Tracking Reading Progress through Biblionasium
In language arts class, we use wide reading to build vocabulary, develop fluency, and practice comprehension strategies. Lately, we have been focusing on summarizing, which includes understanding and writing about the plot, characters, setting, and theme of the stories we read. These summaries are incorporated into students’ book reviews, where they also describe their favorite parts of the book they read and whether or not they would recommend it to others. As part of our unit on comprehension, students will write a book review and give an oral presentation to their classmates. This ensures they are developing their skills in each language arts domain: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. The book reviews are also used as an assessment tool for reading comprehension. Students will use this Book Review Rubric to know what is expected of them and to assess their own work.
In order to monitor our reading progress as a class, we will be creating accounts through BIBLIONASIUM, an online tool for keeping track of the books we read. Each student will have an account so they can track their own progress and recommend books to others. Students’ accounts will be linked to our classroom page so I can see their progress. As students finish each book, they will compose summaries, develop their book reviews, and present their stories to the class. Students will also type their reviews and upload them to their biblionasium accounts. Using this online format for book reviews ensures students are developing their language arts and technology skills. Parents are encouraged to help with book reviews and use their child’s biblionasium accounts at home.