Hillel Reads

Why Independent Reading Matters at Hillel School?

At Hillel School We begin each school year by establishing the rituals and routines of independent reading—a foundational practice that nurtures confident, capable, and joyful readers. Guided by the research-based Fountas & Pinnell Literacy Framework, we prioritize time each day for students to engage in self-selected, independent reading. This routine lays the groundwork for lifelong reading habits and fosters deep, personal engagement with text.

 

Independent reading is not simply quiet time. It is a structured and purposeful learning block where students:

• Build reading stamina and fluency

• Strengthen comprehension skills

• Develop their individual reading identities

• Explore a range of genres and authors

• Cultivate curiosity, imagination, and critical thinking

​

Teachers help students choose “just-right” books, confer one-on-one to set goals, and guide students toward deeper understanding. As students read, they also respond to what they read—through conversation, journaling, sketching, and written reflections—building essential skills in response to literature.

 

Response to Literature at Hillel as part of our routine

 Students are regularly invited to reflect on their reading through structured response activities that encourage thoughtful engagement with text. These responses may include:

• Writing about a character’s traits, motivations, or growth

• Connecting personal experiences to themes or events in the story

• Exploring how an author uses language to convey meaning

• Responding to questions that deepen comprehension and interpretation

• Sharing reflections and book recommendations with peers

 

These responses are developmentally appropriate and scaffolded to meet students where they are—whether through drawings and sentence stems in the early grades, or literary essays and book club discussions in upper grades. Through this process, students learn to think critically, articulate their ideas clearly, and engage in meaningful dialogue about literature.

 

At Hillel, we see reading as an act of both intellectual and spiritual growth. Independent reading and response to literature connect deeply to our Jewish values—honoring Torah (learning), Avodah (reflection and practice), and Kehillah (community). By building these habits early, we help students discover the joy and power of reading—both for themselves and as part of their place in the world.

 

We invite our families to partner with us in nurturing a strong reading culture at home and in school.

Together, we support our children in becoming lifelong readers and thinkers.

​