Group
|
Initiators
|
Summarizers
|
Responders
|
Illuminators
|
1
|
Michael
Gillis
|
Karin
Logerquist
|
Molly
Nelson
|
Ian
Gorton
|
2
|
Nicholas
Gaudette
|
Jesse
Vavreck
|
Nancy
Nair
|
Laura
Mayo
|
3
|
Kaylee
Wiens
|
Kris
Latcham
|
Paul
Garlock
|
Jonathan
Reeves
|
4
|
Sara
Stein
|
Erik
Krueger
|
Michelle
O’Connor
|
Sean Johnson
|
A. In the "Who are you as a reader? What is your reading identity?" Discussion Area (Comment section directly below this post) please post your Personal Reading History
BACKGROUND
After viewing the welcome video your
first online assignment is to introduce yourself as a reader. Everyone
has a "reading history." For some, reading has had mostly
positive associations, with supports from which to build an even stronger
identity as a reader. For others, being able to reshape a negative reader
identity often depends on reflecting on personal moments or experiences that
created reading barriers. When students reflect on AND SHARE their
personal reading histories, they have an opportunity to view themselves and
their classmates more generously, as "readers in progress," with
reader identities they can understand and change. I am inviting you to
introduce yourself in a new way. I know that you have been working
together as a learning cohort for at least this semester and already know much
about each other; however, I am inviting you to learn more about each other.
DIRECTIONS:
Create your own personal history
of some key moments or events in your development as a reader. Respond to
the following prompts, being sure to include both positive and negative
experiences:
1. What reading experiences
stand out for you? High points? Low points?
2. Were there times when
your reading experiences or the materials you were reading made you feel like
an insider? Like an outsider?
3. What supported your
literacy development? What discouraged it?
Please post your reading history
on the DAY 2 BLOG SITE, located under "useful links" in the comment
section (located on the left side bar) for the members in your KSP 669 group to
see. PLEASE HAVE READING HISTORIES POSTED ON OR BEFORE WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER
30, 5:00 PM.
4. Read ALL your group
members personal reading histories posted.
5. RESPOND with questions,
clarifications, or general comments to at least 3 other colleagues IN YOUR GROUP. Your online response should be a
discussion. Some questions that might
direct you are: What did you learn about each other? What were some
similarities in the barriers and supports you experienced? What were some
differences or surprises?
Please post your response ON OR BEFORE SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3 11:59 PM
1.) Reading has been one of the greatest joys of my life for almost as long as I can remember. The positive memories largely center around non-academic reading - those times when I'm at home, curled up in bed or a big chair devouring some fiction. I also feel a sort of instant calm when I'm surrounded by books - like at a library or a bookstore. One of my most important early reading experiences was reading every night for a few hours while my parents took a nap. I was required to be "absolutely silent" (my dad is a strange man), and stay in my room from 5 to 7 p.m. or so from early elementary school probably through middle school. Thus, during that time I developed a lot as a reader - because, really, what else could I do?
ReplyDeleteNegative reading experiences happen for me when I have to read textbooks on subjects like geology, or with really dense theory or math. I remember a really low point was my geology textbook freshman year of college - I could read the same passage 20 times in a row and not take anything in. It was painful to go through and felt consistently pointless. Postscript: that was one of the only courses I've ever gotten lower than a B in.
2.) Reading fantasy makes me feel like an insider because I can jump in when discussing certain kinds of "geek" culture, and prove I'm one of "the gang" in situations when an intimate knowledge of fantasy or sci-fi is admired. On the other hand, I often feel like an outsider when I read political opinion pieces. Aside from the fact that I'm not very good at following the news, and a lot of political terminology baffles me, I am constantly suspicious of "opinions" that don't evenly address both sides of an argument. Thus, I never trust political pieces, but am hardly ever informed enough to come up with my own opinion.
3.) Language Arts classes and my own love for stories supported my literacy development. I don't think much really discouraged my literacy development, my parents and most people around me encouraged literacy. Perhaps, the biggest obstacle I've faced in relation to literacy (as hinted at above in my reluctance with science/math textbooks and political articles) is a lack of instruction relating to content specific literature outside of Language Arts.
Sara,
DeleteReading this helps me learn more about you! Through discussions in class I can tell you are a thoughtful reader and writer. I can agree with your thoughts on political pieces, although I like to follow politics, I feel you have to do your research on the person writing the piece.
