Sustained Silent Reading (SSR)

Mary Lois Martin

“ Those who read the most, read the best.”

– US Dept of Education NAEP 2004

What it isStudents read whatever they want for a

period of 10-20 minutes. Many names given: FVR, DEAR, SQUIRT,

USSRIndividualized Reading since 1950’s and 60’sCommon goal:

“to develop each student’s ability to read silently without interruption for a long period of time”(McCracken, 1971). –Pilgreen SSR Handbook

BasicsChoice in reading materialSpecific time givenModeling No books reports or other work assigned

It is for EVERYONE

Two SSR’s• Self- Selected Reading VS Sustained Silent

Reading• Quiet reading time with teacher conferences• Reading logs

Both are forms of Free Voluntary Reading

-SSW (sustained silent writing)

Why its important“Students who read the most, read the best, achieve the most, and stay in school the longest”

- Jim Trelease (Read Aloud Handbook)

Statistics

NEA report-To Read or Not to Readless than 1/3 of 13 year olds read for pleasureThe percentage of 17 year who read nothing

for pleasure has doubled over a 20 year period. http://www.nea.gov/research/toread.pdf

ResearchPilgreen (2000) review of 32 studiesSSR and the ESL student

Krashen and the Power of Reading Single most comprehensive study done on SSR

“What the research tells me [about SSR] is that when children or less literate adults read for pleasure… their reading comprehension will improve, they will find difficult, academic- style texts easier to read…”

BenefitsSupports all readersAct of reading becomes automaticReading as recreationIncrease in reading proficiency

Better comprehension, writing, and vocabulary

Challenges or Concerns ???

ControversyNational Reading Panel (NRP)

Supported by the U.S. Government

Concluded that there is no clear evidence to support SSR Problems with the studies

However, it did state that the absence of evidence was not evidence against SSR.

8 factors for successful SSRPilgreen’s SSR Handbook

ACCESSAPPEALCONDUCTIVE ENVIRONMENTENCOURAGEMENTSTAFF TRAININGNON- ACCOUNTABILITYFOLLOW- UP ACTIVITIES TIME

Simple do’s and don’ts Allow any type of readingHave wide variety of reading material

availableRead when they do!No Grades! No Reports! Mix it up… allow peer sharing/ reading, read

aloud to class.

ReferencesKrashen, S. (2004) The Power of Reading.

Westport, CT: Heinemann. Pilgreen, J. (2000) The SSR Handbook.

Portsmouth, N.H.: Boyton/Cook.Trelease, J. (2006) The Read- aloud

handbook. NY: Penguin Books.