Read the following article from the New York Times (link below). The articles is lengthy, but really interesting and relevant to your lives as students of English. And, the central question is one your English teachers struggle with every year. After reading the article, respond in a comment by answering the following questions:
Should students or teachers control reading lists? Should students continue to read the classics (like Greek mythology, the Bible, Shakespeare) or should the lists be modernized to include more popular work like The Hunger Games? What are the advantages and disadvantages of both approaches?
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/30/books/30reading.html?pagewanted=1&sq=students%20get%20new%20reading%20assignment&st=cse&scp=1
Should students or teachers control reading lists? Should students continue to read the classics (like Greek mythology, the Bible, Shakespeare) or should the lists be modernized to include more popular work like The Hunger Games? What are the advantages and disadvantages of both approaches?
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/30/books/30reading.html?pagewanted=1&sq=students%20get%20new%20reading%20assignment&st=cse&scp=1
I believe that students need to read classics to grow culturally and literally. Although tedious and difficult to comprehend, reading books from other times provides insight on the culture and slang that have changed. Personally, I think that the English and History departments need to correspond more and plan to read books in English covering the same material we study in History. It would benefit us in both classes, as the history would provide the background for the story and the story would provide examples that we are learning in history. With the corresponding schedule, students' understanding of both literature and history would drastically. I do understand why some people, like Ms. McNeill, believe that as students, we should get to read books we enjoy. Reading those kind of books seems like something that we should get to do in our free time, outside of class. Books like Pretty Little Liars, The Hunger Games, and Harry Potter help me enjoy reading, but they rarely provide insight on another culture. The upside of these books is they're more enjoyable, and maybe if we read those books in class, people would learn to love reading. I do agree that reading classics contributes to the amount of people who think that they 'hate reading', but really, they could like it if they found the right books for them. Seeing both the positives and negatives from both sides, I think that teachers should try to have a balance. Maybe we should read classics most of the time, but on occasion, throw in a book that we choose. That way, we are still learning about the culture, but we don't have to feel as though we 'hate reading'. The ratio of the amount of classics to fun books should start equal, then as students get older, start going more and more to classic books. To be able to comprehend these classic books is a skill that comes with older age, so kids in middle school shouldn't be expected to be reading classics all the time, but on occasion they could take a classic very slowly to start to develop the analyzing skills one needs to fully understand a book.
ReplyDeletePersonally I think kids love to read or they do not. Allowing children in a classroom setting to pick a book to read creates a very slim view on literature. Reading the "classics" allows me to enjoy all times of literature. Sure I love to go home and pick up Pretty Little Liars or The Summer I Turned Pretty rather then To Kill a Mockingbird. This year and last year though I have started to enjoy the classics better. I never understood "good writing" or writing with so much meaning and truth. After reading the Odyssey, I decided classics are really modern books with just different language. What I mean by that is the same lessons I discovered in the Odyssey appear in books I read today, they are just put in a new way. For example, examples of temptation to have sex with someone while still married, appears in many modern books that we find interesting, such as Revenge. I feel that if I have never read the "classics" in English, I would have never had as big of an interest in all types of reading as I do now. Now I feel as though classics and modern books are one, and all themes overlap but are set in different times. I would have never realized this unless classics were shoved down my throat in English.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, I think there should be a bit of a compromise between the two. During earlier grades, students should be free to choose whatever books they want, but should gradually be prodded towards higher level reading. This would get students used to reading, and allow them to really appreciate and understand the more advanced books. Still, even at the highest levels of reading, students should be able to choose between a few different books
ReplyDeleteI think that there are a few notable differences between the two. When teachers assign the list, students are required to put effort into the class, and are exposed to great literature. On the other hand, if students chose what to read, they would actually enjoy the reading, which would lead to a greater ease of reading more difficult books later on. Students choosing what to read might also result in some students choosing ridiculously simple books, allowing them to put little effort into class. Therefore, I think books should be chosen by the students, but with a minimum length and complexity.
