Once again I’m surprised at the flow and ability of Tovani to
make her subject interesting. I
especially enjoyed the chapter on modeling text. The beginning story completely sucked me in
because I’ll admit, at first, I was that industrial tech teacher. I quickly forgot my reaction in lieu of a
class free summer working my backside off, but I was that teacher. Reading this chapter reminded me of my first
reaction to having to take a reading education class.
In the section “Putting Ourselves on the Line”, I was
reminded of the phrase I use to motivate students to do something that is
sometimes silly. I say “If everyone does
it no one’s embarrassed, but if no one does it everyone is.” That saying includes myself, I was reminded
that as educators, if it’s embarrassing for us, chances are that it’ll be
helpful to a student, no matter the subject.
I also felt encouraged in the way I teach, because in my subject word problems (and kids say it with italicized
font) are one of the hardest things for my students to figure out how to
do. I even struggle with them
sometimes. Modeling my thinking process
out loud is something I do naturally for them, but now I’ll be doubly sure to
do it more.
Sue,
ReplyDeleteI agree that Tovani seems to be a master at drawing in skeptical educators like us! I got sucked into her stories as well. I think she did a great job to help me understand what students can tend to feel in terms of frustration and wanting to give up on a text they don't immediately understand. She also helped me to see ways that we as teachers are already doing this mental modeling, like you mention. However, that we can do it even more intentionally and explicitly. I was that kid that could do math pretty well, albeit begrudgingly, but was SO CONFUSED once you tried to mix in some words with numbers in the dreaded word problem (insert italics). I think even as you struggle with word problems you can even model those struggles to your students to humbly model that the learning process is good if it is a struggle, and how they can keep going and not feel instantly defeated.
Good thoughts!
Hannah