[MOSAIC] Bill's thoughts

[Bill Roberts]

I don't know if it's gonna turn it over on its head, but it follows with 
what we are discussing....

Renee said
 > What I want for students is for them not to hate and be cynical about 
everything. For them to understand that the degree to which they enjoy, 
engage in, are interested in something comes from their own heads, hearts, 
and experiences and not from any antics a teacher can perform to entertain 
them.

That's been my biggest problem this year....finding things the kids are 
interested in so they can WANT to read.  Most have no interest in ANYTHING. 
I don't think it's cynicism.  I think it's the drumming of reading as only a 
step to passing a test along with the fact they are exposed to SO MUCH 
information via TV and the Internet that their little brains close down 
because it becomes overload.  Our jobs are more complicated because we not 
only have to introduce new information, but we also have to help them to 
sort through what they see and "read" from other sources.  I've had more 
kids think the Geico Cavemen, unicorns, and time travel were real because 
they've "seen" it on TV this year than ever before...I also think the "hate" 
comes from not being able to do.  I know I "hate" basketball because I suck 
at it.  For the kids, they hate reading because they make bad choices --  
pick boring books because they are short, pick too long books because 
they're worth more AR points, etc.  They don't have the vocabulary to say 
what the problem really is, so they say they "hate" it.  They also "hate" 
black and white movies, any music more than 2 months old, and most of their 
class subjects...it's because they don't have an interest in them because 
they don't really have an understanding of them.

Renee also said
>"Some people will decide that the best thing to do when you have free time 
>is not to read a book, but to play hockey or soccer, build furniture, play 
>in the symphony, crochet afghans for new babies, volunteer at a non-profit, 
>walk-precincts during election season, organize unions, work second jobs. 
>Third jobs. Go fishing."

But aren't there books and magazines that will enhance those activities? 
Knowing Beethoven was deaf adds to your enjoyment of the 9th, books offer 
many afghan designs for use, fishermen are known for telling stories, 
etc....

I consider interest in something to be "fun."  You can't separate emotion 
from interest.  Without some emotional involvement, there is no active 
reading or participation.  Maybe we need to get away from the terminology 
"FUN" and replace it with "EMOTIONAL INVOLVEMENT".  I read because it brings 
an emotional response --- I laugh, cry, get disgusted, reflect, contemplate, 
sigh....but bottom line, I FEEL when I read.  If I'm not feeling anything, 
I'm not reading it.  But I also watch TV, go to the movies, and listen to 
music for the same reasons.  Much of the "fun" in reading comes from the 
TOTAL work, so it's hard to say "read for fun" when often the fun is in the 
catharsis or happy ending, but having characters you care about or a topic 
you feel something for....now that's reading.

I think we all feel so strongly about this because READING is a metaphor for 
life....You only get out of it what you put into it....

Bill