DeleteI think that students should be able to choose their own books to certain extents. If they are reading stupid things like Captain Underpants then no, but if they are reading modern classics such as Harry Potter or Twilight I think it is okay. I think that students should read some classics considering that is what our society before us has read, but I think we should also read some modern books so that we are entertained every now and then. Classics aren't always the best option because they are sometimes boring and unentertaining, but something we can relate with is much more entertaining and interesting. One advantage of reading modern books is that you get a feel of something new, or something that is more entertaining, but on the other we should read the classics because that is what our parents and parents before have read and understood.
ReplyDeleteI think that there definitely needs to be a compromise between students and teachers. I think that the classic novels that are normally read during a school year are important in a students growth. I also think that reading fun, interesting books are important for students as well. On the contrary, I thoroughly enjoyed reading "Romeo and Juliet" last year, and I looked forward to learning about the book everyday. I think that reading books that students are attracted is also important. There are interesting, high level books that carry a lot of meaning and also are lure in readers as well. These are the kind of books that I think should be studied in school during the year. To finish, I think that there should be periods during the year where students can choose which ever book they want to as long as it is reasonable, yet they also should study the classic books that were planned for that year.
ReplyDeleteI agree with both sides in this article. Some books should be read during your academic career, but some are just simply not needed. The two most important books I have ever read for school are, "The Odyssey" and "Romeo and Juliet". I find these two very important because many writers and journalists come back to these stories and use them in analogies. If you do not know of the story you will just be lost and confused. But, besides the two other school novels have almost ruined reading for me. After being forced to read dozens of books I just lost the love of reading I used to have, I have only really enjoyed one book during school and that being "To Kill a Mockingbird". Every other book for school has had the same of the two responses for me, "Meh." or "I hate this." And this is not just me and my stubborn personality, but probably 99% of students dislike the same books. I think schools should make students read some books and for other assignments let them have a broader choice. Like, letting the student pick out a book they want to read and get teacher approval. I understand some classics must be read during your life time, but some have long overdone their stay and must not be forced to be read anymore.
ReplyDeleteI love the concept of giving kids more freedom when it comes to choosing books. Obviously, its impossible to give complete freedom in this regard and its tough to teach a class this way. The classics are important because they are loaded with lessons that kids can connect with. The problem with this is often times kids get bored and frustrated if the reading seems old fashioned or out dated and they aren't able to see these lessons. The other issue is if you have a kid reading books that don't interest them for there entire lives they are going to think they hate to read and reading is boring. I can vouch for this from personal experience, when I was younger my teachers made me read books that I simply didn't like and it wasn't until I had a teacher who let me choose my own books that I realized I love to read. Therefore I think there are pros and cons to both so there ought to be a compromise. I do think its useful for everyone in a class to read the same book so that the story can be analyzed and discussed in class. Also, if the students aren't understanding or connecting with the assigned book talking about it as a class can really help kids understand whats going on in the story so that they can better appreciate it. However, I don't think the entire year should be spent reading classic books. Another portion of the year should be free choice or chosen from a list selected by the teacher. At the end of this unit the students could write a paper about something they got out of reading the book.
ReplyDeleteThis topic of conversation is a very radically changing one. Some people suggest that, like in the article, that the teachers should stick to what the "program" suggests. I feel as though that is partially the correct decision. Personally, it should be a half and half choice. Children should be able to decide on which books they want to read. That makes the reading experience much more enjoyable. The downside to this is there will be kids that try to just get bye by reading the minimum. In the article, there are a couple of kids in 8th grade that choose to read "Captain Underpants". I read those books in 4th grade. The article mentioning that made it a little more humorous to me. The teacher should have some restriction as to what the children should or should not be able to read. To answer another question, kids should have to read classics that were mentioned such as Shakespeare. Really, most people are not very fond of Shakespeare, but it is something that we need to read and understand. Pieces written by Shakespeare let people understand the origins of certain things. It's like how during Christmas time my folks and I always watch, "It's a Wonderful Life". That's an instant classic that young people, like myself, should watch just for the sake of watching a classic. Overall though, I feel that there would be more advantages of if we split the decision in the middle. Let the kids choose their own books, but also we need to have the overseers (teachers) set a boundary line so things don't get out of control. That way, there would be a set balance of some disadvantages and pluses to the whole equation.
