Reply to Question from a teacher about your kids...

Forum Index » Tweens and Teens

Reply to "Question from a teacher about your kids... "

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Oh, and also, I would never try to have a conversation with a friend about the specific merits of a given article without reading the article. The content, sure — “oh yes, Charles Mann argues that the population of the Americas before Columbus was much larger than we thought” but not “Charles Mann has this beautifully lyrical description of Amazonia...” (I’d immediately go “ooh lemme see.”) [/quote]

And what if- hear me out- this exact thing happens to kids and they go “wait let me read that” and then they too are doing extra reading just because they were curious. [/quote]

I mean, great, but you’re making it sound like the best thing that could come out of your class are kids reading on their own, which as the kid who would have preferred to read her own book in the library than go to English class  (and whose kid is the same!) makes me wonder why it should be a required course. But that’s cool, I was already pretty sold on a classical curriculum for my kids. [/quote]

I think you are missing the point.  English class is not about reading the book.  One can do that on their own.  It's about dissecting and discussing the book. You know, critical thinking.  That's why it's a required course.  It has never been about the reading part.[/quote]

No, I don't think PP was missing the point.  I think OP is missing the point.  To OP, the point of English class [i]is [/i]to read the book and 'love reading.' [/quote]

No, the books are actually beside the point which is why I don’t need to control what they pick. The point of English class is to connect with humanity, honor someone else’s voice and lived experience, hone your own writing and voice to tell your story, understand your world. [/quote]

And we wonder why our kids are woefully undereducated.  I always thought English class also included teaching kids to hone reading skills, develop critical thinking and analytical writing....[/quote]

Where did ANY of my comments say those are not the exact things we are doing? They can be done with any book is the ONLY thing I’m saying. [/quote]

First, your list of the "point of English class" included none of those things.  Also, those things cannot be taught effectively with books that are too easy, so no, they can't be done with any book.  You are unwittingly contributing to the dumbing down of the kids you teach.  Take a step back from your pride and consider some of the comments you've received.  [b]There are kids who will choose the easiest book possible every time.[/b] You will do those kids a huge disservice if you don't proactively also challenge them with harder books.  There are many books that are basic, and many with layers that you need to really think critically to unpack.  Kids need exposure to the latter and it's a part of your job to provide that exposure.  I don't care if you select the "classics," you just can't sit back and never have them exposed to books that are challenging to them because you chose to let them just do whatever they like.[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics