And again, by writing actual letters back and forth about their reading, the kids and I became in a way more equal in sharing our love of, frustration with, questions about books. This is Nancy Atwell's approach which I used in desperation one year. It changed EVERYTHING for me. I think we cannot ignore the social nature of reading... Of sharing book talk. It's different even than having them keep their lists and write a sentence or two. They really love to "talk" to their teacher. And reading and replying to their letters (I did it every other week - each week did get to be a lot time wise - was one of my favorite favorite parts of teaching. They had a fit if I didn't get their letters back to them. Read Atwell (for sure) or read my old article in the Reading Teacher. Sally
On 10/5/06 4:51 AM, "RICHARD THEXTON" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I must agree and what a sad, sad situation! This is exactly why I have HUGE > issues with computer programs that award points for answering 5 multiple > choice questions after a child has read a book, then the child is allow to > "buy" items with those points. (no names mentioned) As a matter of fact, The > National Association of the Arts issued a warning a few years ago that we > through these programs, we are creating a generation of students who do not > enjoy reading. Teachers has forced the extrinsic value of reading, beginning > in 1st grade, to the point that children never get the opportunity to simply > love to read, to internalize the story, to find the INTRINSIC value of > reading! > Teachers, PLEASE stop placing so much stock in those points! Please offer > other after reading activities that are FUN and truly reflect how the child > interacted with the text. (for some great ideas, see When Kids Can't Read, > What Teachers Can Do, by Kyleen Beers) > Show your students how much YOU enjoy reading. Offer up a selection of > "wide reading". What do your students have available to choose to read? Are > there comic books, magazines, newspapers, in addition to the good literature? > Validate that reading magazines is real reading! > I agree that a recommended reading list each semester or quarter needs to be > provided for students to expose them to wide variety of genres. I even use my > example that until I read Angels and Demons, I didn't know how much I like > those types of books. Now I"m hooked! I've completely changed the books I > chose when looking for something good to read. > We do have to work hard to remove that "reading is a subject at school" > mentality and show students the enjoyment of reading in order to create a life > long lover of reading! > Kelli > > > William Roberts <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I have a concern that I've noticed and was wondering if anyone else has > noticed anything similar....on paper, my 8th graders this year look good. > Reading levels are up, fluency is up, scores are up....but for the first > time in many years, they ALL say they hate to read. They see no purpose to > reading. They only read because they have to read. In previous years, many > liked reading and would bring books on the first day of school...this year, > they all said they hated reading. I have worked my butt off to change their > minds and am beginning to see a change in attitudes after 6 weeks, but I was > wondering if anyone else is seeing this problem: > We have kids who are better readers, but they aren't life-long readers. > What's the point if they aren't going to read AFTER school is over? Latest > research says that most students never read another book after high > school...are we creating a nation of better readers by sacrificing the joy > of reading? > > Bill > > > _______________________________________________ > Mosaic mailing list > Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. > > Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. > > > _______________________________________________ > Mosaic mailing list > Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. > > Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. > _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive.
