After reading this NY Times article, I feel pretty motivated to give my future students a choice in selecting a novel in the classroom. I think that having a unit that focuses on independent reading would be a good idea. Even before I read through this article, I felt that students feel more motivated reading a novel they get to select (I know from experience), and even in the article it says that "Literacy specialists say that giving children a say in what they read can help motivate them. “If your goal is simply to get them to read more, choice is the way to go,” said Elizabeth Birr Moje, a literacy professor at the University of Michigan."
I like how this article brought in the author of "In the Middle," Nancie Atwell! I felt like I knew what she was talking about with the minilessons due to the fact that I am reading her book!
What this article isn't very clear on is whether or not they think that choice should replace the classics completely. To me, it seems like they want students to be able to choose their own texts all year round. I don't think I agree with this. I think there should be one big assignment based on their selected novel, and then a focus on other popular classics. You can make the classics fun!
You're lucky if you even get the choice to choose your own curriculum. More and more kids are enjoying books such as Harry Potter and Twilight, but are these ok for the classroom?
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I agree that students should be allowed to choose a book that interests them. It's hard enough getting students to read, so why not let them choose their own novel!
ReplyDeleteI also really like your idea of an independant reading unit. What a great way to get students reading!
I agree that students should be able to choose some of their own literature. I am in US Lit and we are reading this book that I cannot get into. And they are reading it so fast that I can't keep up! I hate it and I just want it to end. I have gone online and gotten notes from others about how the book is traveling and it's helping me to keep up, but overall I wish that we could have chosen what works we wanted to read. We are going into this philosophical crap that I HATE. I just want to stand up and say "Who cares?!" Who cares that this guy felt this way and felt that an object wasn't really an object and that the well-being of this aspect wasn't intended to bla bla bla!!! And my teacher just lectures, and she's funny, but only when I get it! Anyways, I think the idea of students choosing their own reading for some of a course is a brilliant idea, especially if it's going to keep them involved. I think that books such as Harry Potter and Twilight are a great addition to the classroom. All those people that criticized the literature for its apparent witchcraft and imaginary beings failed to see the point that kids were locking themselves in their bedrooms to finish a book; they were making parties out of the book premiers and celebrating in mass quantities; they were dressing up as the characters and recalling the plots to each other for fun; communities made public celebrations for the kids to engage in and they loved it! If writing what a kid wants to read is what it takes to get them to read, then so be it!! We should embrace it and overlook the petty issues.
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