How much time will I need to teach the Read Side by Side Reading Program?

Work with your grade level team to plan your schedule.

Ask yourselves:

What time of the day will you teach read-aloud? (You will need 45 minutes.)

What time of the day will you teach book clubs? (You will need 45 minutes.)


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The book Raising the Standards Through Chapter Books, 2nd Edition is a great resource to understand the "why" of alloting 90 minutes to reading instruction each day. This is a committment, but one which will reap great rewards with your students.

 


To understand the "how" refer to the "Set up for Success" pages in the beginning of any read-aloud teacher's guide. It is important to designate a daily read-aloud block, as well as a book club block. Each teacher's guide has sample schedules for your reference. As you begin to look at your daily schedule from what may be an entirely new perspective, we suggest blocking out times that are non-negotiable, such as specialists, lunch, recess. Once these blocks are filled in, it is possible to see what blocks are left for the other subjects. Find TWO 45-minute blocks of time that can stay the same throughout the week. These blocks do not have to be back to back. They can take place at two different times of the day.


Read-Aloud Block

13-Sep-25-2023-05-01-11-7781-PMDuring the 45 minute read-aloud block ALL students should be present in the classroom. It is in this block of time that students will listen to and respond to quality literature that is at or above his or her grade level. All students will be following along in their own copy of the text.

 

 

Book Club Block

18-1During the 45 minute book club block students will be assigned to novels at their reading level.They will be working with small groups and transfering the skills they learned in read-aloud to the books they are reading during book club. This is the part of the day when differentiated instruction takes place.

If your school provides services to students in reading, either through pull-out or push-in services, the book club time would be the appropriate time to schedule that.