"Any discussion of texts and their nature and complexity needs to begin with the motivation, knowledge, and experiences that students bring to texts." (pg. 126) Many teachers miss out on this aspect when choosing texts for their students to use. I can remember many textbooks and other types of literature that my teachers had chosen, particularly high school literature. Many of the stories were boring and long, and she still expected the entire class of 9th grade to read them in their entirety and remember every detail. Needless to say that did not happen. Teachers need to remain "tuned in" to the general interests of their students when formulating assignments that use any type of text. If the students aren't interested, they will be more likely to cut corners and possibly not meet the objective that the teacher had in mind.
"Digital texts" (pg. 132) I never had much experience with digital texts when I was in elementary and even high school. I think digital texts can be wonderful and engaging resources for students. The website http://www.brainpop.com is a wonderful resource for both students and teachers. Payment is required for complete access, but there are some free resources and samples available. The site covers all major subject areas, with facts, videos, and games under each. This is a great site for teachers to obtain supplemental materials and gain ideas for lesson plans. I would definitely recommend purchasing this site for our classrooms in the future.
Page 153 discusses a few of the challenges that students face when dealing with texts. I think one of the biggest challenges is that many students do not know how to use textbooks. Students must first know how to read certain textbooks. Then, students must be taught how to look up needed information in places such as an index or glossary. Sometimes teachers may take for granted that students already know how to perform these seemingly simple tasks, especially in the upper grades. This is another instance where students' prior experiences must be considered.
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Hope,
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you mention the resource Brainpop. I used it religiously, even when teaching as high as 6th grade. There are some good free informational movies and spending time with Tim and Moby is just fun. My students got to know them and we began to refer to them by name. I wonder, as you mention in your 3rd para, what challenges come with viewing/reading Brainpop.
John