English Updates. April 26, 2007. Archive.

Archive
Literature….. Response….. What was the influence of Louise Rosenblatt on teaching literature? “At a time when New Criticism was the major theory in the field, Rosenblatt presented a strong albeit minority voice calling for the legitimacy of personal response to the reading of literature.” Roen, D and Karolides, N. CE (July 05), 565.

Literature….. Response….. How teach students to recognize the theme? Students list 12 stories that have influenced them and tell why. Students list 12 stories, write theme and pick one quotation from the story that relates to that theme. JD Wilson, Jr. CN+ (Aug. 05), 408.

Literature….. Selection….. What are some reasons for selecting literature to teach? “I select literature that connects to what they are learning in other classes.” J Koszoru. EJ (Jul. 05), 27.

Literature….. Shakespeare….. How help students to “translate” Shakespeare? “I asked them then to move their chairs into their groups and to spend the next hour of class writing out formal, polished translations of the soliloquy. KL Kleypas. TETYC (Dec. 04), 176.

Literature and writing….. Response….. What are some creative activities for responding to literature? Students respond to a book by using 10 different types of writing, “Multigenre.” For example: letter; essay; report; advertisement; advice column; autobiography of a character; biography of a character; book review; dictionary; how to; interview; lesson plan; memo; obituary; play; talk show transcript; TV newscast. J Gillespie. (JAAL (May 05), 678-684.

Reading….. Books….. Are Americans readers? Garrison Keillor: “Most books that are sold in America are not read, and we know this.” Wrt (Apr. 05), 8.

Reading….. Effects….. What can police officers gain from reading books? “Police officers in Nezahualcoyotl, a working class suburb of Mexico City, have been ordered by the mayor to read one book a month or lose their chance of promotion. Mayor Luis Sanchez tells the London Guardian that “reading will improve their vocabulary and their writing skills, help them express themselves, order their ideas and communicate with the public. Reading will make them better police officers and better people.’ ” Wrt (Jul 05), 8.

Reading….. Comprehension….. How can comprehension questions destroy the joy of reading? “Kim’s students reported being in tears over their inability to correctly answer the detailed questions on the books, even when they had read and enjoyed the selection.” WC Kasten & LG Wilfong. JAAL (May 05), 656.

Reading….. Internet….. Do the strategies of reading print text transfer to reading on the Internet? “Do students need to be taught to apply [to the Internet] the same strategies as in print environment? Does the online environment require a set of new strategies for comprehension? A Kymes. JAAL (Mar. 05), 492-500.

Reading….. Modeling….. What is one method for improving reading instruction? Demonstrates what a successful reader does. Wenk, M. EJ (Jul. 05), 42-48.

Reading….. Prior Knowledge/Internet….. What is the role of prior knowledge in successful reading? “In the online environment, it is equally important that the reader or searcher consciously activate her or his prior knowledge.” A Kymes. JAAL (Mar. 05), 494.

Reading….. Skim/Internet….. What are some reading skills that are needed to read Internet text successfully? “With printed text, readers may skim or scan to determine length, organizational format, and key passages that might relate to the purpose of the reading activity…. Due to the volume of text on line, it is necessary for students to become proficient at skimming and scanning for information.” A Kymes. JAAL (Mar. 05), 494.


Reading….. Think-aloud….. What are some examples of modeling reading skills and strategies? “The think-aloud is a technique by which the individual voices her or his thoughts during the performance of a task…. …the think-aloud has been used to provide information about user cognition and processing during task performance or problem solving.” A Kymes. JAAL (Mar. 05), 493. “Instruction in the think-aloud strategy must be modeled.” A

Reading….. Vocab/Internet….. What advantage does the Internet have in increasing understanding of words? “In a traditional print environment, the discovery of new word meanings might be through the use of contextual clues, morphological awareness, or the use of external reference materials. Online, the reader might use hypertext links to access a dictionary or alternate pages with detailed information, diagrams or other images that explain and elaborate definitions and related concepts.” A Kymes. JAAL (Mar. 05), 495.

JAAL = Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy. EJ = English Journal. Wrt = The Writer. CE = College English. CN+ = Classroom Notes Plus. TETYC = Teaching English in the Two-Year College.