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A Teacher's Guide to Reading Conferences: The Classroom Essentials Series
Why are reading conferences so important?
What do effective reading conferences look and sound like?
How do I fit reading conferences into my literacy block?
"Conferring," writes Jennifer Serravallo, "is where the magic happens." In this primer, she reveals that this seeming magic is actually purposeful, responsive instruction.
Jen presents conferences for six specific instructional situations: assessing, goal-setting, strategy lessons, and more. A rich design, replete with infographics and special features, guides you quickly from learning to teaching with:
Jen's moves and language 9 videos of her teaching in K-8 classrooms 13 conference note-taking forms-one for each reading goal from the hierarchy in her Reading Strategies Book
Suggestions for connecting emergent bilingual learners' language goals and reading goals. With Jen's support, you'll discover the true magic of conferring-the joyous, aha moments you'll see in growing readers.
What do effective reading conferences look and sound like?
How do I fit reading conferences into my literacy block?
"Conferring," writes Jennifer Serravallo, "is where the magic happens." In this primer, she reveals that this seeming magic is actually purposeful, responsive instruction.
Jen presents conferences for six specific instructional situations: assessing, goal-setting, strategy lessons, and more. A rich design, replete with infographics and special features, guides you quickly from learning to teaching with:
Jen's moves and language 9 videos of her teaching in K-8 classrooms 13 conference note-taking forms-one for each reading goal from the hierarchy in her Reading Strategies Book
Suggestions for connecting emergent bilingual learners' language goals and reading goals. With Jen's support, you'll discover the true magic of conferring-the joyous, aha moments you'll see in growing readers.
128 pages, Paperback
Published January 30, 2019
13 people are currently reading
170 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
February 15, 2019
Every reading teacher needs to read this book.
March 5, 2019
Definitely recommend this to ALL my teacher friends - even those outside of the ELA classroom. I will come back to this often.
July 22, 2019
Practical, succinct ideas to tweak reading conference practices !
December 28, 2020
This is an absolute must read for educators that teach reading. I know this is a resource I will return to over and over again as I continue on my journey as a teacher of reading.
February 27, 2019
Another amazing resource from Serravallo!
January 1, 2020
In November our vice-principal e-mailed the faculty to ask if we were interested in reading this book within an adult bookclub setting. Most certainly. Serravallo is the educator-du-jour on reading. I have read some of her work previously. I have mixed feelings. This book is similarly viewed.
There's a lot of good stuff presented here. Like much in educational writing, common sense accounts for a lot of what is presented. This book attempts more than the surface-level approach, however. A different approach to reading is sought (and somewhat justified) in the book. But with any prescriptive approach comes the natural "How?" questions. Teachers are more and more limited in the freedom to freelance how education flows. The test schedule, the need to on a pacing guide to accommodate a transient population, etc. are all real-world concerns that the panacean author does not address.
Nevertheless, the message is good. Teach the student, not the text. Conferring with students should move them along the continuum of the strategy.
What would have been immensely helpful is a fleshed-out continuum for each strategy per grade/reading level. That would have required a lengthier volume. Doing so also opens one up to the charge of prescription, but it would have been helpful to the readers who are asked to take a leap to have a net to prevent disaster.
The length of the book is something I considered as I read the book; it's 110 pages replete with large photographs and pages that are a single statement. This would have worked quite well as an ebook. The 110 pages was mostly for the style selected, not the content presented.
There are online links to videos of Serravallo conferring with children that provide examples of the content she writes. Those are helpful, but (as one can surmise) represent a best-case scenario at each grade level. I was also stricken with the children in the background during the conferences. Every child was on task. Most seemed to be of one gender and one ethnic group. I gave up listening to podcasts from Heinemann because of their insistance of bringing political issues into educational topics. I found the videos at odds with that aspect of the company's mission.
All the forms Serravallo uses are available for download. While I don't think these will be much use to me, I think it was good to provide them. The forms provide more for one to consider how to implement a program when the tools are provided.
I suspect the lasting affect of this book on me will be to ensure that the reading strategy, not the book's text is what is always front and center. I have this nagging feeling that the guided reading time in the classroom will change as I think through this message as it blends with some other thoughts I am entertaining regarding how I teach reading.
There's a lot of good stuff presented here. Like much in educational writing, common sense accounts for a lot of what is presented. This book attempts more than the surface-level approach, however. A different approach to reading is sought (and somewhat justified) in the book. But with any prescriptive approach comes the natural "How?" questions. Teachers are more and more limited in the freedom to freelance how education flows. The test schedule, the need to on a pacing guide to accommodate a transient population, etc. are all real-world concerns that the panacean author does not address.
Nevertheless, the message is good. Teach the student, not the text. Conferring with students should move them along the continuum of the strategy.
What would have been immensely helpful is a fleshed-out continuum for each strategy per grade/reading level. That would have required a lengthier volume. Doing so also opens one up to the charge of prescription, but it would have been helpful to the readers who are asked to take a leap to have a net to prevent disaster.
