Bill, I think I would say that to get more out of reading, it has to be purposeful. Reading enjoyment is a potential purpose. So is figuring out how to repair your car, hook up a computer, research your position, etc. My husband is an avid reader of all things technical. He is purposeful and skilled in his reading. Like you, I often read for enjoyment and am just an odd enough egg to find I enjoy professional reading as much as a good novel. If reading is drudgery, certainly children avoid it. I have found the deep discussions that readers who are learning to apply thinking strategies are a way into the literacy club. And I have to say again that as a lifelong reader, I feel further empowered by reading and discussing Mosaic and actively applying those strategies to my own reading. My own feeling is that this work is just as effective working with short, meaningful provocative pieces and that perhaps that is where the focus instructionally should be. Let the kids go off road with novels.
Lori On 6/3/07 12:49 PM, "Bill Roberts" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> Do you think that people can value a book without thinking it's fun? I'm >> reading the book READING REASONS by Kelly Gallagher. He says he wants his >> students to value the books he assigns. They do not necessarily have to >> like the books. >> Jan >> > > THE BIBLE has value, but many don't necessarily enjoy it, but I do think > that if you enjoy it, you get more out of it. By enjoyment, I mean ACTIVE > reading. When the time passes so quickly, you aren't even aware of the > reading. When you are in the Zone. A lot of this depends on your purpose > for reading. Reading a phone book isn't pleasurable, but getting that pizza > delivered is pleasureable. If I read a sad book and cry at the end, is it > considered "enjoyment?" You bet! Because I was actively involved in the > story and had an emotional stake in the characters. > > My comment was about teachers who don't think enjoyment is a factor to > teaching reading. To get BETTER at reading, you have to enjoy it. > Otherwise, you won't continue. That's true for anything. If I suck at > basketball, I won't go out and play. Show me some moves, let me practice a > little and I might change my opinion. That's what we need to do for our > kids. Once they CAN read well, then they can give a book value. Sometimes > reading is necessary but not enjoyable. I don't like a lot of the YA books, > but I do read a few from time to time. Hate Lemony Snicket and R.L.Stine, > but I know they have value for the kids. > > Gallagher also teaches high school and most of his reasons for reading are > geared towards older students who (hopefully) are on their way to college so > reading takes on more practical (i.e. money and jobs) stance. I don't see > using most of his reasons even for my middle schoolers...thinking of their > futures is so far beyond their capabilities. I think his book DEEPER > READING is much better. > > 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. > -- Lori Jackson District Literacy Coach & Mentor Todd County School District Box 87 Mission SD 57555 http:www.tcsdk12.org ph. 605.856.2211 Literacies for All Summer Institute "Literate Lives: A Human Right" July 12-15, 2007 Louisville, Kentucky http://www.ncte.org/profdev/conv/wlu _______________________________________________ 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.