ReplyDeleteHonestly I think it should be a joint decision between student and teacher about reading selection. I love reading. Love, love, love it, but, not always am I so enthusiastic. Several of the books found on the sumer reading list, I find, are not interesting. Now, I know that these books aren't necisarilly supposed to be fun reads, but I would like it if we got a wider selection. Another example is the books we read in English class. Some of them are pretty god, To Kill a Mockingbird, While others.... Not so much. I think that if we could choose what we would read, we would be more interested in it. I for one think that a wide range of books, both modern and classic, should be assembled and then given as options to students. This way, we would learn what was requied, and enjoy doing it. Of coarse, a few people would shake it off and not take it serious, but, wouldn't that happen anyway? I mean seriously, some people don't care what they read, but might/probably would have a better impact if they had the option to choose the book. Modern or classic I love reading, and think its one of the most entertaing passtimes there is. And this is coming from someone who hated reading until he was in the 6th grade.
ReplyDeleteI believe that who controls the reading depends on the goal and the age of the students. It is also not for any teacher. THe teacher has to be very engaged, interesting, and motivating in order to keep up with all the students and keep them on track. Also if it is a large class it may be much harder for the tacher to keep track of what each individual student is doing and whether or no they're being productive because its hard to asses what they read if you can't make a test. If the goal for the students is to just get them to read and have the skill to find books that interest them then I think letting them pick their own books is a great idea as long as there are guidelines. Also, if the students are younger I think its and even better idea because they have been less exposed to reading and to develop the interest early on. However, if the student is older you should at least start working in some classics in order to cultivate them in literature. By reading classics students can understand more analogies written everywhere in modern day society.
ReplyDeleteI believe that there should be a list of books that is made by the teacher that the kids can choose from or the kids could pick books that the teacher has to approve. The down side to any kids picking, unless it's from a list the teacher provides, is that there will be no way to properly test the kids unless the teacher is familiar with the book. The positive side is that the kids would enjoy their reading, but without proper tests, they do not actually have to read the books to get good grades. Both of those factors are positive sides in the children's point of view, but not in the teacher's. the positive side for teachers picking the book is that there will be proper review and testing, but the kids might end up hating reading if they dislike the book. I believe that in the long run, while it might not be beneficial for that class, it would help the kids enjoy reading for their entire life.
ReplyDeleteI think there must be a proper balance between student and teacher preference. Teacher’s perhaps do know what is best for their student, and teachers do understand the necessity for a base of classical literature, however this comes to clash with student’s personal interests. When students are interested in what they are learning and reading, it is easier to study the material. Such material, although not as renowned as classic American literature, still possess valuable material a student can absorb information from. When students chose to study books that take a particular interest in, they will be dedicated to their work and studies- a goal many teacher fall short of when attempting to get their students interested in work. Students however must learn essential literary elements found in classic literature that many popular novels lack. That being stated, I believe teachers must not aim to educate their students in a way that appears to the teacher’s interests, but also must educate in a way that appeals to the student’s interests.
ReplyDeleteI think that there should be a balance of preferences between teachers and students. The up side to letting students pick the books they are going to read is that the interest level is much higher. This is because the student knows what they are going to read and whether it suits their preferences of not. The down side is that every individual student would be reading a different book, making the connection of literary themes and topics difficult amongst all the books. Oh the other hand, when teachers pick a book that the whole class will read, it creates a unified classroom atmosphere. However, I feel that the books chosen by the teachers, or the English department, do not meet everyone's reading preferences. Therefore, the interest level as a classroom decreases and the unification no longer exists. For these reasons I believe the reading list should be based on student and teacher preferences through a voting, or submission method of title. When this is done, options are brought up, therefore increasing the titles known by students and teachers.
