As I read chapter 5, I thought about the many different texts that could be used in a classroom. Because of new technology, the possibilities are truly endless. I thought back to my years as an elementary student. I can remember reading my textbook in all subjects, including reading. It wasn't until fourth grade that I had a reading teacher who had us read books, not just stories out of a reader. But, it wasn't until fifth grade that I had a social studies teacher who incorporated more than just a textbook into her class. We were constantly reading or being read narratives in her class. It really brought the subject area to life for us. But, today there are so many more texts that can be used in any subject area classroom.
There are several things to keep in mind about texts. I believe it is very important to know what reading level children are on. Therefore you must know what reading level the texts are on. But, I also believe that sometimes a simple text can prove to be difficult for a student if that student is not interested in the text. It is extremely important to know what each child likes to read. Allowing the child the opportunity to deal with these texts will increase a child's want to read.
There are so many new digital texts out there for teachers to use in a classroom. It is very important for a teacher to realize that not all students are proficient on the computer. Therefore the teacher must be sure to give very thorough instructions on how to complete the assignment. Even though we are in a technological world, I agree with Conley, in that we should still use many different texts in the classroom.
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Hi Kirsten, I agree with you on two points specifically. I had a similar experience in school; it wasn't until late before I had teachers that used texts other than the textbook. And most of those textbooks were so dry they'd put you to sleep. The way I was taught to learn science and math almost killed me growing up. You also bring up a good point about knowing what level students are on with their reading. Conley seems to caution us about getting trapped into the leveled readers, positioning them in part as marketing tools by publishers, a compelling argument I think. And you're right, we can move out of these ranges, from easier to more complex with children depending on the context and their willingness and motivation to learn. John
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with what you said regarding digital texts. Some children may not feel capable or able to work on a computer successfully. As teachers, we should make our students feel as comfortable as possible while in the classroom. Teachers should let their students know that it's ok to not know all there is to know regarding technology. Did that make any sense?? However, many children will probably know more than their teacher! Funny huh? I liked what you said about finding out what texts interests the students. That is sooooo true! If a student is interested in what he/she is reading, the more chances of classroom involvement,overall understanding and success. Your 5th grade Social Studies teacher sounded great! I wish mine would have been that way!
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