Final Reflection About Semester

This was by far my favorite class this semester.  What I liked most about this class was its in depth use of young adult literature.  I think this type of literature provided some great topics for classroom discussions.  These discussions were also a product of some great activities.  Even though the class was kind of long the time always went by really fast.  The people were always entertaining and I enjoyed hearing everyone's opinions.  I learned a lot and had a blast doing it!

Chapter 14 Finding the Right Book

The appeal of a book can definitely be affected by its phyiscal appearance.  Many readers want to find shorter books with bigger fonts and pictures.  While these books are appealing in theory, they may not be the best books that are out there for students to read.  To get students to look deeper into the book I think Beers as some really great ideas.  The one that I really liked a lot was the good book box.  When books are brought to students directly there is a greater chance that students will actually pick them up and look at them.  Even if it gets students to flip through only a few pages, it is better than having them look at nothing at all.  I also agree that it is important to get to know the students interests.  When you know what appeals to them it is easier for them to read something that interests them. 

Chapter 13 Creating the Confidence to Respond

I believe that confidence is a huge issue that is present in reading.  My good friend, is an incredibly smart person but because his teacher in elementary school scolded him for his stammer he gradually lost his confidence in reading aloud; which further lead to a discomfort in reading.  When students lack this confidence they easily make excuses for themselves by stating that they are just dumb, when this is normally not the case at all.  To keep this from happening there are several measurements that can be taken in a classroom.  The main one being to encourage each other.  Students should never be talked down upon for making mistakes or not having the correct answer.  Also, the diversity's within a classroom should be well respected.  Respect is key.  A great way for students to learn about the differences between each other and gain each others respect is to have classroom discussions.  I always enjoyed the class talks we would have and I think this provided for a very relaxed and comfortable environment.  This positivity can only help students attitudes about reading.

Chapter 10 Fluency and Automaticity

One thing that I thought was interesting was that it was mentioned that silently reading in the classroom can increase fluency.  When I think of reading silently in the classroom, I typically see it as an activity to take up time throughout the class period or as an allotted time for students to get their reading done when an excessive amount is assigned.  I never really thought about the positive effect that it could have on the reader.  I think it is a great way to promote higher reading rates, and with this knowledge would definitely consider using this as a classroom tool. 
I also liked how Beers mentioned how students should hear texts through a variety of means.  Whether it be reading in small groups or simply the teacher reading aloud, it provides for students to follow along and note how it sounds and is phrased.  Also, I thought it was interesting that echo reading could be used.  It is fascinating that if teachers just took a little time out for students to repeat them, they could have great benefits.