1. based on Janice L. Pilgreen’s The SSR Handbook: How to Organize and Manage a Sustained Silent Reading Program SSR: sustained silent reading program

2. aka Uninterrupted Sustained Silent Reading (USSR) Sustained Quiet Reading Time (SQUIRT) Drop Everything and Read (DEAR) High Intensity Practice (HIP) Positive Outcomes While Enjoying Reading (POWER) Fun Reading Every Day (FRED) …. etc., etc.

3. based on Janice L. Pilgreen’s The SSR Handbook: How to Organize and Manage a Sustained Silent Reading Program Why bother?

4. based on Janice L. Pilgreen’s The SSR Handbook: How to Organize and Manage a Sustained Silent Reading Program Why bother? Students who do more free voluntary reading do better in every aspect of literacy tested: word recognition, grammar, writing, vocabulary, and reading comprehension. --Krashen, “Foreword,” The SSR Handbook, viii- ix.

5. based on Janice L. Pilgreen’s The SSR Handbook: How to Organize and Manage a Sustained Silent Reading Program Why bother? Comprehension Hypothesis: we learn to read by reading. -- --Krashen, “Foreword,” x

6. eight keys 1.access to books/different genres/different materials 2.appeal / self-selection 3.conducive environment 4.encouragement (e.g., teacher reads too; sharing afterwards; selection guidance) 5.staff training / department buy-in 6.non-accountability (no reports/ no records) 7.follow-up activities (usually performance-based) 8.distributed time to read (12 to 20 minutes/day)

7. most FAQs Key #1. Access: “Students take books home and forget to bring them back for SSR the next day.”

8. most FAQs Key #1. Access: “Students get out of their seats to select books from shelves—and just socialize.”

9. most FAQs Key #1. Access: “I’ve spent lots of $$$ on my classroom library… but students don’t return the books.”

10. most FAQs Key #1 Access: “We have a great school library, but some students want to go there 2-3 times a week—and just socialize.”

11. most FAQs Key #2 Appeal: “I can’t get my students to ‘buy into’ SSR. Should I let them read magazines and newspapers?”

12. most FAQs Key #2 Appeal: “I worry about some of the books some students bring from home to read for SSR.”

13. most FAQs Key #2 Appeal: “I’ve relented and allow my students to read magazines. But now they just look at the pictures.”

14. most FAQs Key #3 Conducive Environments: “I don’t like the idea of having students stretched out on the floor or cuddling up on the classroom sofa.”

15. most FAQs Key # 3 Conducive Environments: “I have students who just can’t sit still. They fidget, tap their feet, and generally just annoy people around them.”

16. most FAQs Key #4 Encouragement: “I don’t like that some students read the same series or things that are too easy for them (e.g., romance novels).”

17. most FAQs Key #4 Encouragement: “I see students changing books every day. How long does it take for SSR to ‘catch on’?”

18. most FAQs Key #5 Staff Training: “The principal wants to institute a school-wide SSR program. Some teachers like the idea; others don’t.”

19. most FAQs Key #5 Staff Training: “We did SSR school- wide, but found that some teachers were just giving students ‘free time.’”

20. most FAQs Key # 6 Non-accountability: “Is there some way I can give credit for staying focused during SSR?”

21. most FAQs Key # 7 Follow-Up Activities: “It’s so hard to provide time to read and follow- up activities, too!”

22. most FAQs Key #8 Distributed Time to Read: “I’d rather give students a chunk of time (e.g., on assembly days or on Fridays), so SSR is less distracting to the curriculum content.”

23. based on Janice L. Pilgreen’s The SSR Handbook: How to Organize and Manage a Sustained Silent Reading Program SAFE DATE

24. based on Janice L. Pilgreen’s The SSR Handbook: How to Organize and Manage a Sustained Silent Reading Program S taff training A ppeal F ollow-up activities E ncouragement

25. based on Janice L. Pilgreen’s The SSR Handbook: How to Organize and Manage a Sustained Silent Reading Program D irect access (??) A ccountability (non) T ime to read daily E nvironment

26. based on Janice L. Pilgreen’s The SSR Handbook: How to Organize and Manage a Sustained Silent Reading Program SAFE CANE

27. based on Janice L. Pilgreen’s The SSR Handbook: How to Organize and Manage a Sustained Silent Reading Program CAN FEATS

28. based on Janice L. Pilgreen’s The SSR Handbook: How to Organize and Manage a Sustained Silent Reading Program CAFE NATS