[Understand] Chapter six?

[CNJPALMER]

Hello Understand list members! 
We have been pretty quiet since the holidays. I am going to try again to  
stimulate a little discussion. We didn't have much to say on Chapter five so  
feel free, if the urge hits you to go back to those pages and share your  
thoughts.
 
In the meantime, let's focus as a group on chapter six for the next two  
weeks. 
 
On page 136 Ellin writes:
" I began to wonder if the decline in that initial curiosity and energy for  
learning must be inevitable. I know that some students seem likely to lose 
their  interests and passions, but also that some never do. Why do these few 
retain the  freshness of desire to learn?"
 
What are you theories about this? Let's go one step further and apply it to  
teachers...why are there some of us that are eager to learn and improve and 
are  passionate about improving instruction while others are satisfied with the 
 
status quo?
 
A second question...
On page 149 Ellin argues for a more "moderate approach to book selection."  
She says she understands how students who consistently read things that are too 
 easy or too hard can lose interest in reading but also believes that 
readability  formulas are very limited in utility and do not account for 
student 
schema and  interest. What are your views on book selection and how do you 
handle 
this in  your classroom? What is your belief system and how do you use what 
you believe  to make decisions about what reading materials you use?
 
Choose either or both to respond to ....OR start your own thread.
Jennifer
 
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