Shirley Zouboules
Wed, 25 Mar 2009 09:08:52 -0700
Hi Jan. As a mother of a teenager...who is an avid reader! I encourage you to also look into music. Lyrics. My daughter and I talked at length about what happens with teens while they read. She has often remarked to me that she wished teachers would just let a book be a book. As I explained why I was asking her how a book/story changed her, she said sometimes they are just books. I agree. When they are so impressionable, all books/texts are an experience. They may not have the words to say how they are changed, but she assures me, they are changed. I hugely agree. They begin to include the phrases from books, add the character names to their writing, drop off handed remarks while on the phone...it's very interesting. The point to having folks talk about the changes that occur for them, is the metacognitive piece. I suspect that kids of this time, are doing this so rapid fire, it becomes part of who they are. Of course, this is not true of all kids. I recognize that my daughter and her peers are aware of what is happening while they read. However, even a conversation with the kids that are not HUGE readers, will almost always, yield the same results. The kids who are not huge readers, will tell you parts of a book, when they are chatting blithely about what they did the night before - seeing a movie!!! The movie connection is powerful. I catch the kids discussing the similarities/differences/pros/cons/character development/real life scenarios/ of book vs. movie. This in turn, sparks a rush to the computer to check out the lyrics to the music used in the move. They can all relate to the music! There are major discussions about the characters through the lyrics. Or how the music impacted their understanding of the story. For some, it's just a great tune, with amazing lyrics. But, I really think they are experiencing the story through the music. And yes, it does change them. I work in a school that is very technologically inclined. The kids ALL access i-tunes to support or enhance their presentations for various subjects - primarily with music. There is always one kid who can waltz their way through i-tunes or youtube - start a conversation with that kid. Ask them what music they imagine would be playing during "The Nest" by Robert Zacks. My daughter tells me "World" by Five for Fighting would be playing when Jimmy realizes he is on the cusp of independence. I hope you can access this amazing part of our pre/teens. It's such an incredible time! We use books on i-tunes to support our kids who need some support, as well. All the best.
Shirley Literacy Coach K-Gr.6 Yellowknife, NWT "Special Chat List for \"To Understand: New Horizons in Reading Comprehension\"" <understand@literacyworkshop.org> writes: >You have a good memory, Jennifer. I teach middle school. I see the >wisdom in your comments. I'll ask about movies. I don't go out to >the movies, so I usually don't know what they're talking about, but >maybe that's better? >Jan > > > -------------- Original message from cnjpal...@aol.com: >-------------- > > >> >> Jan >> You teach adolescents, right? Maybe this is part of adolescent >rebellion...they are trying so hard to establish their identities and >perhaps >> that idea is >> threatening...like by giving them a book that changes them, we >are somehow >> not accepting who they are to start with? What would happen if >you asked how a >> movie changed them? Would they give the same response do you >think? I wonder >> what they think change is? Do you think they interpret change as >a >fundamental change in who they are as a person? instead of a change >in >> thinking? >> Jennifer >> > >> In a message dated 3/22/2009 2:57:27 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, > >> wr...@att.net writes: > >> > >> I know that I don't talk enough about how my reading has changed >me. I also > >> know that I get resentment from some very vocal students about >this. They > >> say, "I don't want a book to change me; I want a book just >to be a story." > >> I'd like to hear some ideas about why that is. It seems the >students want no > >> more than entertainment. Is that a correct interpretation about >their > >> feelings? Why are they so adamant about not wanting to change? > >> Jan > >> > >> > >> > >> **************Feeling the pinch at the grocery store? Make meals >for Under > >> $10. (http://food.aol.com/frugal-feasts?ncid=emlcntusfood00000002) > >> _______________________________________________ > >> Understand mailing list > >> Understand@literacyworkshop.org > >> >http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/listinfo/understand_literacyworkshop.org > > > >_______________________________________________ >Understand mailing list >Understand@literacyworkshop.org >http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/listinfo/understand_literacyworkshop.org > _______________________________________________ Understand mailing list Understand@literacyworkshop.org http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/listinfo/understand_literacyworkshop.org