Articles for this week:
Allington, R. L. (2002). You can’t learn much from books you can’t read. Educational Leadership, 16-19.
Bean, T. W. (2002). Making reading relevant for adolescents. Educational Leadership, 34-37.
D’Arcangelo, M. (2002). The challenge of content-area reading: A conversation with Donna Ogle. Educational Leadership. 12-15.
The readings for this week have really affected how I view reading throughout the curriculum. With a focus in biology, I have noticed that many readings within my field, whether from a scientific journal or a textbook, are very straight forward and to the point. They don't beat around the bush to get to the point they are trying to make. While science textbooks are generally very organized, I feel that I will have to make more of an effort to get my students to engage within the reading. Using the textbook will not be my only source of reading for my students.
It is important that students are aware that reading is an important skill to know. They will not just need it for my class but for all the others they are taking now and in the future. Even for those who do not see themselves going to college and furthering their education, reading is used every day. Part of my job as a teacher is to help students gain the skills necessary to help them in life. This goes beyond just knowing biology knowledge.
Making readings relevant for students will be tricky but there is one thing that all adolescents have in common, the internet. There is a plethora of information that can be found on just about any topic on the internet, it is just a matter of knowing where to go to get it. Although not a good primary resource for papers and such, Wikipedia is a great resource for getting facts to help you delve further into research. It even provides resources from which its information was gathered. Allowing students to find their own sources provides a way for them to engage within the material by finding something that is relevant to their interests or to their lives.
Becoming a teacher is much more than just providing content-based knowledge; it is providing the tools of knowledge that individuals will need to succeed in everyday life.