Thank you for sharing your Sweet Valley High story! A sign of the times!
It is great to see the passion you have for LA.
I'm totally with you, Sara, on the textbook reading. In fact, one of my favorite books I read (multiple times) as a kid was "To Kill a Mockingbird." When it was assigned in 9th grade, I didn't read it, though I reread it the following summer. To me, there is something about being coerced into reading that takes the fun out of it.
DeleteI see what you mean about being an "insider." Speaking to what you wrote to me, I almost never feel like an insider. This is more of a personal neurosis than anything about literature. It is fun to discuss books with family and friends, like The Hunger Games when they were hot or, more recently, my brother and I convinced my sister and other brother to read the first book in each of the Ender's Game saga before we watch the movie together as siblings. That's really the insider language we are talking about, but I still don't feel like an insider.
Sara,
DeleteI too, have had the experience of reading a passage in a textbook over and over and taken nothing away from it. I feel that this happens to the best of us! I am grateful for being able to choose classes that interested me once I got to high school so that I was able to be more engaged with the material. Thanks for sharing your personal story!
1. What reading experiences stand out for you? High points? Low points?
ReplyDeleteI like reading and always have. I remember learning to read and wondering why it was hard for some of my friends. Some of my high points involve reading late into the night. I remember reading one of the Boxcar Children novels all the way through in one sitting, until 4 AM! I was really excited to tell my mom about that, but she was mad that I stayed up until 4. I didn't tell her about any more after that. Other high points are reading difficult material, like Karl Barth, over and over until it sunk in. Once I understood a piece of the puzzle, the rest fit in. I have a lot of recent low points that I am not willing to share in a public space.
2. Were there times when your reading experiences or the materials you were reading made you feel like an insider? Like an outsider?
I cannot recall a time that I felt like an insider while reading. There are times when I understand everything, but I do not feel like an insider, per se. However, whenever I encounter technical jargon, I feel like an outsider. There is a reason I have not taken statistics, being an outsider is one of them.
3. What supported your literacy development? What discouraged it?
My mom is an avid reader. Most of my childhood I remember watching TV while my mom read a book. She also read to me a lot as a child. Though I don't remember much of this, I do remember when she would read to me while I was sick, which was frequent.
I don't know of anything that discouraged my literacy development, except for maybe the culture around us. Most people ask about the TV show, but few ask about the book we are reading. That might be the biggest stumbling block.
Hi Sean,
DeleteI also have fond memories of reading late into the night - and of reading the Boxcar Children! I love that series. The first book I remember reading late into the night was actually something about the Adventures of Winne-the-Pooh. Random, right? Anyway, that's really cool that you also have positive reading experiences of things you read again and again until they sunk in. I'm impressed by your diligence :) Ok, I just googled Karl Barth to see who he was. Theorist of some sort, right? That theory stuff can take time to understand - I had a literary theory course in my undergrad where I remember really struggling with the reading and having my "ah-hah" moments more in class when the professor was helping to explain.
Since you said reading has not made you feel like an insider, I wonder how you're defining insider in this context, and if you'd be willing to share something that does make you feel like an insider to help illuminate?
Sean,
DeleteIt is great to hear you enjoy reading so much, I enjoyed your story about the boxcar children books. What great determination for reading books over and over again... I can even watch a movie more than once, let alone a book. That is wonderful that you pushed yourself to reading something until you understood it.
Sara, I replied to you in your post, but I forgot Karl Barth. He's a Protestant Christian Theologian. In fact, if one is a 20th/21st c. Protestant Christian, they have been influenced by this guy. He's deep, heavy, not always pretty, but was required for the other grad program I was in.
DeleteSean,
DeleteYou mention that many people do not ask about the books we are reading and instead choose to discuss the television programs and movies. I agree with you in the sense that people of my generation (us young 24 year olds) tend to gravitate towards that type of media. I think that we really have to make an effort to find people that will engage in reading discussions because they make the books more "real" when we are able to talk about them. Since my wife does not like the same types of books that I do, I have to resort to calling my grandma on the phone to share my thoughts on the new Dan Brown novel... :-)
Michelle
ReplyDelete1. What reading experiences stand out for you? High points? Low points?
I don’t ever remember struggling as a reader. Grammar, spelling: Yes. Although I do not remember being an avid reader, I read what and as I needed but was not a book worm. I read a handful of nonfiction books a year but do not regularly have a book that I am reading. I feel like I have strong comprehension skills.
