[MOSAIC] Question for the group

[William Roberts]

We have used AR for years, but this is the first time so many students hate
reading.  I think it is more a result of the constant emphasis on testing.
My 7th grade reading teachers insist on homework logs and 20-30 minutes of
reading every night and it is a large part of their grade, so the kids are
forced to read.  Plus, there is an emphasis on getting their AR points by
those teachers so that the points take precedence over the act of reading.
I tell mine it's important to get the AR points for their grade, but when
they are done with it, they can go read other books and authors.  I also
prefer to help my kids find books they are interested in so they will want
to take the book home and read it.

Two different viewpoints on the same thing.  Problem is that they believe
they are doing what is best for their kids, so it's hard to argue
otherwise...
Bill


----- Original Message ----- 
From: <bonitadee61 at comcast.net>
To: "Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Listserv"
<mosaic at literacyworkshop.org>
Sent: Thursday, October 05, 2006 10:50 PM
Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] Question for the group


> Hey Bill, and others following this thread,
> Have your read "Why We Do What We Do" by Deci? It is an older book and
probably much has been learned since its writing, but Deci would certainly
argue the lack of student interest in reading that you describe may be
directly related to the increase in extrinsic motivation as a tool to
increase reading. He would say interest gets lost if motivation depends upon
any sort of external control system (like, for example, AR does). Even if
you do not use points and rewards he would probably still advise against
such a system.  So much of what we do in "test-reaction" tends to go in
similar directions--setting the students on path that we determine for them.
I wonder if you are not feeling the motivation outcome of a system that
focuses so much upon students inching up a scale rather than on student
affect. All the time, I find myself wondering about the same thing you
discuss, student love of reading.
>
> --
> Bonita DeAmicis
> California Grade 5
>
> -------------- Original message -------------- 
> From: "William Roberts" <Krober15 at tampabay.rr.com>
>
> > Everyone seems to have misunderstood the purpose of my question. I know
how
> > to motivate my kids to read. I know to expose them to quality books and
> > stories. I've read all the books from Chris Tovani's to Kylene Beers. I
> > just wanted to know if everyone was noticing what I was noticing....we
are
> > getting better readers, but they aren't becoming life long readers.
> >
> > Most of my kids had to do homework logs last year in 7th grade and they
hate
> > to read. They got all their AR points last year, and they hate to read.
> > They did fluency practice every day last year, and they hate to read.
They
> > read leveled stories out of the reading text (high interest, low reading
> > level and intelligence level), and they hate to read. We are forcing the
> > act of reading on them, and they are hating to read. I understand the
need
> > to practice, and I stress it with my kids, but are we practicing them to
> > death? I hated practicing piano, but I loved to pick out tunes and
figure
> > out songs. Are we neglecting the joy of reading?
> >
> > They may be able to pass the state test, but if they hate to read, they
> > won't teach their children to read. If that happens, we are going to
have a
> > nation of non-readers who hate to read and their children who will learn
to
> > hate to read and then what's the point of all our work? We need to make
> > them better readers, but we have forgotten the emotional appeal of
learning.
> > I have loved reading since I was a baby, and I am an excellent
reader....not
> > because I practiced every day, but because I loved reading. If we
instill a
> > love for reading, the better readers will develop.
> >
> > Bill
> >
> >
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