We have used AR for years, but for the first time most of my kids read for points. No one in the past 3 years ever made them stop and think about why they selected a book. They just picked it out because it was worth a lot of points. I have always taught them to pick the book first because they want to read it, THEN worry about the points. I think a lot of the "point" abuse comes from teachers who don't offer the kids a choice or a chance to think about what they are doing. Enjoyment should be the priority because EVERYTHING we do is based on enjoyment or pain. Bill
----- Original Message ----- From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Listserv" <mosaic@literacyworkshop.org> Sent: Thursday, October 05, 2006 3:55 PM Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] Question for the group > In regards to a nation of readers that hate to read... > > I have seventh graders at a school I am new to. The school here is very gung ho > for a certain unnamed point driven program. Needless to say, I am not in favor > of bribing kids to read. HOWEVER, in an effort to stay "one of the > team," I gave the kids the initial placement test, and am giving them the > choice. My kids have to read 150 pages of their "just right" books each week. > I take Status of the Class every day. I have them doing Interactive Journals in > which they apply the strategies we are learning as a class (I have to use the > adopted literature anthology, so I use it as common text and teach the > strategies from it), to their novels. If they WANT to take the quizzes and get > the points and earn prizes that the school in general that's fine. If they > don't, the real grade comes from pages read and the responses written. I've > noticed that some kids in the middle years need a tangible reward for reading. > So they have the option. > > Just my two cents worth... > > > -- > Kimberlee Hannan > Language Arts Department Chair > Sequoia Middle School > Fresno Unified School District > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive.
