Sunday, August 30, 2009
Saturday, August 29, 2009
I love to read. Surprise! I have always loved to read. I was the kid who checked ten books out of the library and read them all in a week. I also understand that a lot of kids I encounter at the library do not love to read and are asking me for "at least 100 pages, realistic fiction" because they are being forced to do a book report. Anyway, blah blah, reader's advisory.
What I really wanted to rant about was Reading Rainbow. I got myself all into a huff about it yesterday and had cooked up a good blog rant, but of course found my huff to have dissipated somewhat by today. I'll try to still bring out my best huffy nature, though. As my friends, family, and co-workers know, it is not that hard for me. So basically, I had heard that Reading Rainbow would no longer be producing new shows. I was nostalgically sad about it, but sort of figured this was just the way things were.
But THEN I heard a piece on NPR about it yesterday that turned sad into mad. What it said was the show wasn't being renewed because absolutely no one would pony up the several hundred thousand dollar renewal cost. And why? Well, partly it's tough times. But the main reason is because the new emphasis on "teaching reading" on television is to teach basics like phonics. Don't get me started on the idea that you can learn reading by watching television. We will "bracket that question" as one professor used to always say in class.
So because Reading Rainbow is a show about the love of reading, the magic of reading, the entire point of reading, it goes bye bye. It is not a show about drilling. It is not a show about making reading the most boring venture possible.
I'm not sure that very many people demonstrate the joy of reading anymore. Clearly public television no longer believes in it. Based on what I overhear, many parents take the drilling approach. And from what I can tell, teachers can kill even an enthusiastic child's love of reading.**
Evidence point number one: this week a kid came in and told me that his teacher said the only way they could get an A on their book report was to read a 400 page book. He was in 6th grade. A 200 page book? Only rated a B. The worst part was that this was a kid who actually liked to read, but most really long books for kids are fantasy and he wasn't a fantasy guy. So of course, this was taking something he enjoyed and turning it into an arduous chore.
Evidence point number two: Accelerated Reader. I kind of understand how asking kids to read and then making them take quizzes on the book sounded like a good idea at the time. Basically it saves teachers a lot of time, because you don't have to do anything difficult to see if the child actually read and "understood" the book. And I like that the kids can pick from a very extensive list of books in a wide variety of genres. But what I always hear is "I have to read a blah blah level book" or "I need blah blah number of points." So once again, we have turned reading into a chore.
Just to clarify, I do know that teachers are under pressure because of testing and NCLB to emphasize skills. So I am happy to also blame the powers that be for killing the love of reading.
Anyway, of course now I am despairing for the world and feeling like no one cares about reading anymore--oh sure, they care about learning to read, but what is the motivation for a child to do that when the end goal is presented as a chore, something boring to do for school, with no inherent value?
Looks like I was well about to cook up my rant, huh?
**Okay, there are a few teachers out there who do encourage the love of reading in their students. They are rare.
What I really wanted to rant about was Reading Rainbow. I got myself all into a huff about it yesterday and had cooked up a good blog rant, but of course found my huff to have dissipated somewhat by today. I'll try to still bring out my best huffy nature, though. As my friends, family, and co-workers know, it is not that hard for me. So basically, I had heard that Reading Rainbow would no longer be producing new shows. I was nostalgically sad about it, but sort of figured this was just the way things were.
But THEN I heard a piece on NPR about it yesterday that turned sad into mad. What it said was the show wasn't being renewed because absolutely no one would pony up the several hundred thousand dollar renewal cost. And why? Well, partly it's tough times. But the main reason is because the new emphasis on "teaching reading" on television is to teach basics like phonics. Don't get me started on the idea that you can learn reading by watching television. We will "bracket that question" as one professor used to always say in class.
So because Reading Rainbow is a show about the love of reading, the magic of reading, the entire point of reading, it goes bye bye. It is not a show about drilling. It is not a show about making reading the most boring venture possible.
I'm not sure that very many people demonstrate the joy of reading anymore. Clearly public television no longer believes in it. Based on what I overhear, many parents take the drilling approach. And from what I can tell, teachers can kill even an enthusiastic child's love of reading.**
Evidence point number one: this week a kid came in and told me that his teacher said the only way they could get an A on their book report was to read a 400 page book. He was in 6th grade. A 200 page book? Only rated a B. The worst part was that this was a kid who actually liked to read, but most really long books for kids are fantasy and he wasn't a fantasy guy. So of course, this was taking something he enjoyed and turning it into an arduous chore.
