Chapter 1 and 2:
As I was reading through the first two chapters, I found myself entertained. It was a very easy and simple reading about reading. In the first chapter, the second story about the students not reading the textbook was very familiar. As a student I have never been great on keeping up with the reading for my classes. Some nights it would take me over an hour to read one page because I cannot stay forced. The second chapter helped me to understand why it always seemed hard to read the textbooks. The problem is the reading of the textbook is a comfort zone and familiar to almost everyone. Which means even with the knowledge of what they went through as a student; many teachers still assign reading after reading from the textbook.
As I was reading through the first two chapters, I found myself entertained. It was a very easy and simple reading about reading. In the first chapter, the second story about the students not reading the textbook was very familiar. As a student I have never been great on keeping up with the reading for my classes. Some nights it would take me over an hour to read one page because I cannot stay forced. The second chapter helped me to understand why it always seemed hard to read the textbooks. The problem is the reading of the textbook is a comfort zone and familiar to almost everyone. Which means even with the knowledge of what they went through as a student; many teachers still assign reading after reading from the textbook.
Another aspect of the reading that stuck out to me was the
tools for reading that I unconsciously do while reading. Different techniques
to understand what is in front of me. In the case of the Columbus reading it
was not as difficult as the cricket because even without the background
something clicked in my head. The cricket passage that we read first was almost
impossible to understand the first time. These chapters reminded me that as a
teacher I must not forget what it is like to be a student.
I think the point you make that we "must never forget what it is like to be a student" is super important! There's the motto! For me textbooks was a comfort zone, even as a student. I knew that I had to read the chapter and answer the questions and it was literally a routine that involved barely any thought. I fell into a pattern of skimming and would often start with the questions, find the answers and only read what I needed to read. Then my teachers would give us notes the next day, so the reading was really supplementary. Why are teachers caught in this cycle? Textbooks aren't fun for anyone to read and there really is no learning happening!
ReplyDeleteI also like this textbook! When I am reading textbooks I also find myself dozing off or thinking about something else and by the end of the page I realize I just looked at words and did not retain any information. This is very time consuming. When reading this textbook I did find myself doing that. I read and was engaged the whole time. It also did not take a very long time to read. I think it is very important for a teacher to try to find engaging texts for students to read. If it is required for the student to read a specific textbook that a teacher does not think is the best I think it will be a good idea for the teacher to assign readings that are shorter and to make sure the student has sufficient background knowledge. I also think that sometimes articles can provide the same information and may be written in a way in which the students will understand the material better. If you want the students to understand the material then the readings have to be appropriate for them.
ReplyDeleteThe point you make about textbooks being comfort zones for teachers is very true and has such large implications! As Daniels reminds us, most teachers have largely experienced success in their K-12 education. I think many of us in 407, and future teachers in general, were educated in traditional classrooms. By this I mean heavy on lectures, rows facing forward, heavily weighted mid terms, and little differentiated instruction. This kind of classroom can feel like a comfort zone to us, but we must resist the urge to snap back into it. These classrooms do not serve everyone.
ReplyDeleteIt seems to be a struggle for a lot of people to design a class that incorporates a variety of readings. Textbooks are easy. The information is there, some help you lesson plan, and they provide easy ways to get grades and assess the class. Great teachers find things to make the information from the textbooks better. Textbooks can give great information, but what we give in additional readings and discussion can bring the class to a much higher level of Bloom's Taxonomy.
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