Kendall- Children's Lit. 2017 discussion

What are the key ideas you would like to remember for your own students/patrons?

The educational model has become so narrow and confined to teaching to the test. As a result, students are losing the value of reading. We like to force our students to read, when in fact, learning is a natural thing. Although students need guidance, through our current systematic approach to learning, we forget that students will want to learn given the right opportunity. Teachers need to be more child-centered and better listeners to what our students need. Our job is to instill a passion for reading opposed to focusing on our own agenda. A way of encouraging this is giving choice back to our students. Allowing them to choose their own books gives them back their power and allows them accountability towards their education.

A key idea I would like to remember for my own students is to let them select their own books to read. I remember in high school I always had to choose books from a certain list to read and I never enjoyed them. This made me want to stop reading for awhile. I want to let my students have the freedom to choose their own books. It will give them the motivation to keep reading and give them the self-confidence they need to succeed. I think so many teachers are focused on teaching to the test and they forget about what the students actually need, which is instruction. By the end of every year, I want my students to want to read instead of feeling like they have to.

I would like to remember the author's "No excuses" approach to reading, and apply it to any subject. She states that yes, her students all have varying levels of readiness and interest in reading, however they are all readers nonetheless. Very often students who don't easily grasp onto a certain subject are labeled and treated as 'not as good' as their peers. The feeling of being less superior often discourages students, and they may cling onto this label throughout their schooling. I want my students to understand that there are ways to excel in any subject, and that they may just need different approaches instead of just being 'not good' at it.

From this passage, I would like to remember to consider all students as readers, and not to categorize them as "readers" and "non-readers." I want to remember that students just need the right conditions to become enthusiastic readers. As Miller suggests, I want to remind those who do not currently enjoy reading that reading is not some talent that they do not have, but rather an attainable skill. I want to allow students the freedom to discover that reading is enjoyable by supporting and encouraging their reading interests rather than forcing them to conform to classroom reading goals/instructions.

There are several key ideas that I believe every reader should take away from this article. Personally, I think that it is important for me to remember the very first points that were made in this article regarding setting the tone of my classroom. As a future teacher, this is something that I have often pondered. I think to myself, "What if I make a bad first impression?" or, "How do I ensure that I start my teaching career off properly?" Well, the author of this article mentions that giving students choice and believing in them are key ingredients to generating a classroom of motivated and empowered students... which is something every teacher strives for.

Another major take away that I have from this article is that getting to know your students can be one of the biggest success determining factors in a classroom. After learning about the different types of readers, I now understand some of the primary reasons behind the lack of success that some students face when it comes to reading -- much of which is caused simply by lack of practice! This article proved time and time again that in order for students to be "good readers" they must be given the time and freedom to simply just sit down and read a book of their choice.

Finally, I saw the conditions of learning as somewhat of a "soup for success" for lack of a better term. The key points that the author learned in her first few years of teaching all fall under at least one of the conditions of learning. I would say that overall, it is important for me to remember that I am not teaching students just so that they can pass my tests. I am teaching students to help them grow in their learning and develop excitement for the content that is taught. As a teacher, I need to find out what they love, discover what excites them, and only then will I truly know how to spark their interest whether it be in a good book, or through a future lesson plan.

There are many key ideas that I would like to remember from this reading, that I will try to apply as a future educator. Reading is an important action that many students need to do. Reading allows students to grow in writing through attaining better vocabulary knowledge. One thing that stood out and that I would like to do as a future educator is allow my students to choose any books that catches their attention. That I will not choose their books for them and I will not assign projects for the books they decide to read. I would like for them to read for pleasure. As the author described in the reading “Providing students with the opportunity to choose their own books to read empowers and encourages them.” This way my future students will be enthusiastic about reading all sorts of books. If students are given assigned books, then they are unmotivated to continue reading. I want my students to be motivated when it comes to reading.
I would also like to remember that all my future students will be readers and that I shall see them as readers. They may all read at different levels, nonetheless, they are all readers. I need to believe that my students are readers, or will be readers so that they will also believe in themselves (p 23). I will carry that phrase with me and will stick by it every step of the way.

After reading this article there are several ideas I want to take away from it. First, is to set the tone for reading when the children walk in. I love the idea of having a "book frenzy" in my classroom. I want children to feel like they can pick their own books and whatever they choose will help them and their reading ability. I don't ever want my students to feel like they can't enjoy reading or for me to set a certain number of books that each child has to read. I feel that each child is at a different level and as long as they are reading, that is all I can ask. I also want my students to realize they are not going to be the best at everything in life and need to find something they are good at and continue to strive to be the best they can be.

There are several key ideas that I would like to implement within my future classroom. First, I would make sure my students know that they are encouraged to read anything they want. I think this is important because I love to read, but in high school it became boring to me because I was forced to read books I wasn't interested in. I also love her system of identifying readers with positive labels because every student is a reader, they just need help finding it sometimes. Lastly, I admire the way she chooses to get to know her students. The interest surveys are like the base of a foundation of trust. She uses the surveys to handpick books for each individual student, and if the student enjoys the book, they now have trust in their teacher and create a bond that will flourish with each future book suggestion.

