You asked about holding students accountable for finishing books. You wondered if I have them do a task or a write a response at the end of each book they complete. This is a great question that I will attempt to answer for you below.
Students are constantly reading books throughout the year in my classroom. They are all finishing books at different times and starting new books on a regular basis. When they finish a book, there is no specific task that they are required to do other than to record the book in their reading log. Years ago, I used to have them complete a story map or write a summary every time they finished a book. However, I quickly realized that required a great deal of work on the part of the students and the teacher. It ended up taking time away from my students actually being engaged in books. The most important thing that I can do for my students is to help them develop a true love of reading. If they know that every time they finish a book a response task is expected of them, reading becomes work rather than a pleasurable activity.
However, your question about holding students accountable is a great one! The key to this dilemma is to check in with your readers on a regular basis. I spend IDR time conferring with readers and meeting with them in small groups. When conferring, I am able to talk in great depth about the books they are reading. It is during this time that I can determine if they are truly reading the books and can demonstrate authentic comprehension. Students are also regularly completing IDR tasks that require them to respond to their reading or use the book they are reading to practice a skill taught in the mini-lesson. I always read over their IDR response sheets, so it becomes very evident when a student is not truly reading his or her book.
Another way to keep tabs on my students is by collecting their Readers' Notebooks and really looking closely at their reading logs. If I see that a low reader is finishing 3 chapter books a week, I will make a point to conference with that student immediately and set up a plan for that student to complete an "end-of-the-book" activity for each book he reads until I am confident that he is truly completing (and comprehending) books during IDR time.
Danielle,
You asked about holding students accountable for finishing books. You wondered if I have them do a task or a write a response at the end of each book they complete. This is a great question that I will attempt to answer for you below.
Students are constantly reading books throughout the year in my classroom. They are all finishing books at different times and starting new books on a regular basis. When they finish a book, there is no specific task that they are required to do other than to record the book in their reading log. Years ago, I used to have them complete a story map or write a summary every time they finished a book. However, I quickly realized that required a great deal of work on the part of the students and the teacher. It ended up taking time away from my students actually being engaged in books. The most important thing that I can do for my students is to help them develop a true love of reading. If they know that every time they finish a book a response task is expected of them, reading becomes work rather than a pleasurable activity.
However, your question about holding students accountable is a great one! The key to this dilemma is to check in with your readers on a regular basis. I spend IDR time conferring with readers and meeting with them in small groups. When conferring, I am able to talk in great depth about the books they are reading. It is during this time that I can determine if they are truly reading the books and can demonstrate authentic comprehension. Students are also regularly completing IDR tasks that require them to respond to their reading or use the book they are reading to practice a skill taught in the mini-lesson. I always read over their IDR response sheets, so it becomes very evident when a student is not truly reading his or her book.
Another way to keep tabs on my students is by collecting their Readers' Notebooks and really looking closely at their reading logs. If I see that a low reader is finishing 3 chapter books a week, I will make a point to conference with that student immediately and set up a plan for that student to complete an "end-of-the-book" activity for each book he reads until I am confident that he is truly completing (and comprehending) books during IDR time.
I hope these ideas help answer your question!
-Beth