Phoenix Union

The Readers I Want

Being Explicit About My Values for Student Success

When I first stared working with kids, I made the mistake of mentally separating them into two groups: the kids I enjoyed teaching and the kids I didn’t. Not surprisingly, my behaviors toward each group only reinforced the stereotype I had created and made it harder for me to be effective with kids in either group. In general, I was too punitive toward the kids I didn’t want to teach and too permissive toward the kids I did.

Identity

Teaching Kids to Read is Easier If They’re Already Readers

In an era of testing and standards, it’s easy to develop the mindset that kids aren’t readers until they’ve passed a test that says they are. But I’ve found that kids do better when I can convince them that their readers the minute they step into the classroom—even during their very first days of school.

Comments on How Much Kids Should Read

Suzanne Forman sez...

What an incredibly tough question. I was told my expectations were too high to ask kids to read at least 6 books this semester, unless they could all of them "in class" given class time to read each and everyone of them. The fact that I lowered my expectations from previous years was sickening enough for me, but to then be told my expectations brought bile to the top of my throat!