(From the theme of Beers's book....)
Dear Dr.Pytash,
Thank you so much for all you have done for me this semester. Coming into your class as a Social Studies student was a completely different experience than I have had my entire undergrad. The ideas and concepts to help students along with comprehension in the classroom have really hit me hard. I really and honestly can't wait to use them in a classroom. I enjoyed coming to class every week, and really enjoyed the literature you introduced me too. I have dipped my toes into the young adult literature genre, but now I am totally diving head first. I know some may think this as brown-nosing, but I just want you to honestly know how I feel about your class.
I am pretty sure I will use more methods and got more ideas on how to use literature in the classroom that I have in any other class. I am glad When Kids Can't Read was picked for this class, since I really learned a lot about struggling readers that I never would have without the text. I have definitely become more conscious about struggling readers in the classroom and have the tools to begin to help them. I also am motivated to incorporate literature into my Social Studies classes more than ever.
Thank you Dr. Pytash for everything you do...you have truly made a difference in my life.
Yours Reading,
Sara
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Chapter 14: Finding the Right Book
"I also had to learn that while I wanted lots of characters, non readers often wanted few. I wanted a complicated plot; they wanted straightforward. I wanted to grapple with the biggest human issues set upon the individual human heart and consciousness while they wanted Captain Underpants." p.282-283
We have been exposed to a lot of books in class, and I'm very thankful for that since I love to read and have now been exposed to the world of young adult literature.
Beers gives some things to think about when picking books, some of my favorites are:
-white space (students can become overwhelmed with tons of text page after page)
-funny books (there is nothing better than a book that can make you laugh out loud, and I would think it would be nice for students to realize that)
-characters who face though choices (since most teens have this in common with the characters)
-realistic (I know language can be a barrier, but teens talk like teens....so it makes sense to put it in a book)
Beers talks about how to sell the books to the students, some of my favorites she lists are:
-Read and Tease
-Good Books Box
-Know your students' interests
Along with Dr.Pytash's list of places to find books, Beers provides great sources.
Yours Reading,
Sara
We have been exposed to a lot of books in class, and I'm very thankful for that since I love to read and have now been exposed to the world of young adult literature.
Beers gives some things to think about when picking books, some of my favorites are:
-white space (students can become overwhelmed with tons of text page after page)
-funny books (there is nothing better than a book that can make you laugh out loud, and I would think it would be nice for students to realize that)
-characters who face though choices (since most teens have this in common with the characters)
-realistic (I know language can be a barrier, but teens talk like teens....so it makes sense to put it in a book)
Beers talks about how to sell the books to the students, some of my favorites she lists are:
-Read and Tease
-Good Books Box
-Know your students' interests
Along with Dr.Pytash's list of places to find books, Beers provides great sources.
Yours Reading,
Sara
Chapter 13: Creating the Confidence to Respond
"Our dependent readers don't believe they can succeed and they don't believe they have anything to offer. You must believe for them." p.280
Beers tackles the topic of confidence of the student in the classroom. Thinking about being in a classroom and having the nerve to speak up and say what is on your mind has always come easy to me. I do think a lot of that has come from me being a confident reader, outgoing person, and being accepted in the classroom. Teachers need to encourage their students and make the environment comfortable to speak in. Beers gives some ways a teacher can help with the environment: Make sure students know each others names, Embrace the diversity in your classroom, and make sure there is ZERO tolerance for put downs.
These don't always let students know it is okay to respond in the class so Beers also makes it known that teachers should also provide the students with various ways for engagement. Several of her suggestions are:
-personal response log
-response notes
-very small groups
-in-class literature circles
-online literature circles
Beers also makes it known that picking an appropriate text is important, you need to think about the level of your readers and also the subject matter that is covered in the book. Picking something out of their level range and something they are totally not interested in will not result in them finding reading fun nor important. This is where SSR can fit in, making the students know what is available for them to read and that they have many options should be something presented in class. Beers seems to cover this in Chapter 14 about picking the right books.
Yours Reading,
Sara
Beers tackles the topic of confidence of the student in the classroom. Thinking about being in a classroom and having the nerve to speak up and say what is on your mind has always come easy to me. I do think a lot of that has come from me being a confident reader, outgoing person, and being accepted in the classroom. Teachers need to encourage their students and make the environment comfortable to speak in. Beers gives some ways a teacher can help with the environment: Make sure students know each others names, Embrace the diversity in your classroom, and make sure there is ZERO tolerance for put downs.
These don't always let students know it is okay to respond in the class so Beers also makes it known that teachers should also provide the students with various ways for engagement. Several of her suggestions are:
-personal response log
-response notes
-very small groups
-in-class literature circles
-online literature circles
Beers also makes it known that picking an appropriate text is important, you need to think about the level of your readers and also the subject matter that is covered in the book. Picking something out of their level range and something they are totally not interested in will not result in them finding reading fun nor important. This is where SSR can fit in, making the students know what is available for them to read and that they have many options should be something presented in class. Beers seems to cover this in Chapter 14 about picking the right books.
Yours Reading,
Sara
Chapter 10: Fluency and Automaticity
"It's so important to remember that students don't develop automaticity via decoding but rather through repeated exposure to a word they can decode."
I like how Beers really tried to hammer in the fact that reading automaticity will lead to fluency. I also like how she pointed out the fact that when we think we are helping students by providing them with the word we are helping them out. I will be the first to say it is hard to listen to a struggling reader read aloud when they have problems with fluency and I do have problems myself with just giving them the word they are searching for, and I will work on that.
My two favorite improving fluency suggestions from Beers is:
#2 Give varied opportunities to hear texts (I think this is important so that we can really help the reader connect with the text.)
#3 Give the students the opportunity to reread. (We have heard from Beers earlier how important and beneficial it can be to reread a text with her To Kill a Mocking Bird reference.)
Yours Reading,
Sara
I like how Beers really tried to hammer in the fact that reading automaticity will lead to fluency. I also like how she pointed out the fact that when we think we are helping students by providing them with the word we are helping them out. I will be the first to say it is hard to listen to a struggling reader read aloud when they have problems with fluency and I do have problems myself with just giving them the word they are searching for, and I will work on that.
My two favorite improving fluency suggestions from Beers is:
#2 Give varied opportunities to hear texts (I think this is important so that we can really help the reader connect with the text.)
#3 Give the students the opportunity to reread. (We have heard from Beers earlier how important and beneficial it can be to reread a text with her To Kill a Mocking Bird reference.)
Yours Reading,
Sara
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