I've read Alfie Kohn's essay on AR, and I love it! I like most of what he has to say, although I must say sometimes he comes off very critical of teachers. Our staff had to read The School Our Children Deserve last summer, and it wasn't recieved very well. (Probably because we felt we have worked so hard to not be the kind of teachers he describes.) Some of the teachers were dissappointed that he had no practical suggestions for overcoming the problems he identified. Many teachers felt like he was being very theoretical and hadn't spent any time in a classroom. I'm not going to concern myself with AR, although I do think the research about it is interesting. I need to concern myself with designing my reading workshop next year to accomodate students who are reading between K and 6th grade levels. I have to concern myself with selecting books for Lit Circles that fit into our thematic units, and can be used as springboards for projects. I have to concern myself with finding authentic assessments that will help guide their learning.
elaine garan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Thanks for responding. If it's ok with you, I'll send this on to my student who did the research. She didn't report this particular type of cheating. I can't wait until she rewrites and publishes it because there is virtually no real research on it. If you want some sound theoretical background google Linda Labbo. She did a study on AR that's very comprehensive. Aflie Kohn has also addressed issues with AR. I have a whole section in my book on it. On Tuesday, June 26, 2007, at 10:57 PM, Joy wrote: > Elaine, > Your comments on AR struck a chord with me. My own children were > subjected to AR when they were in school. I've told their stories > several times over the years, but recently I had a new discussion with > them about their experiences. > > You talked about cheating, and according to my kids, it was and is > rampant. My son (now almost 22) told me one student would read the > book and take the test and pass the questions on to his/her buddies. > Each one would "risk" failing one book so the others could pass. They > created a very systematic model for cheating, and if the teachers ever > caught on, they did nothing about it! The only thing I knew at the > time was how much my kids hated reading, and I figured anything that > would make that happen couldn't be good. It was one of the things that > influenced my decision to go back to school and become a teacher. > > I am happy to say that I teach at a school where AR is a dirty word, > and I pray every day that it stays that way. > > Thanks for your dedication and continued interest in our group. > > > > > > > Joy/NC/4 > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > How children learn is as important as what they learn: process and > content go hand in hand. http://www.responsiveclassroom.org > > > > > > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > Park yourself in front of a world of choices in alternative vehicles. > Visit the Yahoo! Auto Green Center. > _______________________________________________ > 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. Joy/NC/4 [EMAIL PROTECTED] How children learn is as important as what they learn: process and content go hand in hand. http://www.responsiveclassroom.org --------------------------------- Need a vacation? Get great deals to amazing places on Yahoo! Travel. _______________________________________________ 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.
