Independent Reading Series (Interview with Abby Gross) [S5 E140]

Listen to the full episode below:

Did you catch episode 139 with Dr. Jenna Copper? We talked all about independent reading and student choice at the high school level. Today we’re continuing our independent reading series with our friend, Abby Gross.

This one is for all of our middle school teacher friends! Abby was a high school teacher who recently moved to middle school. This transition is what gave her the chance to wake up to a whole new set of possibilities for what independent reading could look like in her classroom.

We have a feeling that this conversation with Abby will reinstate your love of independent reading and spark so many new ideas that you can take straight to your classroom. You’ll hear about the functionality of independent reading, ways to get your students curious and excited about different kinds of books, and we’re even addressing the big question of, how do you create accountability between you and your students with independent reading?

Meet Abby Gross:

After spending the first part of her career teaching high school English, Abby has fallen in love with teaching middle school reading the last few years. The co-author of a guidebook for teachers, Keeping the Wonder, and a picture book for young readers, The Magic of Wonder, Abby is committed to fostering joy in learning and reading. She is a big believer in the power of curiosity, independent reading, and student-centered learning. When she's not teaching, you can find Abby creating resources, blogging on writeonwithmissg.com, and presenting for Keeping the Wonder workshops.

Topics Discussed in This Episode:

  • Some differences between teaching at the middle school vs. high school level

  • How teaching middle school could have potentially made Abby an even more powerful high school teacher

  • One of Abby’s independent reading failures, and her biggest win

  • Why you should wait until you met your students before buying books

  • What ‘Book Trailer Tuesday’ and ‘First Chapter Friday’ are, and the benefits of trying them

  • Abby’s perspective on what independent reading looks like (and what it doesn’t look like!)

  • Strategies and logistics to use with independent reading to make it work all year long

  • The power of peer book reviews and recommendations

  • Helping your students discover and understand their reading identities 

Connect with abby:

Resources Mentioned:

Related Episodes:

More about Brave New Teaching:

Join hosts Amanda Cardenas (Mud & Ink Teaching) and Marie Morris (The Caffeinated Classroom) in discussions about being brave, trying new things, and all things teaching! As seasoned classroom teachers, Amanda and Marie bring their experience, insight, energy, and oh, so many opinions and ideas... It's time for all teachers to take their classroom and teaching practice into their own hands!

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