ANSWER TO WHY OUR STUDENTS DO NOT READ
Pg 379
Here in lies the problem and one way to go about solving it. As expressed before, the nature of the content of school text in many cases plays a key role in determining whether or not our students engage in effective reading. Often, students don’t read because they find no beneficial reason to. Gone are the days when students who achieved academically were considered prestigious by their peers. Instead, the adolescent with the ‘street smarts’ who is knowledgeable and has access to the latest technological gadget is the one who is deemed worthy of notice. So, the interests of our students have changed which leaves the curriculum going in one direction; the pen, paper, textbook route and our students in another towards a more technological way of doing things .
The expectation of the teacher is to there fore find creative ways of tying in the interests of the students with meeting the objectives of the curriculum. No longer can the textbook, chalkboard, pen and paper suffice educating our young people.We realize that our students do not enjoy reading school content text. In many case neither do we the teachers. The egocentric nature of our students allows them to only feel enthused about topics or issues that pertain to them, otherwise, they get board and we lose them in the classroom. This has been happening for so long now that when we look at the state of the literary competence of our learners we are devastated at the results. Change is difficult but oh so necessary if we have to save what is left of our school system.
You are absolutely right Taitu. There is need for us to recognize and validate adolescents' everyday literacy practices in out of school contexts. Perhaps we need to use these to heighten their interest in content related material and to help them read and comprehend their texts. I agree. The pen, paper, chalkboard is definitely not adequate in meeting the literacy needs and demands of students in this increasingly technologized society.
ReplyDelete"Peripheral to their needs"...
ReplyDeleteThis quote is like dejavu...
I remember in class we focus on getting material that is interesting to the students especially in that learning to read stage. Though our students are not in K OR Lower grade levels i think the principle does apply.
You are right on target Empress,when you say that the "pen,paper text book route" has to go.
could't agree more.
I'm interested though in finding out whether the curriculum also can be adapted to suite our learners. maybe we can do smth as 'curriculum planners' in our own rights!
Hope the others can shed some light on this for me. We are the new generation teachers right?
We can make a difference i think despite the demotivators that exist within the school community.,
Later.......