Over the last week, I have been thinking a great deal about my students and their relationship with reading. This was prompted by the discussion on the benefits and drawbacks of reading quizzes we had last Tuesday in class. I don’t want to focus on “required” reading for class, but rather reading for pleasure, which, unfortunately, seems to be a contradiction in terms for some of my students.
One day a week my school has a special schedule, which allows for half an hour of SSR (Sustained Silent Reading) for everyone, teachers included. As long as the students are reading, they may read anything they want: books, magazines, newspapers, anime etc. All teachers have class libraries so students who forget to bring something have a choice of reading materials. Although we urge them to read something at their reading level (so, no Cat in the Hat), we don’t tell them what to read.
Some students relish the time to read, and others cannot refrain from talking, sleeping, writing notes, in short, doing anything but reading. It amazes me that some students cannot find anything to read for fun or pleasure. I have asked my sophomores what they like to read (or what they have read and enjoyed in the past). I have used their reponses as a guide to enriching my classroom library. Still, there are some students who refuse (or pretend) to read. Does the fact that they have to read for half an hour once a week sap the “pleasure” from the reading? Is it impossible for them to read surrounded by peers who are doing the same thing? Is reading, even for for pleasure, less important that sleeping or writing to their friends? Is it the timing (Friday right after lunch)? Is it the age of the students?
Admittedly, I have some data for assessment (what I have observed), but I have not asked my students these questions directly. I know that’s where I should start. And I’d love to hear from those of you who have ideas or suggestions or observations regarding SSR that support or refute mine.)
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2 comments:
i'm surprised that some kids wouldn't even be into reading Sports Illustrated or People magazine or something. If that's the case, I wonder if it's that they have been so scarred by *having* to read for school and having to read stuff they don't like that they don't even consider reading as something that could be enjoyable. Ugh...
Your instinct to ask your students about this is great. Maybe you could have them write an anonymous answer to this question so they feel like they can give an honest answer.
This is a difficulty in my classroom as well. I find that many of the students who hate to read are the ones who have lower reading skills. It is great that you asked students what they like to read and then tried to enhance the classroom library. However, even with an enriched library, many students will still resist exploring literature.
Maybe some students who feel that they need to do something while they are reading because it is hard to sit still and quietly can read instruction/how-to manuals. If you have something they can constuct and put together in conjunction with reading, maybe they will be able to focus for the half hour and feel as though they are being productive while they read.
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