Using Think Sheets to Assess During Indpendent Reading Time

When kids are reading you really want them to apply strategies during their independent reading time. Each week I give students a new piece of construction paper. This paper is called their "think sheet." Students use their think sheet to place their thinking on. I collect them every couple of weeks. Their goal is to write one note a day.

This student used a variety of strategies. She used the questioning, determining the importance, and making connections. She also made a response on one of her notes.

Here is a copy of a rubric that I use for independent reading time. In the beginning of the year I use it on a weekly basis so kids understand what they're expected to do. As time goes, I do it every other week. There is a score for taking time to think during the workshop. I think that's very appropriate to have in there since I am asking kids to write down their thinking.