The length of the book is something I considered as I read the book; it's 110 pages replete with large photographs and pages that are a single statement. This would have worked quite well as an ebook. The 110 pages was mostly for the style selected, not the content presented.
There are online links to videos of Serravallo conferring with children that provide examples of the content she writes. Those are helpful, but (as one can surmise) represent a best-case scenario at each grade level. I was also stricken with the children in the background during the conferences. Every child was on task. Most seemed to be of one gender and one ethnic group. I gave up listening to podcasts from Heinemann because of their insistance of bringing political issues into educational topics. I found the videos at odds with that aspect of the company's mission.
All the forms Serravallo uses are available for download. While I don't think these will be much use to me, I think it was good to provide them. The forms provide more for one to consider how to implement a program when the tools are provided.
I suspect the lasting affect of this book on me will be to ensure that the reading strategy, not the book's text is what is always front and center. I have this nagging feeling that the guided reading time in the classroom will change as I think through this message as it blends with some other thoughts I am entertaining regarding how I teach reading.
July 28, 2019
I have read MANY Serravallo books! This is another gem.
I love the practicality of this book. I love how it is organized into simple, easy to read section, describing different styles of reading conferences.
It is quick, easy to read and practical to use. There are TONS of on line resources available. Everything JS uses is available to us as well.
I am hoping I can get other teachers as my school to take a look at this book. I'd love to lead PD on conferring (again!) and use this as our guide!
I love the practicality of this book. I love how it is organized into simple, easy to read section, describing different styles of reading conferences.
It is quick, easy to read and practical to use. There are TONS of on line resources available. Everything JS uses is available to us as well.
I am hoping I can get other teachers as my school to take a look at this book. I'd love to lead PD on conferring (again!) and use this as our guide!
June 24, 2020
Great resource for teachers who wish to conduct reading conferences with their students. I especially appreciate the access to online resources with the purchase of this book. There are videos to watch of Ms. Serravallo carrying out the different types of conferences with children along with many printable forms to use for note taking and informal assessment. I look forward to implementing many of the ideas she presents in this book in the year ahead.
March 29, 2023
Very clear and concise (and visually appealing) guide to teaching/coaching students in their reading skills (K-8, I'd say). The book comes with digital resources including videos of each strategy in action and great handouts to use when you are coaching. Valuable tool for Reader's Workshop type reading teachers, and useful for librarians who have book clubs, too!
May 6, 2019
This book was FULL of SO MANY practical ideas. I think it is a great compliment book to DIY Literacy. I can tell authors of both books were staff developers for Lucy Calkins. Cannot wait to weave some of the new ideas into my instruction.
June 21, 2019
This is such an easily digestible book about the ins and outs of conferring (and the many types) and meeting small groups to teach strategies. The online resources are IMMENSELY helpful. I highly recommend anyone who teaches reading to get it & use it to inform their work with students.
July 19, 2019
Super practical and helpful! This book is full of suggestions for further reading as well as LOTS of printable templates to use while conferring. This is the most useful professional book I think I've ever read.
August 5, 2019
So much great information. Practical advice for teachers. This is a book that will never go on the shelf but will be used regularly. This is most defiantly a book written by someone who has spent many hours in the classroom and has a deep understanding of effective practices.
February 25, 2019
Great guide with useful resources.
March 6, 2019
Serravallo offers a variety of conferencing types to support teachers with this "most important" view into their students' learning.
April 14, 2019
Every teacher who confers with students should consider this book a MUST read.
June 16, 2019
Serravallo does it again! I am so grateful for the vast knowledge that she shares in such an unintimidating and digestible way. This is a must read for any teacher!
June 29, 2019
Hands down BEST book to help you create meaningful conferences that have purpose and encourage growth in your readers!!!
Read
July 6, 2019A fantastic and inspiring resource!
July 12, 2019
An easy to read book with helpful strategies that will help me improve reading conferences and goal setting.
July 30, 2019
Looking forward to using the resources in this book. Helpful in planning my ELA block.
January 23, 2020
Easy read with amazing resources and research citations.
February 17, 2020
Examples of Compliment conferences, Research-Compliment-Teach conferences, Coaching conferences, and more. Videos and notes you can download.
May 30, 2020
Some good tips and ideas. I'm an ESOL teacher, so liked that there were a few ESOL teaching tips here and there but overall more for classroom reading teachers than ESOL.
February 24, 2021
Excellent. Simple, straight forward and useful. Highly recommend.
June 25, 2021
Big, broad structures and lots of little nuggets too. This book has it all whether a teacher is new to conferring or just looking to refine their work. As always, Serravallo comes through!
October 26, 2021
Excited to start using this with students TODAY!
November 18, 2021
Great book to teach the basic structure of Reading Conferences.
Read
July 1, 2022I just can't do all that she does in this book. :(
February 27, 2025
The text is by Jennifer Serravallo. Katie Wood Ray is the editor of the series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews