“Tick, tick, tick.” The sounds of pages turning and time slowly creeping along fill the classroom as students engage in Silent Sustained Reading (SSR), a period of time that requires students to read silently with the hopes of building up their reading stamina. While this part of class might be exciting and relaxing for bookworms, many kids who don’t enjoy reading can find this time to be not only difficult, but boring as well.
A lot of students have trouble reading for an extended amount of time for a variety of different reasons. Some students might have trouble staying focused, while others might be really slow readers. Another thing that can hamper SSR time is if the students don’t have books they want to read.
Obviously, you won’t be able to like every book you read, especially if it is required reading for a class. However, ELA teachers should try to ensure that their students have another book that they enjoy reading.
ELA teachers should make sure that their students have plenty of opportunities to look for new books in the library as well as checking in with them to make sure they like what they are reading. It could be as simple as asking them some basic questions about their reading or doing a more in-depth project related to the book. Having a text they enjoy reading is vital to the students’ participation in SSR. Otherwise the problem of “fake reading” could arise.
Another option to get students more involved and excited about what they are reading, would be to allow them to read an ebook or listen to an audiobook during SSR time. This would require a certain amount of trust between the students and the teachers, but the opportunity should be given unless a time arises where the student is not responsibly utilizing this privilege. This gives students the option to read a book when they might not have access to a physical copy as well as give them a break from repeated page turning. For auditory learners, listening to an audiobook while following along can be a great way to experience a story in another form.
Even though SSR might not be the favorite of many students, its purpose is important. SSR’s main goals are to promote a habit of reading every day as well as being in an environment around other readers that is hopefully relaxing for students. Though right now you may be the student that stares at the ticking clock waiting for SSR to be over, perhaps with an increase in teacher involvement and student enthusiasm, you might grow to love SSR.
