Reading curriculum?

[rchristiansen]

DD9, 4th grade, comes home today and tells us that on top of their (now) 40 minutes a day of reading (used to be only 30) and 20 minutes of writing, that she needs to do a "reading response" after each times she reads. Come on! She reads in the evening before going to bed. I told her that she can just do it the next day.

There is a scale from 1 - 4. 4 being the best. There is criteria such as neatness, critical thinking, interpretation, etc. She said they will get a zero if they don't write in it.

Now, maybe it's just me, but isn't this more of a curriculum for non-fiction science or social studies reading?

I doubt there is a deep seeded meaning to Big Nate or Diary of a Wimpy Kid that she's going to be able to expand upon.

Can't kids just read for fun?

 

[Alsobrook]

In an effort to Leave No Child Behind, we Make Every Child Jump Through Hoops, Jump Down Turn Around and Pick a Bale of Cotton, and Do the Twist.

It's insane.

 

[rchristiansen]

In an effort to Leave No Child Behind, we Make Every Child Jump Through Hoops, Jump Down Turn Around and Pick a Bale of Cotton, and Do the Twist.

It's insane.

Funny.

I just don't get why this all can't be integrated with her science or social study reports. Any teachers out there want to help us clueless parents try to figure out how to interpret or find meaning in fiction?

 

[daisyduck123]

Funny.

Any teachers out there want to help us clueless parents try to figure out how to interpret or find meaning in fiction?

There is so much that can be done with fiction. Just a few ideas....your daughter can talk about a story's plot. Mention the problem, characters' attempts to solve the problem, the solution. When your DD has finished a story, she can try retelling the story from another character's point of view, mentioning how often the perspective can change when told from a different viewpoint.

Btw, the "scale" you mentioned is called a "rubric".

 

[rchristiansen]

There is so much that can be done with fiction. Just a few ideas....:

They attempted this last year too I remember. Asking questions like "What do you think will happen next." My DD's response was "I don't know, I haven't read it yet."

 

[3smithboys]

sent you a PM

 

[disny_luvr]

They attempted this last year too I remember. Asking questions like "What do you think will happen next." My DD's response was "I don't know, I haven't read it yet."

It's called making a prediction.

When I taught reading students were required to keep post-it notes about their reading. Post-its included predictions, making connections (text-to-self, text-to-text, text-to-world), drawing conclusions, and post-its about the characters (traits), setting, so on and so on. It helps with comprehension. I graded post-its, using a rubric (the 1-4 scale) at the end of every book they read. They were required to read a certain number of books each marking period.

 

[tw1nsmom]

It's called making a prediction.

When I taught reading students were required to keep post-it notes about their reading. Post-its included predictions, making connections (text-to-self, text-to-text, text-to-world), drawing conclusions, and post-its about the characters (traits), setting, so on and so on. It helps with comprehension. I graded post-its, using a rubric (the 1-4 scale) at the end of every book they read. They were required to read a certain number of books each marking period.

Yup, the OP's DD is getting to the age where she will be expected to reflect, critique and write about what she read. It's good that she gets practice in it now before she gets to middle school when more extensive book reports will likely be the norm.

 

[rchristiansen]

Yup, the OP's DD is getting to the age where she will be expected to reflect, critique and write about what she read. It's good that she gets practice in it now before she gets to middle school when more extensive book reports will likely be the norm.

I hated reading fiction as a kid - and still do. I just never "got it" because it never seemed real to me - I couldn't comprehend things like a troll's purpose living in a forest and stuff like that - it wasn't real - anything could happen and it didn't make sense to me . I really enjoy non-fiction though.

DD loves to read both fiction and non-fiction, I just don't want it to be a chore for her because she learns so much from it. I have a fear that she will not want to continue when the reading isn't fun anymore.

 

[disfan07]

As much as I despise no child left behind and think it is ruining the education system....i can't really blame this type of assignment on that.

I had assignments like that in elementary school before NCLB came in to play. So it's nothing new. They want kids to strat thinking critically about the books. They want to know that the kids actually can comprehend what they are reading. I think this assignemnt does have a place in the cirriculum.

And why is it crazy for them to be asked to make predictions about what happens next? Heck, we ask our preschoolers that. They LOVE to try and guess what they think will happen next when we read to them. And they are only 3 and 4!

And seriously....is the only assignment a rubric???? Really?? We had to do reading journals in 4th grade. A rubric is basic and simple....it shouldn't be that hard to do.

 

[scrapquitler]

DD9, 4th grade, comes home today and tells us that on top of their (now) 40 minutes a day of reading (used to be only 30) and 20 minutes of writing, that she needs to do a "reading response" after each times she reads. Come on! She reads in the evening before going to bed. I told her that she can just do it the next day.

There is a scale from 1 - 4. 4 being the best. There is criteria such as neatness, critical thinking, interpretation, etc. She said they will get a zero if they don't write in it.

Now, maybe it's just me, but isn't this more of a curriculum for non-fiction science or social studies reading?

I doubt there is a deep seeded meaning to Big Nate or Diary of a Wimpy Kid that she's going to be able to expand upon.

Can't kids just read for fun?

I understand the curriculum goals they are trying to reach by having kids do all these sorts of exercises, but then they yammer on about how important it is for the kids to become 'lifelong readers'. Well if you want them to become lifelong readers, then it has to be FUN. If you are going to suck every ounce of enjoyment out of reading by making it such a chore and a darn process, then you're just going to turn the kids off of wanting to read.

 

[pacrosby]

I understand the curriculum goals they are trying to reach by having kids do all these sorts of exercises, but then they yammer on about how important it is for the kids to become 'lifelong readers'. Well if you want them to become lifelong readers, then it has to be FUN. If you are going to suck every ounce of enjoyment out of reading by making it such a chore and a darn process, then you're just going to turn the kids off of wanting to read.

