Addendum:
Just a quick update to yesterday’s post. I failed to mention one more snafu in my current driving situation. Georgetown, where I live, is the third oldest town in SC. Charleston and Beaufort (where Prince of Tides was set/filmed) are the oldest. Georgetown has a rich maritime history, but is also home to the largest paper mill in the country. What do you make paper out of? Wood. Therefore, on any given day, I find myself trailing an open hauler filled with trees. Not cute fire logs or bundles twined by The Boy Scouts, full grown trees. Needless to say, this is a bit unnerving seeing that I’ve played Jenga, and our insurance agent said the trucks tip over on a regular basis. Timberrr! Give careening logging trucks some thought the next time you mistakenly print out two-hundred copies of your football picks, when you only intended two.
Back to business. Grab your coffee and let’s hit the lounge.
KISS
When I start thinking about my career in education and my time in a classroom, my mind is flooded with anecdotes, strategies, lessons, tricks, etc. I am in that conundrum now, but when I felt myself losing my way in my planning or focus, I would follow the advice from many who came before me. Kiss. Keep it simple, Stupid.
I realize Tuesdays have a more specific target group, but this philosophy can be applied to many aspects of life. As far as the English classroom, keeping it simple, for me, always meant boiling my teaching down to the four basic skills of language arts: reading, writing, listening and speaking.
At some point, I will address all of these skills, but today, I would like to focus on reading. RIF, Inc. (Reading is Fundamental) is the oldest non-profit literacy organization in the U.S. Founded by Margaret McNamara in 1966, RIF’s mission statement states, [the organization] “believes every child deserves an opportunity to own books, learn how to read, and obtain the fundamental building blocks to achieve their highest potential.” (Wikipedia) (rif.org). Growing up, I often saw PSA’s from this organization where they would stress the “FUN” in fundamental. Sadly, I believe many of my students did not recognize the fundamental necessity of reading, and I am certain most of them did not find it fun.
This could be the product of the school environment or the continuing influence of technology; however, part of the problem is the way teachers broach reading. I am not a great runner, but most of the time, when I run, it hurts. Also, I was “forced” to run during practice when I would make a wise comment or get caught just being me. Running, for me, like homework and nightly assigned reading for our students, does not become invigorating, but punitive when the participant does not see purpose and value in it.
How do we get kids to read? This is a simply worded, but complex question. There is no easy answer, especially with all of the mounting distractions and responsibilities on today’s students. Here is where my real estate comparison comes into play.
The archetypal, universal selling point for a home is “location, location, location,” and the particular needs of the buyer. In short, people buy homes based on where it is and how it suits them. It is not a stretch to apply this same philosophy to books and reading.
Location, location, location
One of the key components in solving this problem is finding a suitable place to read. During my open house presentation, I stress this seemingly obvious fix, but how easy is it to create a quiet, uninterrupted space for interactive reading? According to an article written by Peg Dawson, EdD for the Child Mind Institute, homework should be done “before dinner or as early as possible before bed time.” During my career, I had heard that the optimum time for language arts is between 2-5 PM. Most teenagers are busy with work or after school activities during this timeframe, and dinner time in many families is catch as catch can (more fodder for posts).
I can complete any academic task with background noise, but I cannot effectively read with comprehension without total silence. Think if this is even feasible in your home environment, especially as the night wanes. Couple this with the complexity of reading, and many students do not even begin their reading until the rest of their homework is completed, and they can find a place of solitude. In survey after survey, my students would say that they often complete their reading late at night. Hard to comprehend what you are reading when your monitoring is hindered by fatigue, and you wake up drooling on the page.
Mr.P., I try to read on the bus back from games, or in the car. I cannot do this, either. I get headaches; I get nauseous. I am not saying it is not possible, but once again, distractions are constant and concentration is difficult. This is where I feel the inclusion of audiobooks can fill a major void. I have sipped the Kool-aid of the Audible app, and although I still have some reservations, I feel this is a viable option for reluctant or struggling readers.
If I have a quiet place to read, not only do I find the process more enjoyable, I can literally “feel” myself applying reading skills. Good readers do not just express with precision; they actively engage with a text on multiple levels. I move my mouth while reading, and my elementary school teachers (all wonderful people) tried to dissuade me from the habit. It showed strain. It affected presentation. I am hear to tell you, that the motion of my lips is me having a dialogue with the text. It helps me read faster. It helps me partner with the text.
Choice/ Purpose and Tolerance (Preview)
This part of the real estate analogy is clear. People want what they want. I do not like popcorn ceilings or leather couches. Others may like leprosy above them or the comforting feeling of hot tanned cowhide ripping at flesh. The same applies to reading. Reader’s choice is not a new paradigm nor new pedagogy, but tomorrow, I will provide some thoughts about how to accomplish this.
In good conscious, I cannot leave a post on reading without some recommendations/reviews. Let’s make this a new segment, as long as I can keep pace. Lol
Between the Bookends
Last Read
Verity, Colleen Hoover. An intriguing story about the nature of writing, love and how we believe our own truth, not necessarily the actual truth. Compelling for the first two-thirds. Part thriller, part modern tragedy, I picked this to see what all the buzz was about regarding this author. My daughter recommended this one, but I plan on giving Hoover another shot in her wheelhouse genre. Most of the twists can be seen well in advance, but the final twist is well-rendered, although there was a better option for resolution. In her acknowledgements, the author mentions that she was under pressure to finish before her deadline, and it shows. There is an opening scene that sets the plot and character interaction in motion, but is not addressed fully and does not quite match the rest of the story’s tone. The book is rife with graphic sex scenes, and the overall subject matter is harrowing, so it kept my attention, but had more potential than made it onto the page. From a book that focuses on writing and the process of a writer, this failing is the definition of irony. B
Last Listen
The Guest List, Lucy Foley
A successful actor and a successful business woman are getting married on a remote Irish island with a severe storm, both literally and metaphorically, gaining strength on the horizon. I listened to this in a couple of days, and after a slow start and a split narrative style that took some getting used to, this was a pleasant surprise in plot and presentation. The story is told in two separate timeframes using multiple narrators (all guests at the wedding) with different relationships and opinions of the seemingly “perfect” couple. I enjoyed Foley’s imagery and the dialogue is realistic for the genre. I am a huge fan of mysteries, and although many of the “reveals” are telegraphed, the final reveal is creative and compelling. The actors do a great job realizing the various characters, especially the women. I am looking forward to reading another selection from Foley. B+
Next Read
TBD. As stated, I will be giving each of these authors, one more shot. The Hunting Party, Lucy Foley and/or It Ends With Us, Colleen Hoover. I know they are making the movie version of Party, and It Ends is supposed to be the quintessential Hoover missive, so I would like to close this loop before Netflix does it for me.
Next Listen
I am currently finishing Daisy Jones and the Six, by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I am a music fan, and loved listening to Reid’s Malibu Rising, but the story is too much a rehash of the escapades of Fleetwood Mac down to Jennifer Beals (Yes, Flashdance Jennifer Beals) doing her best throaty, Stevie Nicks. Full review, next week.
See you tomorrow for more on reading, and for Hump Day Happenings – a review of the week’s most interesting (or easiest to write about) news events.
Love and Laughter,
P.