These sections summed up how reading will be composed in the actual classroom. Teachers will have access to books in the classroom, but are they abundant and menaingful? Teachers will also have access to computers and Internet technology in the classroom, but do the students know how to properly use it?
Technology can be such a valuable tool in the classroom. Technology is the direction in which the world is moving. Students need to learn how to effectively use the internet for research and for supplementing their own learning. Many teachers feel that the students would not be responsible with computer time, but I think that after computer instruction, don't judge the students' integrity until after a student is off-task. However, I do agree with Stead about being prepared with specific tools in mind for literary instruction. This is not only safe, but it's effective and quicker.
Stead had great ideas about building a classroom library. As my peers have stated, it was an exciting read, and it motivated me to go to McKays. I have been collecting books from the used book store for a couple years now, but since I do not know what age group I will be teaching, I have a huge and random collection. According to Stead, that's not a bad thing. Variety and books out of comfort level are motivating and exciting for students. One thing that teachers do that we learn about is finding books on what student interests are. Stead, however, brings up an interesting point. Although it's fantastic that teachers may collect books in their library to meet student interests, students need to be exposed to other types of text. It can be magazines, travel journals, or brochures. Variety is key, and if a student is reading many different types of text, then the library has been successful. I think that teachers should find a method of organizing the library, either by authors or subjects, so that it resembles a public or school library. Not only can students easily find books they may like, but they can generalize locating books, which is a skill that is necessary in the technology driven world.
I really enjoyed this book, and I plan on looking back on it in the future. It has many great tips for reading that students enjoy. I am very much into getting students to have intrinsic motivation, and this book teaches methods to put pleasure and engagement into reading. The tips and stories relate to all content areas, so this book could be used by any teacher in any school!
I was reminded of how motivating this book is in your last paragraph. I had not really thought about how well of a job Stead does at showing how to give students intrinsic motivation to read. From every facet of his suggestions for setting up a reading classroom there is always the idea that student wants, needs, and choices should be considered before implementing the important parts of a reading classroom. There is this overarching theme that reading is fun and should be enjoyable for children and adults alike. I wish more teachers would look at this way and not use programs that focus solely on extrinsic motivation.
ReplyDeleteWhile I see your point in setting up a classroom library with the same structure of a public library, I somewhat disagree with this. I think there are still good ways to have a classroom library that doesn't sort books alphabetically. It does not have to be super formal. I think there needs to be organization, but in certain classrooms, especially the lower grades, I believe that sorting books by theme may be more appropriate. The children will learn how to use public libraries and school libraries regardless of how the classroom library is set up :)
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