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.
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