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Re: Non-Fiction: Rules of Engagement
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From: Lynn Rutan <lynnrutan_at_charter.net>
Date: Fri, 09 Mar 2012 12:09:53 -0500
Thank you Megan for voicing something that is worrying me about the push toward Common Core. On the one hand I am so excited about the intent of the new standards that I can hardly sit still. I believe with my whole heart that giving children these kinds of reading/thinking/exploring experiences is EXACTLY what we ought to be doing. And the resources at hand have never been better. There is such wealth being published! So many outstanding books that ignite curiosity in children, open doors to new worlds and kindle real inquiry. I have truly appreciated the posts here on the subject and have been madly taking notes and making lists of books to read.
But like so much in education, it isn’t the intent but the execution where the hurdles lie. So far in my state, teachers and librarians aren’t receiving much, if any, training. So many districts no longer have professional librarians and even the ones that do, have little to no budgets. How to provide these great resources to an entire class is the puzzle I am trying to solve. As I talk to teachers, warning bells are sounding for me because waaay too often I’m hearing the phrase, “Our textbooks should provide what we need.”
So instead of wonderful L books like If Stones Could Speak or Almost Astronauts or Black & White, we inflict more dreary textbook reading on them? I am really concerned that in places where people don’t know about or have access to great resources, this is what might happen. I do a lot of presentations on youth literature and while I’m getting a lot of requests for programs on nonfiction to meet Common Core standards, I’m getting as many questions on how to provide these great resources for large numbers of kids. Reading aloud, visual presenters, the small amount of allowable photocopying perhaps? The few ebooks that have unlimited access?
Like Megan, I’m eager to hear more suggestions of materials, especially for younger readers but I’d also like to hear ideas for sharing trade books with whole classes in big schools. For any of you involved in the Common Core effort, what is the thinking about resources?
Lynn
Lynn Rutan Bookends - Booklist Online Youth Blog lynnrutan_at_charter.net
Received on Fri 09 Mar 2012 12:09:53 PM CST
Date: Fri, 09 Mar 2012 12:09:53 -0500
Thank you Megan for voicing something that is worrying me about the push toward Common Core. On the one hand I am so excited about the intent of the new standards that I can hardly sit still. I believe with my whole heart that giving children these kinds of reading/thinking/exploring experiences is EXACTLY what we ought to be doing. And the resources at hand have never been better. There is such wealth being published! So many outstanding books that ignite curiosity in children, open doors to new worlds and kindle real inquiry. I have truly appreciated the posts here on the subject and have been madly taking notes and making lists of books to read.
But like so much in education, it isn’t the intent but the execution where the hurdles lie. So far in my state, teachers and librarians aren’t receiving much, if any, training. So many districts no longer have professional librarians and even the ones that do, have little to no budgets. How to provide these great resources to an entire class is the puzzle I am trying to solve. As I talk to teachers, warning bells are sounding for me because waaay too often I’m hearing the phrase, “Our textbooks should provide what we need.”
So instead of wonderful L books like If Stones Could Speak or Almost Astronauts or Black & White, we inflict more dreary textbook reading on them? I am really concerned that in places where people don’t know about or have access to great resources, this is what might happen. I do a lot of presentations on youth literature and while I’m getting a lot of requests for programs on nonfiction to meet Common Core standards, I’m getting as many questions on how to provide these great resources for large numbers of kids. Reading aloud, visual presenters, the small amount of allowable photocopying perhaps? The few ebooks that have unlimited access?
Like Megan, I’m eager to hear more suggestions of materials, especially for younger readers but I’d also like to hear ideas for sharing trade books with whole classes in big schools. For any of you involved in the Common Core effort, what is the thinking about resources?
Lynn
Lynn Rutan Bookends - Booklist Online Youth Blog lynnrutan_at_charter.net
Received on Fri 09 Mar 2012 12:09:53 PM CST
