I've waited a long time to respond to this post because I've been mulling. My first instinct was to lash out with the wisdom of strategy instruction, but I decided to hold my tongue and consider.
But thinking hasn't changed my mind. I still believe strategy instruction is a brilliant way to teach reading. When you say reading strategies are aimed at struggling readers, I cringe. I firmly believe that I am teaching ALL readers to deepen and appreciate their reading through strategy instruction and I am giving them the gift of a common language for discussion. Here's a story. I moved from 3rd grade to 5th grade this year. A few weeks ago our Lit Coach came for a surprise visit to observe reading. She later told me she was "shocked at first" to see that we were studying Schema and Connections in 5th grade; she thought they would be well past that. Then she took in the lesson, the depth of their understanding and discussion, and she was amazed by their engagement and insight. When you say that you think reading strategies are intuited and internalized, you may be correct. However, how far superior to learn strategies as youths and build as we delve! Like you, I am an avid reader. But I know I am a better reader now that I consider strategies. Sure, I could connect text, but I did not do everything Keene suggests in "key ideas." For example, how wonderful to help your kids to this key idea BEFORE they magically intuit and internalize: "Proficient readers adapt their schema as they read, converse with others--they delete inaccurate information (naive conceptions), add to existing schema, and connect chunks of knowledge to other related knowledge, opinions, and ideas." I broke this down into several lessons, but you should know that it is a key idea I come back to all year. This is, of course, just my opinion. But I wholeheartedly believe that strategy instruction is the best gift I can give my readers. Judy P.S. I agree with you about math manipulatives; they need a great deal of consideration and research. At 12:41 PM -0500 11/8/09, Stewart, L wrote: >I love teaching, but lately I have been questioning the way I teach, >particularly reading. I am an avid reader. Reading is an integral >part of my adult life. I was never taught any reading strategies. >I have children in my classroom who love to read and read way above >grade level. I feel that they, like me, have already internalized >the strategies and yes they can be strengthened but probably that >will happen naturally as well. The more they read, the stronger >they will become. It seems that we are prescribing medication >whether the child is ill or not. It's like using manipulatives in >math. Our new math program requires the use of manipulatives all >the time. It used to be that you used maniuplatives when you >differentiated for the child who was having difficulty with a >concept. It seems like we are heading back to a one-size-fits-all >mentality which scares me. I sometimes think the reading strategies >were meant for educators so that we could become better teachers of >reading, particularly for our struggling readers, and I think we >have taken it too far and use it in all cases. When I look at the >current guided reading models it is so prescribed: everyone is in a >quick guided group with the teacher drilling a skill or they are >reading independently. I am having a difficult time seeing the joy >in that model. Where do the rich conversations that connect >children to each other and to literature take place in this current >model? Was the model intended for accomplished readers? > >Leslie R. Stewart >Grade 3 Teacher >[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> >203-481-5386, 203-483-0749 FAX > >To feel most beautifully alive means to be reading something >beautiful, ready always to apprehend in the flow of language the >sudden flash of poetry. ~ Gaston Bachelard ~ > > ><http://thinkexist.com/birthday/september_24/> >_______________________________________________ >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. _______________________________________________ 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.