There were a couple key ideas from this article that I would love to incorporate into my future classroom. One thing that I loved about this teacher is that on the first day of school they had a big check out day where the students could check out whatever books they wanted to, I think this really puts students in the mood to read. In my future classroom, I plan to have a "library" section with bookshelves full of books, a shaggy carpet on the floor, and some bean bags so my students could relax, be comfortable, and enjoy whatever book they would like to read. Another key idea that I took from this passage is that students should be allowed to read their own books in the classroom, not everyone has the same taste in books so why should we force students to read something against their will? Reading is something that all students should enjoy doing, it shouldn't be a chore for them.

As I was reading this exert I came to find some similarities to the approach my elementary school had to reading and the archaic ideas the author was trying to avoid in her classroom. I even made a personal connection to the underground reader Randy. Growing up I myself was placed in a remedial course only to be pushed in to the Discovery (exceptional readers) program a few weeks later. This reading has struck a chord with me as I would like to develop a classroom that not only encourages reading but creates a thirst for it in my students.

A key idea I will be taking for myself from this article is the idea of letting students find passion for reading with their interests. Students succeed in the classroom when they can easily relate and connect with materials. If they feel enjoyment, the different materials they are able to retain is amazing. When it comes to books, I think having more independent learning is extremely helpful because they are reading what interests them. In the meantime, they are only helping themselves grow into stronger readers simply by continually reading out of joy. Like the article said, everyone is a reader. We just have to help our students find it inside of them and bring the reader to the front and build off of that.

I think some key ideas that I will try to take from this article for my classroom, would be the ability to let the children choose what books they want to or feel comfortable reading. I would try to provide a wide range of books of various genres so each kid would be happy with the choices presented to them. If there was a book that they liked better at home that was around the same level of reading expertise as the books I had provided, then I would let them read that instead.
I believe that by letting kids have some choices while also having direction on what to read will greatly enhance their want for reading. If a child is told which book needs to be read by which time, they may not have the drive to read it. If they do not enjoy the book, the drive is much lower.
I think reading in school and instilling the want to read on your own at an early age will greatly help that student as they age. By having some choices and not feeling so forced to read, it will allow for children to choose books they want to read. So for readers who may not be the best at reading and don't like it for that matter, will have some area to grow in it.

A major key concept that I have taken from Miller's article and will apply in the future is to encourage students to pick out their own books. Having students select the books that interest them and allowing them to set their own standard for exploring texts will promote life long reading practices. It will also set up an environment where the students will feel less like they are failing. If a certain book doesn't interest them, or if they are struggling significantly, they will have the opportunity to try again. This concept shows that students are trying and are motivated to do better. Also, expressing my own interests in reading and being a positive example for students will also help promote an advanced reading lifestyle.

I believe it is important to understand the concept that there are a variety of readers and a huge variety of reading aims. It's so important to be accepting of this notion. Reading is more than just being tested over comprehension. Reading is more than just the feeling of enjoyment. I believe reading is a whole world in and of itself in which everyone can find their own place to call home. For example, those who are struggling can still associate themselves as readers because they might be able to find something intriguing about what they read. Likewise, dormant readers could call themselves readers because even if they haven't yet found personal enjoyment, they are able to successfully comprehend the text.

There were a few key ideas I would use in my future classroom. I think the most important is to get to know your students, not only as readers but just get to know them in general. Building relationships to me is very important for many reason. Another key idea I would like to remember is to let my students choose thier own books. I remember being in school and having a teacher choose a book for me which caused me not to want to read the book because I was not intersted in it. I also liked the authors "no excuse" stand point when it came to reading, all students are readers no matter thier skill level and educators we cannot look past that.

There were a lot of interesting points made throughout this article, and I hope I will be able to remember to incorporate some of these things in my future classroom. I would love to have my own personal library in my classroom, and allow my students to check them out just like Miller did with her students. I think it would be really fun to have a variety of genres that my students could pick from. Allowing kids to pick their own books about things they like (like how Miller talked about a student who liked horses, so she chose books related to them) they become excited to read. I think that, if we are focusing on teaching our students to become better readers, it is so much better to allow students to read books that actually interest them.

I remember when I was in fifth grade, we had to pick our favorite chapter book and read one chapter of it for a reading proficiency test. All we had to do was read a chapter of any book that we wanted. I was so confident reading for my teacher. In fact, I still remember the book that I chose to read from: "Junie B. Jones, First Grader At Last". I loved the Junie B. Jones series,and for the longest time, those were the only books that I ever read.

