This is an interesting question; I think it may have been discussed on the list awhile back. I have not read Atwell's book, but I remembered reading an article in Instructor that Atwell wrote after the book came out. Here's the link:
http://content.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=8132 There is also a book review that I found which confirmed what I expected after I read the Instructor article. Basically, Atwell is talking about the strategies getting in the way during fiction reading...reading for pleasure...and it seems to me that she means teachers who NEVER let their kids read for pleasure without a pack of sticky notes. Interestingly, at Steph Harvey's institute a couple of weeks ago she modeled just about everything with nonfiction, which I think Atwell would agree with. Harvey stressed nonfiction reading over and over again. Here is a the book review for others who haven't read Atwell: http://www.lib.msu.edu/corby/reviews/posted/atwell.htm As usual, it probably all comes down to balance. I've loved fiction for as long as I can remember...all the way back to Snow! by P.D. Eastman (I just wanted to jump into that book when I was 4) and C is for Cupcake! I never needed the strategies to propel me through fiction for pleasure, and it may have dampened my love if I was always expected to have some type of response or connection. On the other hand, inferring themes, recognizing symbolism...stuff like that later on...then some explicit instruction was helpful. Now for kids who NEVER enjoy fiction reading...I notice that they seem to begin to enjoy it more with a bit more strategy instruction...particularly monitoring and visualization lessons. I WISH I had had strategy instruction for nonfiction...would've made high school textbook reading much easier...or maybe less boring. Balance...balance...probably no need to think Atwell vs. Keene, Harvey etc. We already do enough of that in eduction. It would be interesting to hear more from list members who've read both. :o) Lisa 2/3 loop IL --- On Tue, 7/8/08, Mary Walter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > From: Mary Walter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: [MOSAIC] Reading Zone/MOT > To: [email protected] > Date: Tuesday, July 8, 2008, 1:34 PM > I am doing some reading this summer. I started with the > Reading Zone by Atwell. Her ideas really resonated with > me, I have been in the zone! Now I am rereading MOT. I am > surprised at the differences. Do the strategies really get > in the way of student entering the reading zone? > _________________________________________________________________ > Use video conversation to talk face-to-face with Windows > Live Messenger. > http://www.windowslive.com/messenger/connect_your_way.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_Refresh_messenger_video_072008 > _______________________________________________ > 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.
