Naked Reading: Introduction
Published Saturday, November 10, 2007 by Ms. Russell.
Okay, so we're discussing the book Naked Reading: Uncovering What Tweens Need to Become Lifelong Readers by Teri S. Lesesne. Here are my responses to the prompts for the book's Introduction:
Acknowledgements:
1. Reflect how you became a reader. viii--"Parents can do a lot to assist children in becoming lifetime readers. Sadly, parents who did not have role models might not be able to model for their own children. So it falls to us as educators to provide the models students need."
Like the author, I don't remember a time when I was not a reader. I remember my mother taking my sister and I to the tiny local library when we were small children. I remember bringing home piles of picture books, and I remember having certain favorites I would read over and over. I'm quite sure we visited the library every week. I guess I always took this for granted, but I realize now that many kids grow up without this experience.
Introduction:
2. Where do you find time to read?
What works best for me is to keep a book on my nightstand. I read before I go to sleep at night and for a half hour or before I get up in the morning. It’s surprising how much reading I can get done this way! I also usually take a book with me in the car when I’m going somewhere in case I get stuck in traffic or something.
3. Exploding Some Myths About Reading: What did you think?
I felt that most teachers intuitively know that these myths are wrong, but that supervisors sometimes make decisions that support the myths. For instance, we have grade level lists and books added to the list must be "on grade level." There have been excellent books which offered great opportunities for discussion that were rejected because the supervisor considered them to be below that grade's reading level.
The extent of the effect of outside reading on vocabulary and assessment surprised me. We need to share these statistics with teachers! I also need to remind myself not to cringe when 8th graders check out stuff like Garfield books or Goosebumps books… at least they're reading.
4. What were two quotes that made you think?
"Since today’s intermediate and middle school kids are tomorrow's legislators, tomorrow's workforce, and tomorrow's parents, their lack of interest in books and reading and learning will affect subsequent generations." (p. 2)
True. Scary. What does this mean for the future of libraries?
"Now, teachers of third, fourth, and fifth graders are reporting a startling lack of interest in reading." (p. 2)
Surprising. Most of my fifth graders are still readers.
Acknowledgements:
1. Reflect how you became a reader. viii--"Parents can do a lot to assist children in becoming lifetime readers. Sadly, parents who did not have role models might not be able to model for their own children. So it falls to us as educators to provide the models students need."
Like the author, I don't remember a time when I was not a reader. I remember my mother taking my sister and I to the tiny local library when we were small children. I remember bringing home piles of picture books, and I remember having certain favorites I would read over and over. I'm quite sure we visited the library every week. I guess I always took this for granted, but I realize now that many kids grow up without this experience.
Introduction:
2. Where do you find time to read?
What works best for me is to keep a book on my nightstand. I read before I go to sleep at night and for a half hour or before I get up in the morning. It’s surprising how much reading I can get done this way! I also usually take a book with me in the car when I’m going somewhere in case I get stuck in traffic or something.
3. Exploding Some Myths About Reading: What did you think?
I felt that most teachers intuitively know that these myths are wrong, but that supervisors sometimes make decisions that support the myths. For instance, we have grade level lists and books added to the list must be "on grade level." There have been excellent books which offered great opportunities for discussion that were rejected because the supervisor considered them to be below that grade's reading level.
The extent of the effect of outside reading on vocabulary and assessment surprised me. We need to share these statistics with teachers! I also need to remind myself not to cringe when 8th graders check out stuff like Garfield books or Goosebumps books… at least they're reading.
4. What were two quotes that made you think?
"Since today’s intermediate and middle school kids are tomorrow's legislators, tomorrow's workforce, and tomorrow's parents, their lack of interest in books and reading and learning will affect subsequent generations." (p. 2)
True. Scary. What does this mean for the future of libraries?
"Now, teachers of third, fourth, and fifth graders are reporting a startling lack of interest in reading." (p. 2)
Surprising. Most of my fifth graders are still readers.
Labels: Naked_Reading