Pre-K teachers: how can I incorporate reading to students 7 times daily into pre-K schedule?

Question

It makes me crazy when I substitute teach in pre-K and kindergarten classes in schools in poor neighborhoods and the emphasis is on lining up quietly. The emphasis should be on constantly reading to these kids, who will NOT get it at home. I will be student-teaching in the fall, and then will be a certified teacher. I want to read to the class while lining up for recess, which will not work. But how can I get in lots of reading time around the time constraints?

I just pulled 7 out of the air. I wrote this at 3 in the morning, so it reflects the impatience I felt. I so value ALL of the reflective answers I have been getting. Thank you, thank you. I'm creative too, but let's face it, many heads are better than just one and you folks have the experience, I just have the determination. I am a non-stop reader who knows how much fun reading can be (among other things) and want my students to read as well as they breathe, the same way I do. I know that's an ideal, esp. given the dominance of television and computer games, but that's why I want to get 'em young and get my licks in (i.e. influence them to value reading). I so appreciate all the ideas, some match my own thinking and some are novel and gratefully accepted. Thank you, thank you.

Answer 1

try this way.....read and recite poetry during morning circle, if you have breakfast before circle leave books out for those who get done first.....then once things settle at the food tables you can read while they are eating, also you can read to them while getting ready to go home and during transition times too....and if there is nap time i used to read them to sleep, and leave books out for when they woke up..and even read to some of them too....dont only keep reading in the classroom...you can have reading time outside and some of the children will love it...

Answer 2

Literacy skills are very important and I think that it is great that you are concerned for these children. You can do more than just read to them, especially in Pre-K and K. Recite nursery rhymes, play listening games, talk about the things you see and hear while you are outside. Work on oral language skills. Try to enrich their thinking by asking open ended questions. About the lining up, I always tell people that are guests in my classroom that I do not require the kids to stand in line. They will be standing in lines for the rest of their lives... Why now? (There are other appropriate ways to get children from point A to point B without waiting in line)

Answer 3

times to read aloud to kindergarten students:
poem of the week(read daily)
shared reading books
abc book
story of the day
writing minilesson starts with a read aloud
math concept book
science/social studies(weekly theme) related book

Answer 4

to enhance children's reading skills, print out action words for children to read during queing up or walking from room to room. eg. walk. creep. march. this will allow them to keep in line and also increase their interest in reading. reading short rhymes or poems during waiting time will also be interesting for children.