I have read with interest everyone's comments about strategies becoming too much the focus of children's reading and want to just throw in a quick thought or two. I, too, am concerned with the strategies assuming too prominent a role in children's understanding and that is the central idea in the book I just finished, To Understand, which, like the second edition of Mosaic, will be out in 2007. In it, I argue that the strategies are necessary tools to enhance children's comprehension, but that we need to discuss (with colleagues and children) what results when someone uses the strategies and understands. I pose the question - what does it really mean to understand and write about some "mentors" - writers and artists - I've studied in an effort to discover how people come to understand deeply.
In To Understand, I argue that it is fruitful to have the discussions with children about what happens when we really know we comprehend. In it I talk about what I've observed, cognitively and behaviorally, when children and adults are truly understanding and that we talk explicitly with kids about those behaviors in order to increase the likelihood that they understand at deeper levels. Ultimately, I think you've all been right - the point isn't the strategies, the point is what they help us understand that we may not have understood without them. I'm not a big fan of prompts - I think that children have much more authentic conversations when they are focused on the ideas in books and when we have modeled what great book conversations look and sound like. I just try to think about what the talk is like in my own book club and to articulate some of those characteristics to children. I'm so fascinated that you all started posing and responding to these questions because I have found them important questions, too, and though there aren't any "right" answers, I've tried to explore the very thing you've been talking about in this book. I do so hope it will shed some additional light on your important conversations. As I write today, Denver is buried under more than 2 feet of lovely, soft snow and everyone is home and loving the fire, the Christmas tree and books we've been hoping to read. My best to everyone for a magical holiday. ellin keene _______________________________________________ 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.