ReplyDeleteI feel like that there should be a separation and balance between the two choices. Honestly, there are some classic books out there, that no one is interested in. I find it hard for me to relate and comprehend in the book, because it is may be such an old book. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind reading those kinds of books.. its just it wouldn't be my main preference. Yes, some classical literature can be a huge major part of learning about English, but reading classics all year can become boring after a while. It would be a fun experience to try reading books of the students choice. Not only would the student be more interested and engaged.. but I'm sure the student would learn more. It really all depends on the teacher and her students. Everyone is different on how they view certian reading choices.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this article, I believe that students in middle school and high school should be allowed to select their own books of choice, however, there always should be a set boundary on the difficulty and complexity of the novel. If we allow the students full authority over which books should be read throughout the year, I know many will choose very simple and easy to read stories instead of some that can challenge their minds and help mature intellectually. In order to stop this behavior, teachers can recommend certain books that can be both exciting and challenging to read which will help increase the love for reading and each students literary intelligence. On the other hand, if the school gives full power to the teachers and follows the regular classic titles, many students will begin to hate reading and not enjoy the experience. This may cause the students not to fully comprehend the main themes of the book or let all its information sink in. I do not believe the list should be modernized either because many of the terms and themes around the world come from classic novels such as "To Kill a Mockingbird" or many other timeless stories. If the school removes titles like these from its list, many students will not be able to compare and recognize events in the real world that are based off of or related to these types of books. Overall, the best approach to this rapidly growing issue should be that every school year, a teacher should assign two to three main classic novels that will truly help the reader grow while the rest of the year should be devoted to reader's workshops with the students monitored book. This will ultimately become the most balanced approach because it pleases both sides of the argument.
ReplyDeleteI am torn between the two sides of this argument. I feel that giving students the ability to choose their own book is extremely empowering. This allows the student to read something that interests them and helps them kindle a love for reading. However, if students don't choose the right kind of books they will loose out on a variety of different skills. As the article stated, they loose the class discussions on themes, structures of writing, and being able to actually analyze a text. It would be difficult for teacher to teach these skills if all the students selected different books. Especially if those books weren't well written. The cohesiveness of the class would be lost. This is easier to accomplish when the students are all reading the same book and using classic literature. Even though it is easier for the teachers to teach these concepts using the classics, these books are difficult to stay interested in and the meaning sometimes gets lost. On the other hand, these classic tales have reoccurring plot lines, references, and comparisons in other aspects of life. It is a known fact that students won't pick up these classics on their own and they could be living life in the shadows of this profound literature. Therefore, I believe that it is important to have a balance throughout a student’s career. Allow students to read books that they select on their own that have been reviewed by the teachers for content of rich literature and read the classics to gain the knowledge and experience these books offer.
ReplyDeleteI think an argument can be made for a compromise. English teachers can glean results from both approaches without overpowering one. However, to put it simply, I believe the canon has to remain in the classroom. Our generation has to be culturally literate if we are going to improve upon the America that will be left to us. We have to dissect books like The Great Gatsby and For Whom to Bell Tolls. We have to be exposed to their universal truths and their brilliant, beautiful descriptive language as it. Connecting with a timeless text does wonders for our critical thinking and analytical skills. However, that is not to say that reading for pleasure doesn't have a place in the classroom as well. I know not all students will be as impressed with To Kill a Mockingbird as I was. I saw it with my one eyes last year. After a few failed attempts at convincing my friends how amazing the book was, I realized some kids are just going to have prejudices against books that haven't been made into feature films, and that’s okay. To address this problem, I think homework could be shifted more towards reading for pleasure. It may seem elementary at first, but if we picked books that you approved and journaled each night about what we read, we could ensure to foster a love of reading both in this generation and in the coming ones. This way, we as students get exposed to the beauty of the books in the canon while still making time to read Harry Potter and The Hunger Games. It's much too radical to dispose of Moby Dick and Shakespeare because some kids don't connect. However, creating a system in which kids can read for pleasure for homework could foster a love of reading while still maintaining a place for the canon.
ReplyDeleteI think that the article is very intriguing, and I would be interested to see how this method of class reading would play out at Kinkaid. I think that a balance of classics and modern day books is completely. I think that classics are classics for a reason; they have substance, they teach us lesson ,and they are eloquently written. However, they are no longer relatable to every day life. Completely doing away with books like To Kill a Mockingbird and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is absurd. I think that in school, there should be some sort of a trade-off. I think that students should read a classic together as the first book of the year, but they should be able to choose the next book that they read. There should definitely be some guidelines to the books that the students may choose. Reading a short book that has little meaning and substance, while it may be entertaining, is not challenging academically or intellectually. It should have at least a little of substance. This is not to say that the books must boring, but they should be well written good reads. To sum up my point, there should be some sort of compromise between reading the classics and reading new up and coming books.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very difficult question to answer. It is vital that kids our age read books like Macbeth, the bible, and The Great Gatsby. They provide essential cultural references that we are exposed to constantly. But at age 14-15, that might not be our thing. We are more into the Twilight, Maximum Ride, and other adrenaline packed, fun novels. Personally, I prefer novels that exercise my “little gray cells”. I feel that students need to read the books of today and of yesterday, but not just of yesterday. I agree with the article. Students should determine the reading lists for their English class, because what cultural literacy means is different for each student. But, people shouldn’t spend their time reading only Twilight and other modern literature. I fell asleep in the middle of New Moon, no joke. So the answer is balance. English teahcers should help students think about what they have read. In school, they should encourage kids to try classics like The Great Gatsby, and Tom Sawyer, because who knows, they might be good books. But, they should also promote reading for pleasure. This allows kids to understand the cultural references in the world today and have fun while doing it.
