the same system. You could use any leveled readers available to you in your school or district.
 
The system I use is leveled by color, so I have one basket for each level filled with small books inside and placed in order, in a line down the shelf. Under these shelves are my bins of themed, character, and author books. I take the time to make sure students understand how the books are organized and where they can find the books they need.
 
After taking the time to do one on one reading assessments with each child, I have a clear idea of what reading level they are at and which books are just-right” for them. I place a clothespin clip with their name on their basket of “just-right” books, so they know exactly where to find those books. We also spend some time discussing how to tell if a book is “just right,” too easy, or too hard.
setting up a classroom and home reading program - just right book baskets
 

Once they understand all about finding the right books, I begin to give them the opportunity of choosing their books for their book baskets. They each have their reading basket that I number (saves me having to relabel each year!), and they LOVE being able to fill it with books they choose. I have them pick three books from their “just-right” reading basket (the one with the clothespin on it) and three books of their choosing from any other bins in the classroom. I should also mention that I have a group of students who are reading chapter books/more difficult material (they are beyond the levels on the bins), so they get to choose their own six books for the week.

Book Shopping and Student Book Bins

At the beginning of DEAR time each day, I have a different guided reading group “book shop” for new books. This system keeps things organized and minimizes the noise and chaos that putting away and taking new books can create.

If you would like your own FREE set of rainbow chevron labels for your bins, click the image below!
setting up a classroom and home reading program - free student book bins labels

DEAR time happens every day, and it is often what I hear my kiddos say is their favorite time of day! They love the opportunity to build their stamina, pick their own “just-right” books, and work on reading to self every day! They feel successful, and LOVE reading, and that makes me happier than anything!

Home Reading Program

Creating Home Reading Folders

 
Just as important as developing a classroom reading program, I feel that setting up a program that parents and guardians can quickly implement at home is vital for reading growth and enjoyment. I hear from a lot of families, especially those with minimal resources or access to books, that this program helps keep their kids on track with their reading and guides families in what to do to build fluent, confident, and engaged readers.
 
This is my 2nd year using folders (I’ve used Ziplock bags in the past), and I love how I can customize them with a cover on the front, and a sheet of questions parents could ask as their child reads on the back. Inside I also place a letter from me explaining how the program runs and what their role is at home. These sheets are provided as a FREEBIE later.
setting up a classroom and home reading program - read every day folders
 
For durability, I laminate the folders not once, but twice to create some sustainability. I hope that these folders last for a good part of the year. I also love using different colors of cardstock for the covers.
setting up a classroom and home reading program - read every day folders
 

Now this great idea was not my own but came from Rachelle over at What A Teacher Wants. To keep your folders closed, use some Velcro strips cut into pieces (or use dots) and attach to the flap of the envelope. This works like a charm! Such an easy and effective way to keep those books safe inside, and it lasts longer than a Ziplock.

setting up a classroom and home reading program - read every day folders

 
Once the folders are complete, you can start adding your leveled readers to the folders. Label the folder with your student’s names. I keep all of my folders together in a bin. The labeled container for home readers is placed somewhere convenient. The best place is close to where students enter in the morning and leave in the afternoon.
 

Organizing Home Reading Folders

 
Every day, I request that my students turn their folders. In this way, they might like to practice or share (we all share our readers later in the year). I change the readers every Friday before the weekend. I also let them know that if they are ready sooner and their parents request a new reader, they may place their folder on my desk. Then, I will have them read to me and then switch their books on that day as well.
 
After a little practice, these things become routine. Before I know it, my kiddos are hopping along with the levels and progressing well.
 
setting up a classroom and home reading program - read every day folders
 
I keep two separate bins of leveled readers as my home readers. This way, I am not grabbing books they have already read from the general containers. This system also makes for a quick book switch on Fridays.
 
setting up a classroom and home reading program - book bins
 
I have received a lot of positive feedback from families and my colleagues over the years. They have only good things to say about the effectiveness of this system. It might be something you already do in your room, or maybe something you need some ideas for. I hope you found the post useful. May it prove helpful as you organize a class system that leads to reading success and enjoyment!

Create Your Own Home Reading Folder

 Grab the FREE Read Every Day Home Reading Folder resource now by clicking the image below.

I have included it with EDITABLE files for you to customize to suit your needs. Enjoy!

 

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Materials to Make the Folders

Grab the materials seen in this post on Amazon!

Reading Comprehension Activities

To get started today implementing reading comprehension practice in your classroom, check out Proud to be Primary’s reading comprehension passages!

Want to give them a try? Click the image below to download a free sample.

 

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