Evidence point number two: Accelerated Reader. I kind of understand how asking kids to read and then making them take quizzes on the book sounded like a good idea at the time. Basically it saves teachers a lot of time, because you don't have to do anything difficult to see if the child actually read and "understood" the book. And I like that the kids can pick from a very extensive list of books in a wide variety of genres. But what I always hear is "I have to read a blah blah level book" or "I need blah blah number of points." So once again, we have turned reading into a chore.
Just to clarify, I do know that teachers are under pressure because of testing and NCLB to emphasize skills. So I am happy to also blame the powers that be for killing the love of reading.
Anyway, of course now I am despairing for the world and feeling like no one cares about reading anymore--oh sure, they care about learning to read, but what is the motivation for a child to do that when the end goal is presented as a chore, something boring to do for school, with no inherent value?
Looks like I was well about to cook up my rant, huh?
**Okay, there are a few teachers out there who do encourage the love of reading in their students. They are rare.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
by popular demand
Okay, I think a picture of jeans would be kind of boring, but the shoes are mildly exciting for a librarian.
And sunglasses.
And the giant bag.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
back again
I have been severely chastised by several people for not updating my blog. Apparently that is the only way to get me to update here, as can be seen from practically every other blog entry of mine.
Hmmm, what have I been doing since May? Tearing my hair out because of the Summer Reading Program, for one. Between the weekly back to back performers, the craft programs, the weekly activity sheets (with prizes awarded), the summer reading game, and the general heightened activity level of the library, it was busy busy. At least I can say that my job is never boring. And it is over now!
Ohh, I know what else happened way back in June. A baby and her mom came to visit me! Even though I still had to go to work, it was so fun to leave and come back to such sweet company.
I've been quite a shopper recently. I did the Nordstrom anniversary sale not once, but twice. Got a new pair of jeans, sunglasses, and new shoes. The shoes are purple flats, and they are not loafers, unlike every other pair of shoes I wear to work. Very radical of me. All Lauren's hard work getting me to be more interested in buying things to replace the old holey crap in my wardrobe has finally paid off!
I also bought a new purse. I was determined to replace the old purse with the exact same kind. They don't really sell this purse that many places in the US, so I just bought it online. The company is French, so almost all my correspondence from them was in French, including my confirmation email. When I got said email, I realized I was an idiot and had entered my address wrong: no zip code, and California was listed twice. In my defense, their form tricked me into doing this. But anyway, I was freaking out because they were shipping it internationally and if it was returned because of a bad address, I would be paying big time. So I emailed the contact email, in French, with my correct address. And they fixed it! See, French people are not as mean as everyone thinks. And I still knew some French! And I received my package just a few days later! The miracles of the modern age.
Of course, I also had been an idiot and not measured my old purse, figuring the the one I ordered, their "most popular" option, was the same one. Not true. It was practically twice as large. This has worked out ok, though, as I am no longer carrying my embarrassing free giveaway anime tote bag to work. I can fit everything I need in my new giant purse!September is going to be another busy month, so it is a good thing I have such a spacious container for all my crap.
If my friends keep harassing me about this blog, I just might post again in the near future, and won't you all be so lucky to read about my exciting life. I'm sure you can't wait.
Hmmm, what have I been doing since May? Tearing my hair out because of the Summer Reading Program, for one. Between the weekly back to back performers, the craft programs, the weekly activity sheets (with prizes awarded), the summer reading game, and the general heightened activity level of the library, it was busy busy. At least I can say that my job is never boring. And it is over now!
Ohh, I know what else happened way back in June. A baby and her mom came to visit me! Even though I still had to go to work, it was so fun to leave and come back to such sweet company.
I've been quite a shopper recently. I did the Nordstrom anniversary sale not once, but twice. Got a new pair of jeans, sunglasses, and new shoes. The shoes are purple flats, and they are not loafers, unlike every other pair of shoes I wear to work. Very radical of me. All Lauren's hard work getting me to be more interested in buying things to replace the old holey crap in my wardrobe has finally paid off!
