reading was intro
Gary m and Mary Anne Taylor
Here's what Frank Smith (spoke at the Sac HS conference 2002) says about reading in 'The Book of Learning and Forgetting':
"Learners must see themselves as members of the clubs of readers and writers.....Where there is print in the home, the evidence is that children know what it is for, and they participate in making use of it, learning from the company they keep."
He talks about how all children consider themselves members of some kind of literacy club, but often learn there that they are not members of the club when they arrive at school.
Hope I put that in a way that makes sense; it seemed to me to relate to several things you guys were saying about reading.
Mary T.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
"Learners must see themselves as members of the clubs of readers and writers.....Where there is print in the home, the evidence is that children know what it is for, and they participate in making use of it, learning from the company they keep."
He talks about how all children consider themselves members of some kind of literacy club, but often learn there that they are not members of the club when they arrive at school.
Hope I put that in a way that makes sense; it seemed to me to relate to several things you guys were saying about reading.
Mary T.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Barbara Chase
>in 'The Book of Learning and Forgetting':<snip>
>"Learners must see themselves as members of the clubs of readers and
>writers.....Where there is print in the home, the evidence is that
>children know what it is for, and they participate in making use of it,
>learning from the company they keep."
>but often learn there that they are not members of the club when theyThis wasn't my personal experience, however I agree with you. The very
>arrive at school.
first words I spoke to my 1st grade teacher when my mother introduced me
were not "hello" or even a shy "hi", but "I'm never going to learn to
read." And I came from a very literate family, with books everywhere and
people reading them. My 2nd grade year was hell; we were required to read
out loud. Evidentially I was sick with really bad strep-throat all year.
My Mom couldn't figure out why it kept coming back!
I think it's really important to feel like a member of the club, though.
Clearly I didn't - even without the "help" of school, however school really
cemented my opinion about reading. I didn't become free from this handicap
until I was 35. I really always wanted to enjoy reading, and I'm so
grateful that it finally happened for me.
Tia's suggestion about pointing out that a kid really *is* a member of the
club, and that there are no outrageous requirements to get in (or stay in)
has been so helpful for me.
Thanks
--bc--
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]