Getting Kids to Read: The 5 Key Habits of Lifelong Readers

Here are the five key habits of lifelong readers that teachers and parents should try to cultivate in young people (and you can read more from Donalyn Miller on her Book Whisperer blog or get her book Reading in the Wild).

By Donalyn Miller

Wild Readers:

• Dedicate time to read. They spend substantial time reading in spite of their hectic lives. Wild readers capitalize on the moments in their days when they are bored or waiting, and rack up significant reading time by stealing it.

• Successfully self-select reading material. Wild readers are confident when selecting books to read and have the experience and skills to choose books successfully that meet their interests, needs, and reading abilities.

• Share books and reading with other readers. Wild readers enjoy talking about books almost as much as they like reading. Reading communities provide a peer group of other readers who challenge and support us. As literacy expert, Stephen Krashen reminds us, “Children read more when they see other people reading.”

• Have reading plans. Wild readers plan to read beyond their current book. They anticipate new books by favorite authors or the next installment in a beloved series. Reading is not a casual, once-in-awhile pursuit.

• Show preferences for genres, authors, and topics. Yes, children need to read widely and experience a wide range of texts as part of their literacy educations. But wild readers express strong preferences in the books they like to read—gravitating toward specific genres, writing styles, topics, and beloved authors.

Schools That Separate the Child From the Trauma

Over the past 15 years, researchers have learned that highly stressful — and potentially traumatic — childhood experiences are more prevalent than previously understood. Now scientists are shedding light on the mechanisms by which they change the brain and body. These insights have far-reaching implications for schools, where it’s still standard practice to punish children for misbehavior that they often do not know how to control. This is comparable to punishing a child for having a seizure; it adds to the suffering and makes matters worse.

“When kids have undergone a lot of adversity, it changes how they respond to people and challenges in their environment, including very simple things that we might not think about — like how many transitions you ask them to do before lunch.  For traumatized people, changes are encoded largely as danger.”

Full article here.

A hostile work environment, but 'these are not bad kids'

Todd Irving took over as Spurgeon Intermediate principal after teachers filed a complaint over student behavior. With attention and enforcement, things are starting to turn around.

Read more here.

The Finnish Miracle

From Diane Ravitch's Blog:

You will enjoy this amazing slide show created by the great Finnish educator Pasi Sahlberg.

It explains why Finnish schools succeed: Not because they want to be first in the world, but because they want “a great school for each and every child.” Their goal is equity, not excellence. While striving for equity, excellence is the by-product.

His comparison of the stale paradigm of the Global Education Reform Movement (GERM), which features testing, competition, and choice, with the Finnish Way (collaboration, responsibility, trust, equity, and education as a human right) is stark and compelling.

Engage NY: Site for Common Core Curriculum and Assessments

Cindy found this helpful site.  Follow the directions on the image to find teacher directions, student materials and assessments for your grade level.

One of the saddest photos you'll ever see...

Best Classroom Gizmo? A Great Teacher

Of course, high-tech gizmos can also be used for plenty of other classroom projects. For instance, my fifth-grade digital natives could easily spend all day creating Keynote presentations on the Jamestown Colony or generating book reports that look like Pfizer's annual report. But is that the best use of precious class time? And is that the best use of me?

The fact is I'm the last guy you would want overseeing any high-tech razzle-dazzle in the classroom. But I am your man when it comes to delivering content, piquing a student's curiosity, helping a hesitant writer formulate a persuasive essay and encouraging students to make connections across the curriculum. And unlike a computer, I can inspire, critique, counsel, model good behavior and put on five shows a week.

Read more...

In Public Education, Edge Still Goes to the Rich

If education is a poor child’s best shot at rising up the ladder of prosperity, why do public resources devoted to education lean so decisively in favor of the better off?