This makes me think about when I tried to read The Red Tent. It was so confusing at the beginning that I put it down, thinking I'd go back to it later. I think I'll try again this summer, writing things down to keep track. Debbie
"Waingort Jimenez, Elisa" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: I am reading Sirens in Baghdad and there are quite a few characters at the beginning of the book that I'm having trouble keeping track of especially because I haven't been able to sit for a stretch of time to really get into the book. I'm reading bits and pieces here and there. I hadn't thought of writing down the characters and something about them to help me keep track of who they are. Thanks for the suggestion. Simple but powerful, especially when I find my reading is broken up by the demands of everyday living. I do think that when you slow down, for whatever reason and that needs to be determined by the reader, you can get more in depth into a piece of writing. I like the way that each chapter in Mosaic allows us to hear the author's thinking. I find that very powerful. Elisa Waingort Calgary, Canada An example that comes to mind is a book with many characters. I sometimes have trouble keeping them straight at the beginning of the book until I have enough information about each character to form a mental picture. I have a tendency to write down names and a little something about them until that image is formed. I have also found that as I have forced myself to slow down and listen to my inner voice, just the fact of slowing down helps me to think much more deeply about the themes, the lessons, the comparisons or contrasts to my own life, my own hopes and dreams. I tried to find a snippet that I thought was in The Art of Teaching Reading by Lucy Calkins, but I couldn't find it. It was written by a very proficient elementary school girl saying that she had never really read before she started taking the time to slow down and think. She named many books that she had read easily, but it was her reflection that she would like to go back and "really" read them. I think that's the gist. Maybe someone else knows what I'm talking about more than I do! Anyway, I have found that slowing down at times, even for aesthetic reading, has helped me a great deal, and I think that giving all of my students, even my great readers, the idea and the permission to do that themselves, shows them that it is deep reflection that can give them the most pleasure. Of course, some books are just for fun with no deep thinking required! Those are fun to read at times as well. Sherry _______________________________________________ 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. --------------------------------- Looking for earth-friendly autos? Browse Top Cars by "Green Rating" at Yahoo! Autos' Green Center. _______________________________________________ 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.