One reading experience that stands out to me is my 10th grade English class. It was the only year I was in advance classes. I know that it was a challenge for me and that sometimes I fell behind with the reading. The reason this class stands out to me is because of the how much I enjoyed the content. The books we read each represented a decade. The social study class paired with the English. The project that we engaged in was called the Decades project. We were assigned a decade and had to learn and create a skit and presentation about that decade. I was very proud of my performance and enjoyed learning about the various decades (we covered 1920’s – 1980’s, a sign of my age).
2. Were there times when your reading experiences or the materials you were reading made you feel like an insider? Like an outsider?
My most vivid memory of reading was when I was in 3rd and 4th grade. Sweet Valley High and Babysitter Club books were all the rage. My friends and I often engaged in pretend play taking the roles of characters in these books. This was the only time I felt like an outsider because both of my friends could read a book in a night and I could not keep up. I read my share of both of the series but not enough to feel comfortable knowing all plots and storylines that my friends did.
3. What supported your literacy development? What discouraged it?
My mom was in education so I she encouraged reading, spelling and homework time. I don’t have a clear memory of my early school years but by the time I reached junior high through high school I had homework time from 7-9:00 pm. Although I did not always have to use the whole time to do homework it was a time I could not be on the phone or watching TV.
Hi Michelle,
DeleteI also read a lot of Babysitter Club and Sweet Valley High in my elementary years. Funnily enough, my dad actually banned me from reading Sweet Valley High at some point because he claimed the books made me act more "snotty," or get some sort of attitude. Isn't that strange? I wonder how he pulled that out as the element in my life that was making me act differently.
Anyway! I can totally understand how not knowing as much as your friends about the books would you make you feel like an outsider. That's how I often feel in regards to T.V. shows and movies, when, even though I've seen them, I don't have a very good memory & can't rattle off direct quotes and entire plot lines like a lot of my friends can.
Also, even though I love reading and read all the time I've got a shoddy memory, and can't even remember the plot lines of books I read a little over a month ago. Sometimes I worry that people think I'm lying about reading them.
What interesting memories, Michelle. It seems like content is the most important part of reading for you, at least to grab your interest. Interestingly enough, Sweet Valley High and Babysitter's Club made me feel like an outsider because all the girls were reading them. My crush, Nikki, would sit around at recess and talk to the girls about them, but I had no in. I didn't get to talk to them.
DeleteIt's interesting that you had a set time for homework every day. Is this something you have continued with your children?
Hey Michelle!
DeleteMy mom was also in education and it really helped push me in the right direction from an early age. While you were busy reading the Babysitter's club, I was reading the Boxcar Children and Goosebumps! I know exactly how you feel regarding the love for the content of the books.
1. What reading experiences stand out for you? High points? Low points?
ReplyDeleteI remember going through the regular reading assessments in elementary school in the hallway. The teaching assistant would take students out of the room one at a time and as them to perform different reading tasks. I always loved this day because I had always been a great reader. I would feel very good about myself after successfully completing task after task. This is probably my most positive memory of reading because I would receive a lot of praise form both the teacher and my parents for my performance on these assessments.
My most negative memory involving reading would be when I mispronounced a word during social studies in 3th grade. We were taking turns reading out loud as a large group and I could not pronounce a word. I felt really embarrassed just because I was struggling with a term in front of the entire class and no one was helping me.
2. Were there times when your reading experiences or the materials you were reading made you feel like an insider? Like an outsider?
I definitely felt like an insider when I started first grade. My mom was, and is still, a reading teaching and she had prepared me in every possible way for reading. By the time I started first grade, I was able to read books at a much higher level than most of my classmates. When the teacher would do reading lessons with the class, I felt like I was SO smart because I ad already done those lessons with my mom.
3. What supported your literacy development? What discouraged it?
My parents were the most supportive people in my literacy development. My mom was a reading teacher and made a point to encourage me in my reading development. I had a reading routine with my parents before I went to bed every night. Instead of them reading me a story, I read the story to them. I think this was a great way to encourage reading, as well as scaffold certain skills. I was able to read more difficult material with their encouragement and assistance.
Eric,
DeleteI think we all touched on the fact that our families supported our reading efforts. I would enjoy hearing from your perspective what role do parents of ELL students play in there reading development? At our school the ELL students are the most eager to learn, and although there parents may not read or speak English they are very concerned about the learning of their child.