Ok....So now we can understand why our government makes the decisions that it does; people that can't recognize the VP put these people in office, but that is another topic for another day. It is quite sad that students coming out of high school do not have the tools to be a productive citizen in today's society. Lack of reading is not the only factor in this, but it is indeed a large one. Gallagher was talking about the lack of Sustained Silent Reading, I remember in school every student up until 11th grade had a study hall period, and if you did not have any homework to do you were expected to read. Usually we were placed in another classroom with some other class going on so we could not talk. This was our valued time to read. Some students barely have time to complete regular homework after school, much less read for enjoyment. I really like the article of the week and I think I might try to incorporate that into my classroom, even if it is not about science because kids need to know what is going on in the world.
As far as my content area, I am still searching for ways to incorporate more literacy in the lessons. I think this will be a process that takes alot of time. I have noticed that most of the research for my inquiry project (increasing comprehension by starting out with simpler articles and building up) will be done by me. I like the fact that I will be able to see what happens first hand though. Understanding of reading as a learner in my discipline...I'm still learning this so it is kind of difficult to help my students out alot, but I guess we can do it together.
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I agree with you about the article of the week. I think that it is a great way to incorporate reading into our classes and at the same time get to students to realize what is going on in the world. I also like the SSR, because it gives kids a chance in their normally busy day to take a break , sit down, and read for awhile.
ReplyDeleteI too think that it is CRAZY that students do not know this important people- people whom they can vote into office! That really does blow my mind. I mean, I know that when I was in high school my top priority was not watching the news or reading the paper, but I at least new what was going on in the world...do these students at least know what's going on in Afghanistan?
ReplyDeleteThe SSR would be awesome. In my student teaching placement the kids get a study hall period which I think is really useful. They are forced to use it wisely, meaning either reading or doing hw or something else productive, but I think it is a good time to implement in schools. I wish I would have had something like that when I was in school.
I'm with you on teaching kids how to read science literature. My experience was self-taught, and if each student learns their own way, the task of teaching students how to read science literature effectively is confusing. Also, the kids I work with are all at the upper thinking level, so reading is not an issue for them. I've seen this in the labs I've graded and the "popcorn" reading I've done with them... they get what they're reading. I think the issue for me is now getting students material that is interested to read, not just required.
ReplyDeleteOur study hall (advisement), which is suppose to be used for reading/tutoring/homework, is usually 30 minutes of students playing cards, listening to iPods, exchanging gossip, etc... My teacher's philosophy is that it's *their* time to use it how they want. Would forcing them to read in an effort to get these students to read work, or would the desired result just fold back on itself?