Reflection 2

^cheap attempt at posting earlier from my phone, because I didn't have wifi to transfer text from my laptop. baha! Text posted later below:

This week’s readings focused on how to teach reading.  Chapter 3 in Tovani entered the chapter by stating that our community does recognize the value in reading things other than literature as much as they should. In particular, she uses the skill of reading blue prints as an exmaple. Other reading skills include reading math problems or directions. The segment on reading directions also really stuck out to me. Being able to read directions well would help in almost every area of life! 

She used the ‘Di Tri Berrese’ exersize as something useful she uses to get teachers to recognize the process they use to read. When I first read it I thought it was kind of pointless because it’s a different process than you use to read most materials, but actually now that I’m writing this I see the point was more to show teachers that there is a process for reading all materials. They probably just don’t notice it anymore.

In Chapter 4 I was most interested in the Finn vs Huckleberry Finn comparison and I’m actually interested in reading it just to see how close they resemble each other. I loved the idea of using multitexts to bring the class focus to concepts rather than particular facts. Its a much more productive way to gain authentic knowledge for the students. Especially because it more closely resembles how we gain knowledge outside of school.

I can also tell in the Tovani text that the author really uses her own advice in writing a book that is easy and motivating to read. 

The Bakken & Whedon article was on how to teach reading expository texts, rather than narratives that most students grow up reading. I thought all the techniques were helpful for teachers but the biggest thing I took out of it was for my own kids.. I’m definitely inclined to expose them to more expository texts earlier. When they ask me a question, we can all go to the dictionary, or encylapedia, or whatever, to find the answer together than than looking it up myself and just sharing what I learned.

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and just a comment for my own sake on postings: I realized today 200-300 words is not very much and I did to waste them less on summaries and just jump into reflecting. We all read the readings, I don't need to summarize again. Right?