West Blog 1: O'Keefe-The Habit of Kidwatching

     Since kidwatching is purposeful, I can see how it would be beneficial in the classroom.  The teacher is directly seeking out their students and intentionally getting to know them as readers and writers. Keeping track of what students are reading, their comprehension, what they are writing/publishing, and questions they have during writing workshop can be great assets when developing your mini-lessons.  These notes can also allow you to meet with small groups to instruct them where they may be struggling.  After reading this article, I plan on spending more time conferencing with my students and keeping records.
     For years I have done guided reading groups while others are independent reading.  My guided reading groups will rotate, but I hardly have more than a minute or two to conference with individuals who are independent reading.  This article has inspired me to focus more on conferencing and keeping track of what my students are reading and writing.  Instead of doing guided reading groups each day, I will conference with individual students and use that information to form guided reading groups that will meet on an as needed basis.
     Meeting and conferencing with individuals can lead to deeper comprehension of the text and a better relationship with your students.  I can see how I would be better able to recommend books and help students become avid readers.  This week I really kept track of what students were reading.  I noticed that a lot of students would begin a book, but would abandon it for another one before I could catch them. (I try really hard to make sure they are reading the same book at school and at home.) So during Independent Reading, I made sure they were reading the same book.  If they had a different book, I would make them tell me about the book they had "finished".  Of course, during the conference, they were unable to answer any of my questions.  This type of conference led to great discussion of book choices and how we need to stick to one book at a time.
     I look forward to beginning these meaningful conferences I will have with my students.  Through these conferences I will be able to gain an understanding of reading strategies that students grasp and those that need more focus.