[CALIBK12] no truce

Tue Dec 16 08:11:44 PST 2008

To broaden the discussion a bit, I believe that the issues surrounding AR are indicative of a much larger problem: our students are not exposed to books and reading at a young age, when it makes a real difference. Perhaps our efforts and money should be going into more support for children's programming at public libraries and outreach efforts such as those that local reading councils perform. The Lake Tahoe Reading Council provides new parents with "book bags" (they have a catchier name than that, but I can't remember it.) These books expose very young children to reading and help parents with getting children off on the right foot.

Maybe the need for remedial programs would be greatly lessened if we support these kinds of things.

Doug Dilts

Library Media Teacher

South Tahoe High School

530-541-4111 x240

http://www.ltusd.org/sths/

________________________________
From: calibk12-bounces at lists.sjsu.edu [mailto:calibk12-bounces at lists.sjsu.edu] On Behalf Of Connie Young
Sent: Monday, December 15, 2008 5:38 PM
To: skrashen at yahoo.com; calibk12 at lists.sjsu.edu; Debra Bohnett
Subject: Re: [CALIBK12] no truce

I believe regular reading and journaling about what one reads helps students improve in reading. I don't really care if the books are AR books or not. I think if you (teacher, librarian, parent, or student) read reflectively, you'll grow as a reader.

Ok, I have no study to show this, but I "know" my students who have read for me and journaled for me have grown as readers. I set the levels of their journaling-- moving them from literal to inferential to challenging the author when possible or necessary. How I may have a student journal depends upon the type of book the student selects to read. Nonfiction works may require a different kind of journaling than fiction books. Either way, though, the student's reflecting as he/she reads (as evidenced by what he/she writes) shows me the student's growth as a reader--- and critical thinker.

I don't get so hung up on the reading level of the book. My argument against AR when my daughter was in grade school is that often she wanted to read books that her teacher said were "below" her reading ability-- or what she was to choose for her AR books to take tests on. I thought that was kind of sad-- telling a kid she couldn't read a book "for points" -- as if the points mattered more than my daughter's desire to read the books.

I realize this may be an issue of "how AR is implemented" and not an attack on AR, per se. It is all I have to say about AR, truthfully. I think reading for the practice of reading and because you want to read to learn is "good reading,"  I think we all move toward more challenging books at our own pace, and with the guidance of those who know our interests and our abilities. I advocate "free reading" more than any other kind of reading. If you want a kid to show you he's reading, make him do some sort of writing about what he reads. If he doesn't tell you enough to indicate he's "reading" (comprehending, reading critically, or whatever it is you want him to show you), then tell him in writing. Ask him more questions he can expound upon as he reads further.

Maybe I'm out to lunch, but this kind of guided "free reading" has worked for me as a teacher. It didn't cost me or my students any money. We'd go to the library and get our books.

Connie Young
Teacher Librarian
Frontier HS
Bakersfield, CA
(former English teacher)

--- On Mon, 12/15/08, Debra Bohnett <dbohnett at stockton.k12.ca.us> wrote:
From: Debra Bohnett <dbohnett at stockton.k12.ca.us>
Subject: Re: [CALIBK12] no truce
To: skrashen at yahoo.com, calibk12 at lists.sjsu.edu
Date: Monday, December 15, 2008, 3:20 PM

He has a valid point - besides as librarians we should be open to this

debate and others as a free speech/non-censorship forum for us to

discuss issues in librarianship.  Those that are not interested or have

AR fatigue can press the delete button.

Debra Bohnett

Chavez High Library

Stockton

-----Original Message-----

From: calibk12-bounces at lists.sjsu.edu

[mailto:calibk12-bounces at lists.sjsu.edu] On Behalf Of Stephen Krashen

Sent: Monday, December 15, 2008 3:06 PM

To: calibk12 at lists.sjsu.edu

Subject: [CALIBK12] no truce

Am I allowed to respond when my posts (and writings) are inaccurately

presented on this listserv?

--- On Mon, 12/15/08, Marilyn Frenz <mcfrenz at yahoo.com> wrote:

> From: Marilyn Frenz <mcfrenz at yahoo.com>

> Subject: Re: [CALIBK12] response to Bogardus comments

> To: "skrashen at yahoo.com" <skrashen at yahoo.com>,

"calibk12 at lists.sjsu.edu" <calibk12 at lists.sjsu.edu>,

"Darla Brown"

<dbrown at garces.org>

> Date: Monday, December 15, 2008, 2:36 PM

> AMEN!!!

>

>

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