We agree on the importance of literacy....just not on the priorities. I think it boils down to readers' purposes for reading. Reading can enhance one's knowledge of any subject no matter what their interests. We just need to help make the kids aware of it. Playing baseball can improve your game, but reading about a professional baseball player who can give a few tips on improving your play can help also. But we also need to develop the critical thinking that goes with literacy. Just teaching them to be better readers and pass the test doesn't allow them the ability to discern between truth and lies....Literacy was high in Germany in the 1940's, but the people believed what Hitler wrote in Mein Kampf... Bill
----- Original Message ----- From: "Michele Polselli" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "'Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Listserv'" <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, September 10, 2006 9:28 PM Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] Question for the group > Lori I applaud you for bringing to light the fact that people use literacy > differently in their lives and all of them, all of them, are legitimate. My > husband also is mechanically inclined and can read directions for doing and > making just about anything. Most people would turn their eyes away from > this type of reading because there is much inferring that goes on as one > reads directions, and as educators we know inferring is a very difficult > skill to teach and develop. > > I spend oodles of hours reading on a computer, on the internet, through list > serves by reading real life responses to real life educational instructional > problems. I know many people feel spending as much time as I do on the > computer is a waste of time. (Many people comment and have told me I need > an intervention. hahahaha) I just laugh and explain that I love to read on a > computer because the overwhelming help of text features a computer offer > stimulates my motivation to read more. I know they would not think I needed > an intervention if I were reading a novel every evening or during the day at > work. I feel this is a common misconception even among adults. As > educators we need to foster reading and literacy in any way we can to our > students and the adults we meet. > > I so agree with you, we need to find things for our students to read, in > whatever form we can. We should present choices of literature in many forms > to build their interests in reading and to help them find forms they enjoy > reading. Our students will grow to have different jobs and interests and as > educators we should help them develop literacy skills in their lives through > many different mediums. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and helping me > solidify mine. > > Michele RI CIW > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Literacy Coordinator/Coach Grades 5-8 & Kindergarten Teacher > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Lori Labrum > Sent: Saturday, October 07, 2006 7:28 PM > To: Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Listserv > Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] Question for the group > > I agree with Renee. One thing I have been thinking the past few years is > why do we try to fit everyone into the same enjoyments? Some students are > not readers, some are not mathematicians, some are not musicians or artists. > I know reading is important and everyone uses it all the time, but my > husband is a wonderful person and I can't tell you the last time he sat down > and read a novel. He reads directions for hanging light fixtures, or > repairing toilets, or whatever. He is more mechanically minded and would > rather work with his hands. Not all people do everything, and they can > survive without reading and discussing a novel. It is my job as a teacher > to find what area a student excels in and help them gain skills in all > areas, not just push my love onto them. I have a masters degree in reading > and love to teach math and music. I am not critizing anyone for their zeal > of reading, I love to read as well. But it isn't the only thing in the > world. > Lori in Utah > > > _______________________________________________ > Mosaic mailing list > [email protected] > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. > > Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Mosaic mailing list > [email protected] > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. > > Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.12.12/461 - Release Date: 10/2/06 > > _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive.
