We have to broaden our definition of "Literacy" because someone watching BOSTON LEGAL or UGLY BETTY has to use the same "reading" skills as a reader (prediction, inference, questioning, etc.). So does someone listening to great selection of music, or someone watching a good movie, or someone going to an art museum. We need to create THINKING Children, not necessarily READING Children. Bill
----- Original Message ----- From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Listserv" <mosaic@literacyworkshop.org> Sent: Thursday, October 05, 2006 8:20 AM Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] Question for the group > > I think we also have to broaden our definition of reading. My own sons, the two younger boys anyway (Middle School Guys), > do an incredible amount of reading online. Both play Magic (some card game thing) and love video games, which I love to > hate. However, there has been such a interesting change in the way they play. Their new handhelds are wireless and there is > constant messaging (reading and writing) involved in their play. They also download these long documents telling them how > to beat certain levels or describing game strategy. The thing is, these things are reasonably to extremely well written and > they are written in large part by kids. I am becoming a huge fan of the guys who wrote Going With the Flow and these > experiences meet all the criteria for flow. Let me add, that it does concern me that their genre focus is narrow but my two > kiddos can read any darned technical manual you give them and act accruately upon that information. > > Luckily for me, both are readers though one is a self-procalimed picky guy, who reads only solidly recommended and award > winning books (okay, he is lovable and bit strange sometimes). > > Lori > > > On Thu, 5 Oct 2006 04:51 , RICHARD THEXTON <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> sent: > > >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. > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.12.12/461 - Release Date: 10/2/06 > > _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. 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