Chapter 4

I really related to this chapter. Or my high school self did. I think engaging kids just to get them to pay attention let alone fully understand what they're paying attention to is a huge issue for students. All throughout high school and even sometimes now in college, teachers just teach AT us and students are not engaged. The majority of students will not pay attention because they don't feel like they need to. Like the example in the beginning of this chapter, if students were actually forced to be a part of their learning, through discussions for example, then I feel this would help them better understand the material. We have to be involved in what is being taught for us to be able to fully understand it. Taking notes on a subject doesn't mean a student understands it. But if a student can explain it back to someone or voice their opinion on the matter, it shows that they are getting it. The author's "dimensions of understanding" really emphasize this. With steps such as manipulating, exploring, and discussing kids are able to totally wrap there head around a subject rather than just memorizing a few bullet points.

Chapter 6

The part of the chapter that jumped out at me the most was the censorship portion and young kids reading about topics that some people feel aren't appropriate. I personally am very against censorship and believe that children should be exposed to the things they want to learn. The book talks about these "taboo topics" that younger children are starting to read about like drugs, sex, bullying, etc. A lot of people want to censor their children from reading these materials because they deem them inappropriate. I think it is good to read books with hard topics in them because they do portray real life. By reading about these topics, it will give kids opportunities to think about and possibly talk to their parents about them. They could learn how to deal with issues before they are forced into situations with them in real life. Reading books with these "taboo topics" isn't encouraging the kids to do drugs or go out and have sex, but informing them and preparing them for these situations that do eventually enter their lives.

Chapter 10

The reading for today really stressed the need for new ways of teaching to keep up with the new changing world. A lot of the concepts that the author introduces and discusses include classroom involvement and integrating concepts for better understanding. When I think of my future classroom and how I'm going to conduct my lessons I think a lot about student involvement. Not just teaching at the students but involving them in the teaching process so that they are engaged and can learn more. This chapter is teaching kids about being ahead of the game so that they can have a successful future. I love their ideas about group work and involving technology to maximize student involvement. Overall this chapter gave me a lot of ideas that I plan to use in my future classroom.

Chapter 1

I’ve always thought that standardized testing was not all its cracked up to be. I knew a lot of people in high school that were very bright but just could not do well on the ACT. Because of their poor test taking abilities despite their higher knowledge, their options of universities were limited as well as their financial aid. While these tests can be really good for a lot of things, they are quite flawed in many areas.
As the author explains to us, these tests show only the results they want to see. There are kids who are very smart and very literate but they just don’t care what these tests or their teachers are saying. As the reading said, there are many teachers and even principles that don’t know and/or don’t care about these other sides of their students. It is upsetting that these educators only focus on getting their testing up and don’t care about the student as an individual.
I love what the author has to say about transitioning to what literacy means in this new age. Making school about learning in ways the students want to learn and are good at. Helping students prepare for the world they actually live in. I really agree with all the things this author is saying about improving the learning system and helping and caring about the students.