Some key ideas I would like to remember for my classroom include being a good reader myself, getting kids excited about reading and working to meet individual needs. I think it would be awesome to be able to make recommendations of certain books to certain students, but that might involve brushing up on books at their reading level and/or just remembering to read myself. It's so much easier to pull up something on Netflix, but it is probably more satisfying to read and finish a good book. Miller got her class excited to read by being passionate herself; she had tons of books just in her own classroom. I think it would also help to take the kids to the library and have them pick out books. I also loved the surveys she had her kids fill out which helped her pick out individual books for them, but also learn a little about their personalities. I think any teacher could benefit from beginning of the year surveys.

A key idea that I would like to remember for my own students is to let them tell me what they need instead of just assuming. For example, even though Randy was an underground reader he still failed the class. Perhaps if more attention was put to his needs he could have done a better job. Another key idea is to give students freedom to choose their own books. If I were forced to read a book I would probably just do it because I was being told I needed as opposed to if I could choose I book that I was confident that I was going to like. Just believing that the students can do anything they set their mind to is just as important.

The key ideas that I am taking away from this article to hopefully use in my classroom are the ideas that the children should decide what books they want to read and to have different types of teaching methods so everyone has an equal opportunity to learn. Many children don't get to pick the books they're interested in which results in children not liking to read. Another key idea that stuck with me is you will have a range of students with different reading skills and different needs that will need to be addressed. Giving that specific one-on-one time will greatly improve the skills of those struggling readers. I think it is extremely important to be on the same page with your students. Always ask if everyone is understanding what they are doing and if they need help. Children won't ask for help unless you offer it.

There were many different key ideas in this article. One that I would really like to remember for my own students is to let my students decide what type of books they want to read based off of their interests. I think if I allow this then their passion for reading will only grow. Hopefully in my own classroom I will have a big enough selection of books for my students to choose from with varying genres. Letting the students pick their own books will definitely increase their want to read by themselves and keep reading by themselves as they get older. This goes along with having an encouraging reading environment in the classroom. Another key idea is to realize that reading can be so much more than tests and terms, it can be for fun. It is still important for children to understand and comprehend what they are reading but I want my students to enjoy it as well.

One key idea I want to remember for my classroom is to keep the kids excited about reading. I might let them decide what kind of boom they would want to read. I think letting them have some say will keep them engaged and excited to read. I want there to be a designated spot in the room that has bean bag chairs or a pillow pit where the kids can sit and read when it's free time. I had a teacher who had a claw foot tub filled with pillows for us to lay in while we read. Another idea I want to have is one on one time with those student who need extra help. I want them to be confident in their reading and have the right skills to be able to challenge themselves outside of the room.

One of the main things for me is having a big library open in the room. Most schools have a true library but it helps to have books in the classroom. When I worked in Kindergarten we had a big 9 cubby unit and we rotated the books to stay with what we where learning about and the seasons and holidays. We had 2 big under cabinets full of baskets with books we could pick from it was great and the kids truly enjoyed it. In my sons first grade classroom they have all their books visible for the children in baskets allover the floor and pillows to encourage children who have finished their work to go grab a book and read. That is something I love and that is what Mrs Miller in the book has all books out in the open. Books hidden don't encourage to grab them. When I am a teacher I would like to encourage the read a certain number of book rule without it becoming a task but true enjoyment.
My classroom should produce children with a confidence, and love for books that gives them so many new skills for the future that other kids are jealous.

Conditions that influence a motivational learning environment, as well as, the belief that every child is a reader, are the key ideas I would like to remember for my own students/patrons. In the competitive standardized-test environment that teachers find themselves in it is too common that teachers focus more on how well students match up academically rather than whether or not students are engaging in an environment that promotes growth for the individual. Instead of making sure my students merely pass my class and their state assessments, I want to make sure each of my students take away something from my class that meets their own needs as an individual. The conditions Donanlyn Miller lists (Immersion, Demonstrations, Expectations, Responsibility, Employment, Approximations, Response, and Engagement) are factors that I believe can create a positive environment that can meet a student's needs regardless of their reading type or ability. I also want to remember the belief that every child is a reader. I believe the messages teachers explicitly and implicitly send to their students greatly affect the way in which students see themselves and the level of their abilities. I think it is important that teachers instill a belief in their students, that they are worth being taught, and that reading is a skill worth learning. Students need to be able to form a confidence in themselves and in their abilities to thrive, so I need to be a source of encouragement. I thoroughly enjoyed this article and plan to implement some of the strategies mentioned in this article in my future classrooms.

I really liked the idea of having the students check out books on the first day. I think that it is a great way to get kids interested in reading right off the bat. I also like the idea of letting students choose what books they want to read. So often, we tell students what books they are going to read, or maybe we give them a list with a few options of books to read from. I always loved reading but I struggled to read the books that were assigned in class. There were very few assigned books that truly interested me and I very rarely finished any of the books.
Getting a deeper look at the different types of readers was also really great. I never really thought about how readers who are struggling often get all the time and attention of the teacher. There are readers that aren’t struggling but that still need attention and encouragement and they don’t get that because all of the time and energy of the teacher is focused to the readers who are struggling. I want to make sure that all my students get the encouragement that they need.