Thanks for keeping us moving, Jennifer. I am so far behind that I had to skip ahead, but I started Ch. 8 and am loving it. I've only read a few pages but find that Keene's observations fit perfectly with what I've been trying to achieve in my classroom. Several years ago, when everyone was busy having kids write 'response to literature,' I asked myself how I prefer to respond to literature. No thinking time required: I want to TALK ABOUT a good book--and I want to talk with someone who read the same book. My friend and I have worked (and continue to work) to help kids learn how to have (what we call) literary conversations. Imagine my joy when I saw the title of this chapter (written by my #1 favorite advisor)! Keene details her experience with art, describing her "longing to talk." That's how I feel when I read a great book. In fact, I just finished The Monsters of Templeton (excellent!) and can't wait for my husband to finish so we can TALK. Once my friend and I figured out how to give kids some tools to talk, to think, we knew we were still missing something. Finally, this year, we really taught Synthesis and showed kids how talking about our reading and really listening to others helps us form new thinking, or as Keene says, "when people engage in discourse, they are inventing new meaning, new interpretations that add a new layer to earlier ideas." Now we're really concentrating on helping kids talk AND understand how their thinking changes through talk.
I haven't made it to "Clara's lesson" yet, but I sure love reading Keene's learning through her experience with art. I am fascinated by the Matisse~Picasso relationship and the effect their discourse had on their thinking and ideas (thanks for including the art, Ms. Keene). Sorry this is so disjointed, but I love this chapter and had to respond. I await other responses...because, as Keene writes, "discourse leads to understanding." Judy (judy3ca) ----- Original Message ----- From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, July 14, 2008 5:49 PM Subject: [Understand] moving on... > It is time, past time actually, to move on to chapter eight: The Great > Conversations. > As some of us begin thinking about next fall, I think the charts: How to > Create a Classroom That Encourages Discourse and Talk about Thinking: > Guiding > Principles for Talking with Children have some thought provoking > ideas.What were > you all thinking about as you read this part? > > I would also love to hear comments regarding "Clara's lesson." > Jennifer > > > > **************Get the scoop on last night's hottest shows and the live > music > scene in your area - Check out TourTracker.com! > (http://www.tourtracker.com?NCID=aolmus00050000000112) > _______________________________________________ > Understand mailing list > [email protected] > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/listinfo/understand_literacyworkshop.org _______________________________________________ Understand mailing list [email protected] http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/listinfo/understand_literacyworkshop.org
