The learning autobiographies we did in class this week were awesome for a couple of reasons. One, I learned a lot about how other people think about their educations: whether learning is a means to an end (adding tools to our toolbox, as it were) or a exploration that is exciting in its own right (like a snowball!), or somewhere in between. I find that I'm more drawn to the snowball way of thinking, but I definitely identify with sometimes being forced to learn "tools" that I never felt like I had a use for (please tell me, Geology 100, when I will ever need to identify shale on sight). This reminder of different ways of viewing the purpose of education was a good reminder to me that my students may be seeing things much differently than I am. This was illustrated today in my internship, which is a 7th grade reading class. I was trying to talk a student into reading his book and found myself at odds with his point of view.
Me: "Since you're finished with your assignment early, can you read silently until the bell rings?"
Him: "I don't like reading."
Me: "Is it your book you don't like, or just reading in general?"
Him: "Just reading in general."
Me: "Why don't you try out a different book and see if it's more interesting? Go check out the bookshelf."
A few minutes later, I saw him diving into a special edition Guinness Book of World Records, and we had a wow moment together about a guy that had collected over 100,000 matchboxes.
The learning autobiographies were also great in letting us get to know each other a little better and helped us start our own learning community. For an excellent example of this, I shall ask you all for advice. How would a reading teacher go about getting this kid from reading (and enjoying) the mostly picture-based Book of World Records to reading (and at least not absolutely hating) a novel? I'm not reaching for the stars here and wanting him to read Hemingway, but a nice YA fiction book wouldn't go amiss.
I think that you nailed the answer on the head when you suggested finding a book that the student would find more interesting. Budding readers are going to struggle with reading until they find a novel that plays on their intrests and truly sucks them in. Perhaps a book can be found about a kid trying to set a record. I know the book Peak by Roland Smith is about the youngest kid to summit Everest.
ReplyDeleteI think your on your way to becoming a great teacher! I understand your question though. How do we balance students interest in personal topics with personal reading growth? Do we want our students to just read 17 magazine and learn about motorcycles all year, just because that's what interests them? I feel like that's a question that will only be answered through time and experience. I agree with that we dont really have to have students read Hemingway or any of the college literature WE'RE forced into reading just to say they're reading good books. I'm trying to go back and find as well as read great YA books so that I can be able to answer questions like yours of how to transition into novels and more serious literature. Great insight and great work within the schools already!!!
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