I agree wholeheartedly. My kids used to love to read. Now it's become such a chore. Read X number of minutes per night, keep a log, write a summary or some extended response..............even on the weekends. Ugh.

My 4th grader moans and groans every night now. And my 6th grader who just this year no longer NEEDS to read every night.......has stopped reading for pleasure entirely. I'm sure my other two will follow in their footsteps. I already hear my second grader starting to complain. So sad

 

[golfgal]

DD9, 4th grade, comes home today and tells us that on top of their (now) 40 minutes a day of reading (used to be only 30) and 20 minutes of writing, that she needs to do a "reading response" after each times she reads. Come on! She reads in the evening before going to bed. I told her that she can just do it the next day.

There is a scale from 1 - 4. 4 being the best. There is criteria such as neatness, critical thinking, interpretation, etc. She said they will get a zero if they don't write in it.

Now, maybe it's just me, but isn't this more of a curriculum for non-fiction science or social studies reading?

I doubt there is a deep seeded meaning to Big Nate or Diary of a Wimpy Kid that she's going to be able to expand upon.

Can't kids just read for fun?

There is more to reading then just looking at the words. A lot of kids can read the words but understanding what they have read is a HUGE issue for a lot of kids (and adults). No, they can't just read for fun. They are in school to LEARN how to read properly and how to understand what they have read and how to apply what they have read. Sure, in 4th grade the books are not all that complicated, which is why they practice this skill in 4th grade (and kindergarten and first grade....). When they get to high school and read books like War and Peace, it makes a huge difference if they have learned to read properly.

 

[disfan07]

Somehow, myself and pretty much all of my friends were able to make it thorugh all of these reading asssignments still loving to read. I am in college and i still LOVE reading for fun. I don't get to do it very often but it's still enjoyable for me.

I really think that all of these kids who suddenly don't like to read anymore probably would have been turned off from it eventually anyway. I don't think you can blame the assignments. Do you think that they should not have to do book reports becasue it would "disrupt their love of learning"? Do you think that they should not have to do anything in english classes related to reading comprehension, etc becasue it would "disrupt their love of reading?"

I think their is so much more to it than just the assignment.

These assignments are so easy if you are doing them about a book you like.

 

[Talking Hands]

DD9, 4th grade, comes home today and tells us that on top of their (now) 40 minutes a day of reading (used to be only 30) and 20 minutes of writing, that she needs to do a "reading response" after each times she reads. Come on! She reads in the evening before going to bed. I told her that she can just do it the next day.

There is a scale from 1 - 4. 4 being the best. There is criteria such as neatness, critical thinking, interpretation, etc. She said they will get a zero if they don't write in it.

Now, maybe it's just me, but isn't this more of a curriculum for non-fiction science or social studies reading?

I doubt there is a deep seeded meaning to Big Nate or Diary of a Wimpy Kid that she's going to be able to expand upon.

Can't kids just read for fun?

Yes they can read for fun but that is over and above whatever reading they are doing for language arts. Our high school students are required to do the same thing for their silent reading but it is done during classtime as they are on a block schedule. Doesn't matter if it is fiction or non-fiction.

 

[rchristiansen]

There is more to reading then just looking at the words. A lot of kids can read the words but understanding what they have read is a HUGE issue for a lot of kids (and adults). No, they can't just read for fun.

That line about them not understanding what they read has been thrown at me over and over again since kindergarten and it makes me want to scream.

I have quizzed DD over and over again about what she read and she understands it - very clearly - even tiny details she remembers. I'm certain most of the kids are the same way when it comes to the books they want to read for FUN.

As I said in my first post, I think this response, critical thinking, analyzing curriculum should be aimed at non-fiction.

 

[leebee]

I understand the curriculum goals they are trying to reach by having kids do all these sorts of exercises, but then they yammer on about how important it is for the kids to become 'lifelong readers'. Well if you want them to become lifelong readers, then it has to be FUN. If you are going to suck every ounce of enjoyment out of reading by making it such a chore and a darn process, then you're just going to turn the kids off of wanting to read.

I understand the goals of the assignment- to teach kids to read critically, to increase comprehension, etc.- but agree with the assignment just sucking all the fun out of reading. It took DD years to learn to love to read again after several years of this type of assignment. Be honest here... do you ask yourself all these questions, reflect, predict, etc., when YOU read a book? Many schools have reading programs that address all this kind of stuff in school, programs with stories, guided discussions, worksheets, quizzes, computer testing, etc. The teachers HAVE to teach them all the dissection techniques, etc., to get through the curriculum. Why, oh why, do we have to make them hate reading at home, too?

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Yes, I predict, reflect, note foreshadowing, duality, irony, etc.

 

[hj0519]

That line about them not understanding what they read has been thrown at me over and over again since kindergarten and it makes me want to scream.

I have quizzed DD over and over again about what she read and she understands it - very clearly - even tiny details she remembers. I'm certain most of the kids are the same way when it comes to the books they want to read for FUN.

As I said in my first post, I think this response, critical thinking, analyzing curriculum should be aimed at non-fiction.

Why should it be aimed at non-fiction? Once she gets into middle school and high school, most of what she's going to be doing in language arts/english classes is critically thinking about and analyzing fiction. Writing a reading response is helping prepare for the next steps of becoming the critical thinker and reader she will need to be in order to be successful in later grades.

 

[cornflake]

As I said in my first post, I think this response, critical thinking, analyzing curriculum should be aimed at non-fiction.

Why?

She'll be analyzing, etc., fiction for the rest of her school career and beyond. Poetry, drama, great literature... is all subject to what you describe in classes from elementary school through graduate school and in home book clubs too. Why should it be aimed at non-fiction in 4th grade?