ReplyDeleteI think that the teachers should create 2 lists of books that a student can read, much like our summer reading lists, and the student should choose books from there. The two lists would be a Classics list and a Modern list. This way allows for the teacher to select appropriate options and also allows the teacher to know about the books the students are reading. If all of the students choose different books that the teacher doesn’t know about, then the teacher will also have to spend their time to learn about the books that ALL of their students are reading in order to help the student understand plots, themes, and characters. If the students read from a selected list with books that the teacher knows of and understands enough to help the students, that will be much better. Many students do not like to read classics and get very bored and therefore don’t read and understand the text very well, however if they did read the classics, they would have an understanding of the past and would be culturally prepared for references to the books. If students read modern books, they will no understand references to the classics, but they will most likely enjoy and understand their modern book more than a classic. With the two list system, students will be required to read one book from each list, therefore students will still read classic books, but still get to read the modern books that they want to.
ReplyDeletePersonally I think that a middle path is the best option. I have learned a lot through the classical books that I have been forced to read. For example, "The Glass Castle" has changed my outlook on life while the Odyssey has made me culturally literate. With out school I would have never read either of the books. But also, I got next to nothing out of the "Giver" and I thought it was a pointless read. From my past experiences I think it would be best if a student could pick from a controlled list of books. This way the student will pick books that are more interesting and mean more to them. Students would then be more interested in the books that they hand picked. They would soak up the knowledge and learn the lessons more quickly too. Also the students would be forced to read impactful and literarily important books that they otherwise would have passed by. Teachers would have no problem making tests because they could just have one book. This would ensure that the kids were actually reading. I think that this middle-man is the best solution.
ReplyDeleteI believe that teachers should still continue forcing us to read and analyze the classic novels because it helps improve the way of reading new or different context that students may not be use to reading. Though the books may be boring at the time, it is for our own good. By skipping out on the classic novels only because students "don't get into it" is silly because why stop it when they do not understand it. Also many may think that reading classics such as the Odyssey or To Kill a Mockingbird will never be referenced in life, but actually many stories are relating to the Odyssey and the hard journey in modern day. If a student had not read the Odyssey clearly they will not comprehend the true understanding of the piece of work written. Also To Kill a Mockingbird has a deep meaning, that may not come straight across to a student, but that is what a teacher will help explain it. They will help the student understand the true meaning of the book and help them figure the metaphorical meaning, descriptions, and lessons of the book. Though choosing a book does sound great, not all students are up to put themselves for the challenge. Many will choose easy short books that do not have the same deep and challenging meaning of a book such as The Odyssey. The reason those books are chose first, because they are a good piece to read and also the harder the book, the easier it will be to read a book the student enjoys to read. On their free time they can read a book they enjoy, but with the help of being capable of analyzing a book properly will benefit the student. Maybe in earlier years the students can read books of their choosing increasing their liking of books and when it comes to a more complex age then teachers should start educating them on famous pieces of literature that have more of a meaning between each word. Reading more difficult reading levels in class will help raise the reading ability for the student, which will be helpful in their writing and speaking. Also not all students enjoy reading, but they have to manage. Teachers cannot force a student to like reading. It is like forcing a student to enjoy a sport by changing it into a more fun class that is not relevant to the actual sport, which will not benefit the student since they are not actually doing the hard work.
