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The One Thing (you should know as a teacher and a writer.)

2/15/2016

34 Comments

 
​Dear Mr. or Mrs. Head of Education,
 
Any elementary school teacher will tell you it’s a daily challenge to keep kids “on task.”  To keep them “focused” or “engaged.” Student Engagement. It’s an educational buzzword. It’s part of the “new” lesson plan template. It’s part of the principal’s “look fors” when he comes to observe in your room.
So as educators, we take professional development courses on student engagement. We try new strategies.  We use classroom structures, hooks, gimmicks. We’ll do anything from using interactive technology to doing a song and dance if it means that 100% of our students will be “engaged” in the lesson we are presenting.

 
Because come on, let’s face it.  Reviewing how a question will be asked on the end of year state test such as Which detail is least important to include in a summary of paragraphs 1-4 is just not that exciting. Let’s ignore that fact that our review is really about getting students to understand what the question is asking and then how to go about answering the question than it is getting kids to comprehend and summarize a story.
 
But even with cooperative structures, technology clickers, incentive charts, popcorn parties, gold stars, and sour gummy worms we just can’t seem to reach every child to be fully engaged in understanding the least important detail of paragraphs 1-4.
 
Why is this?
 
And why can you take the same group of students, who have varying reading levels, varying behavior, varying social and emotional need, varying home lives and sit them in a classroom with just one thing and EVERY SINGLE STUDENT is ENGAGED?
 
Just one thing. No technology. No incentives, no bribes, no sugar-induced comas.
 
Just one thing.
 
A book.
 
Read aloud by their teacher.
 
You may have heard people say this before. And no, you can’t just take any teacher. And you can’t just take any book. The teacher needs to have some decent read aloud skills and have a genuine love for reading. And the book has to have been carefully chosen by the teacher for the class that she knows so well. Reading aloud a poorly written book by a teacher with poor read aloud skills simply doesn’t work.
 
But unless you have witnessed this first hand, it’s hard to imagine the power this one book and this one teacher have.
 
The sad thing is in an age of “testing” reading aloud seems to get pushed to the back burner. Unless there is a “measureable objective” for every minute in the day, there doesn’t seem to be a place for it any more.
 
 We are really missing the target lately.  By sharpening our focus on testing to achieve those passing scores, we are blurring the edges of reality.
 
And the reality of it? By forcing elementary students to be focused on passing standardized tests, we have less time to actually teach them to read. Plus we are KILLING their love of reading (if they ever had one.)
 
So Mr. or Mrs. Head of Education, when these students graduate high school not being able to read, not ever having finished a book, and not having any desire to ever read anything please don’t act shocked.  Please don’t call us a nation with an illiteracy problem and then decide to remedy this by pushing for more testing starting in Pre K.  Please don’t increase the lexile expectations any higher. Please don’t expect our students to work more rigorously in any more complex texts. It isn’t possible for them to “close read” any more than they already are.
 
My suggestion?
 
Start measuring students on how much they love to read.
Start hiring teachers that love to read.
Make one of your principal “look fors” to be that teachers and students are authentically reading and talking about books they’ve read.
Start making “teacher read aloud” a time in the day that doesn’t require a measurable objective.
 
So when you come in to measure “student engagement,” don’t worry, because I can guarantee 100% of my students will be fully engaged.
 
Teachers live this reality. We know what testing is doing to our students.  Testing more doesn’t mean they are learning more. They are actually learning less of what they need to be learning.  But until someone who has more power than an elementary teacher figures out how much damage testing is really doing to the future of students, we will continue down this road of illiteracy with a side of hating to read.
 
And as an educator, I will continue to still teach my students how to “pass the test” no matter how ridiculously rigorous it becomes and I’ll hang onto that pendulum until it starts to swing in the other direction.  But no matter how much education changes one thing will remain constant in my classroom. The secret to creating a literate nation: the love of reading.  I will always read aloud to my students. Because it’s the game changer. It’s the one thing that will keep students 100% engaged. It’s the one thing that can change their lives and their future.
 
Sincerely,
An elementary teacher of reading
 
 
 
So what's the one thing you should know as a writer?

Teachers need those well written engaging books that have the power to change lives. 

The class I was talking about above was a group of 5th graders. And the books they need their teachers to read aloud? Well written middle grade novels. 
 
This would be the perfect time to register for the Children's Book Academy course Middle Grade Mastery taught by Mira and Hillary Homzie.

The course runs from February 29th- March 28th!  

For all the details click the link below. 

http://www.childrensbookacademy.com/middle-grade-mastery.html

Hurry to register as the early bird special rates expire on Monday at midnight. 


 
  
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34 Comments
Jeannie
2/15/2016 01:00:58 pm

Well stated!

Reply
Mandy
2/15/2016 01:07:54 pm

Thanks Jeannie!

Reply
Ave Maria Cross
2/15/2016 05:14:21 pm

Tell it...

Reply
Mandy
2/15/2016 06:51:13 pm

:)

Reply
Amanda Love link
2/15/2016 07:22:40 pm

I couldn't have put it better myself. I know that I would have participated more if I had a book that really spoke to me.

Reply
Mandy
2/17/2016 06:29:48 pm

Couldn't agree more. I hated reading as a child, but it's because I thought reading was filling in bubble worksheets. And unfortunately our students these days will think reading is clicking the multiple choice answer on the screen.