I also bought a new purse. I was determined to replace the old purse with the exact same kind. They don't really sell this purse that many places in the US, so I just bought it online. The company is French, so almost all my correspondence from them was in French, including my confirmation email. When I got said email, I realized I was an idiot and had entered my address wrong: no zip code, and California was listed twice. In my defense, their form tricked me into doing this. But anyway, I was freaking out because they were shipping it internationally and if it was returned because of a bad address, I would be paying big time. So I emailed the contact email, in French, with my correct address. And they fixed it! See, French people are not as mean as everyone thinks. And I still knew some French! And I received my package just a few days later! The miracles of the modern age.
Of course, I also had been an idiot and not measured my old purse, figuring the the one I ordered, their "most popular" option, was the same one. Not true. It was practically twice as large. This has worked out ok, though, as I am no longer carrying my embarrassing free giveaway anime tote bag to work. I can fit everything I need in my new giant purse!September is going to be another busy month, so it is a good thing I have such a spacious container for all my crap.
If my friends keep harassing me about this blog, I just might post again in the near future, and won't you all be so lucky to read about my exciting life. I'm sure you can't wait.
Saturday, May 02, 2009
coloring sheets/what is wrong with the world
On one very popular listserv for youth services librarians someone posted asking if other libraries put out crayons and coloring sheets for kids. This is apparently a hot topic. A shocking number of libraries keep boxes of crayons at the reference desk and make kids come up to ask for them. An even shockingly larger number (ie, everyone who has responded to the whole listserv) put out coloring sheets.
This is what we do: put out boxes of crayons, put out paper. Let kids draw whatever the heck they want.
Some of the librarians were going so far as to create their own coloring sheets using clipart, apparently spending large portions of their day printing them out.
Don't get me wrong, I loved coloring sheets when I was a kid and I still think they're fun. But they do not encourage creativity at a time when the ways in which children are allowed to be creative are already so limited.
Plus I just can't get over the fact that these librarians have the time to print out hundreds of coloring sheets or distribute crayons at the reference desk!
This is what we do: put out boxes of crayons, put out paper. Let kids draw whatever the heck they want.
Some of the librarians were going so far as to create their own coloring sheets using clipart, apparently spending large portions of their day printing them out.
Don't get me wrong, I loved coloring sheets when I was a kid and I still think they're fun. But they do not encourage creativity at a time when the ways in which children are allowed to be creative are already so limited.
Plus I just can't get over the fact that these librarians have the time to print out hundreds of coloring sheets or distribute crayons at the reference desk!
Sunday, February 15, 2009
sunday in los angeles
When people can't believe I would ever live in L.A. it always makes me think of days like today. Went to the farmer's market in West L.A. and you would have thought I was in the Northwest.
1. It was cloudy and cold--I was wearing a Patagonia fleece and everything!
2. A bluegrass band made up of middle aged men and one teenage boy was playing.
3. Small children were dancing around to the bluegrass music.
4. Nice people gave tips to the band.
It completely reminded me of my childhood. Normal people, just out and about, doing their farmer's market shopping. A very nice Sunday!
1. It was cloudy and cold--I was wearing a Patagonia fleece and everything!
2. A bluegrass band made up of middle aged men and one teenage boy was playing.
3. Small children were dancing around to the bluegrass music.
4. Nice people gave tips to the band.
It completely reminded me of my childhood. Normal people, just out and about, doing their farmer's market shopping. A very nice Sunday!
Monday, January 26, 2009
hip hip hooray!
I thought maybe I'd dust off old Blogger to comment on the momentous occasion that is the birth of my dearest friend's baby on January 24. I am pretty much like an obnoxious grandmother, going around and telling everyone about the baby. These people do not care about it as much as I do, but I just can't help myself! When I woke up Saturday morning I saw various Facebook status updates/twittering that indicated laboring was taking place. I tried calling everyone I had numbers for to find out what was going on; when no one answered, I figured that meant big things were happening! I bought my ticket and there and then I got a phone call saying that Maribel had arrived! I feel very blessed that I was able to see her when she was just a few hours old. She is, of course, the best and more perfect baby ever.
Maribel, Auntie Katherine will always love you. I cannot wait to watch you grow, to have adventures with you, to tell you embarrassing stories about your mom, and to give you lots of hugs and kisses! Oh yes and to read lots and lots of books with you, of course!
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