ReplyDeleteAlthough the idea of coming to English every day and reading Harry Potter for the entirety of the period sounds extremely attractive, I would have to disagree with Ms. McNeill and her new teaching strategy. Most modern novels that students like solely entertain. I think that each classic novel is purposely chosen because of the richness and depth to it. For example, when I read To Kill a Mockingbird in eighth grade, I instantly fell in love with it. I think part of the reason why I loved it was the way it was taught. Sometimes, students need a little prodding along during their reading of a hefty novel that will help them understand the themes, symbols, and characters fully. Also, I feel that the classics teach valuable life lessons and are full of great morals and virtues to live by that truly shape one's character. On the other hand, students with great difficulty in analyzing literature might find it helpful to ease into the literary world with simple, entertaining novels and then gradually expand their library to more complex novels. Also, students who exhibit an intense dislike of reading, might open up to it if they are allowed to choose whatever books they want to read. For these reasons, I believe that in the majority of cases, teachers should control reading lists simply because of their vast knowledge of books worth reading, classic or not.
ReplyDeleteI think both students and teachers should control reading lists. I think the lists should include some modern texts but keep some of the classical texts. If the students choose the book to be read, the students will interact and connect with the book more than they would with a classic. However, this would cause the loss of common knowledge that comes from literary novels and the absence of analyzing the text deeper. Through some observations of the students, it has been concluded that the students were not able to write or explain what they had read, even though it made them "life-long readers". THe students enjoyed reading after that experience but were not able to comprehend and analyze the text in a deeper fashion as they would in classical texts. A mix of both, I think, would be ideal because it allows class discussions over a certain book that everyone is reading yet also the students grow to love reading.
ReplyDeleteAs you might know many people do not read for fun. It is difficult for me to say that the teachers should pick the reading novels. When this happens many people lose an interest for reading. The novels assigned can be difficult to understand as well as uninteresting to many people. However I also believe that when allowing students to pick their own books will make for some ridiculous books. Students should be able to pick more interesting books, but there should be restrictions. The teacher should have the final say on what is read. If more interesting books are read in between reading classic novels, students would remain more interested in reading.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the article, I think that there should be a compromise. I think that teachers should assign a classic novel, but also let the students choose their own title atleast once a year. I think this is a good idea because while a reading of a students' choice is fun and entertaining, classic novels often teach good writing habits, and place different vocabulary words in a kids head. I think that both types however, are able to teach valuable lessons. I do believe that the whole year should not consist of only classics novels though. Personally, some classic novels such as "Romeo and Juliet", are very difficult for me to read with a full understanding of the context. That is why I think reading a book of your choice is good... because a book of your choice is healthy for your brain, i think, because you can usually fully understand and enjoy it. Difficult, classic novels however, are also healthy for your brain because they get you mind thinking hard, and really stretching your mind.
ReplyDeleteI believe the two styles should be mixed, perhaps one in the fall and the other in the spring. While some classics that English teachers choose are challenging, they prepare us for the real world, in the sense that we will be able to understand and connect common themes in our everyday lives. They also push deep thinking, which books that students choose will most likely not do. If the students are given the option, they will maybe choose books that don't have as much depth compared to traditional novels. The two should be mixed because we need the importance that the classical literature brings, but we also require the pleasure books we like to read provide.
ReplyDeleteI think that teachers should allow students to produce or at least have some sort of input in the process of selecting the reading lists. I believe that the lists should be more modernized in order to include more of the young adult novels. I think having a stated lists it will not motivate the students to read. Students will be more motivated to read if they had a serious or certain books that they would appreciate. They would also analyze better.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the students should meet the teacher half way. That means that the students should have a selections of books they would have the pleasure of reading and let the teacher choose one of those books would be best for the class. Doing this would most likely make both parties happy. And it solves the problem of every student reading a different book. Also students should have a variety of reading so they should have a classic then the next time have a more modernized book. The upside to reading a classic is that you get to experience culture. The downside to reading classics is that you might lose some of the students along the way of reading the book.
ReplyDeleteIn my perspective, many of the stories we read today, have many adaptions pulled from older classics. Potentially, the values and morals could be identical between two books, but the story might be tweaked to fit and relate to today's society. I believe that while not all books are suitable for a reading class, there is actually a wide variety of books that one could read from and still get the same message.
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