Reply
Rebecca Bryant link
2/16/2016 04:46:33 am

As an avid reader I find books that are engaging the ones I gravitate to. This was well stated here.

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Mandy
2/17/2016 06:31:19 pm

Thanks Rebecca.
Not all books are great. And for me as a reader I really have to find those special books that really can hook me into reading. It's then when I remember how great it is to get lost in a book.

Reply
Cathy
2/16/2016 04:55:14 am

Amen! My own fifth graders were avid readers because of read alouds, self chosen book clubs and Friday book share groups. They were good writers because they understood what they wanted from books and how books worked. Alas, many of my former colleagues have given this up due to the fear of testing and district mandated prepackaged program demands

Reply
Mandy
2/17/2016 06:33:43 pm

Since I hated to read as a child, I didn't. And now I realize as an adult that I missed out on so much. Especially the added benefit of writer skills. When I meet writers that are absolutely brilliant writers, I find out they were all avid readers. You can't be a great writer without first being a great reader.

Reply
Gloria Duggan link
2/16/2016 07:39:49 am

I think books are awesome, and our grandchildren are surrounded by them, just as our daughters were as children too. Nothing beats a great book and the enjoyment you can get from them.

Reply
Mandy
2/17/2016 06:34:23 pm

Absolutely! Nothing beats a great book!

Reply
Helene Cohen Bludman
2/16/2016 10:09:54 am

I agree that we parents and teachers need to model a love of reading by putting down our electronic devices and spending some quality reading time with our kids.

Reply
Mandy
2/17/2016 06:38:00 pm

Yes! Modeling. I had not idea how much influence and power parents have on their children simply by modeling (or living) appropriate words, behaviors etc... until I had a child myself and noticed how much he wants to imitate everything I do. I remember the day I realized it. I was trying to get my son at the time 9 months old to sit and listen to a story I wanted to read him. But he of course wasn't having it. So I let him go play and I just started reading the book myself and it wasn't 15 seconds later that he came over and edged his way onto my lap to listen to me reading the story. Amazing.

Reply
Milena link
2/16/2016 10:49:43 am

Great information for parents as well. My boys love reading and writing!

Reply
Mandy
2/17/2016 06:38:33 pm

Thanks Milena,
Yes it goes for both parents and teachers!

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Cathy link
2/16/2016 11:20:46 am

So many good points. I love to read, but the story has to really pull me in or I tend to give up on it. It's even more challenging for my kids. They do not like to read, so finding a book they'll enjoy is really tough, but I remember how much they enjoyed being read to as little kids. It's so important for teachers to do that in the classroom!

Reply
Mandy
2/17/2016 06:39:44 pm

I'm the same type of reader. It's so hard for me to get into a book. It needs to grab me from the beginning and keep moving til the end.

Reply
Lois Alter Mark link
2/16/2016 12:02:49 pm

I am so with you on this. Reading is the most important thing we can teach our kids. If we can instill a love of reading, they will learn that they can do anything!

Reply
Mandy
2/17/2016 06:40:58 pm

Absolutely the most important thing!

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Tiffany link
2/16/2016 02:58:12 pm

Amen to this "No technology. No incentives, no bribes, no sugar-induced comas."

Reply
Mandy
2/17/2016 06:43:11 pm

I know. I hate saying that in the age of technology. And I love technology. But a book is timeless. I remember arguing with educators several years ago about the fact that technology is taking over and some day books won't exist. But I just don't think that is true. There is something so special and unique about a book that technology can't replace.

Reply
Mama to 5 Blessings link
2/16/2016 04:10:42 pm

We are a homeschool family. I am big on reading. My 10 year old tolerates reading but thankfully my 8 year old loves to read.

Reply
Mandy
2/17/2016 06:49:53 pm

That's great! And you know, the class I was talking about was a group of 5th graders so remember, kids or adults are never too old to be read to. :)

Reply
Janeane Davis link
2/16/2016 04:35:00 pm

It is important to give children a love of reading because that will help them develop a love of learning.

Reply
Mandy
2/17/2016 06:48:27 pm

Exactly! Reading opens up so many doors.

Reply
Keikilani link
2/16/2016 04:58:41 pm

This year my 2nd grade son has a teacher who loves reading! She has inspired him in so many ways to read. Not as a chore, but as an adventure.

Reply
Mandy
2/17/2016 06:47:54 pm

That is so awesome that he has a teacher like that.

Reply
Ashley @irishred02 link
2/16/2016 05:04:16 pm

Great points here. My aunt who was an English teacher always pushed reading. I love to read and so does my daughter. When I was a teacher, reading aloud was a favorite part of calcite for me.

Reply
Mandy
2/17/2016 06:47:06 pm

Always my favorite part too!

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Donna
2/16/2016 06:37:18 pm

I wholeheartedly agree with everything you have said here. Reading is so so important, and it just doesn't get the attention it needs anymore! Standardised testing is definitely killing the yearn to learn, as it makes the kids focus on learning what they need to for the test, and nothing on the sides.

Reply
Mandy
2/17/2016 06:44:45 pm

It really is just so incredible sad.

Reply
Athena link
2/16/2016 07:48:08 pm

My husband and I are both administrators in education and I totally agree with you. Great post.

Reply
Mandy
2/17/2016 06:46:10 pm

Thank you so much Athena! The great administrators are the ones that really know instruction and share this same view. Glad there some out there like you and your husband!

Reply



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  • Home
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      • Yuyi Morales Picture Book Scholarship
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