Conversation with a teacher today making me say "Hmmm"

So this week I received a shipment of new books (like Christmas for me!); and to read aloud to my 3rd & 4th graders I pulled one of the new books off processing cart. It's Wangari's Trees for Peace: a True Story from Africa. If you haven't read it, get it...IMO it deserves a Caldecott nod...but I digress. It is the story of a Kenyan woman who is responsible for planting 30 million trees in Africa. Anyway, one 4th gr. teacher left the room and missed me reading most of the story, so I gave it to her to read while I checked out the students. She read it, and handed it back to me with a shrug, and said, "I'm not a tree hugger." I was speechless...she read this fabulous true story of a courageous woman who saved the ecology and helped the economy of her people, won the Nobel Peace prize in 2004, was beaten and jailed for trying to save trees. And she reduced it to a "tree hugger" book! She has made comments to me over the year that I've worked with her to make me think she pretty ultra-conservative: she thinks Harry Potter is satanic; she "resents" having Islamic holidays on "our" (read: American) calendars; and thinks Obama is the worst thing that has ever happened to our country.

My husband happened to be substitute teaching today, so I had him read the book. For the record, he's pretty conservative, and also knows pretty much zero about children's literature. He thought it was an ok story (high praise from him); then I told him what Christy had said, and he just laughed. He didn't think it was a "tree hugger" book at all.

She's also as much admitted that she's not really interested in children's literature. Which I find really sad in a teacher...there are so many great lessons to teach kids using picture books. I can only imagine that her language arts lessons are pretty dry.

So the moral of this story is that I cannot discuss GREAT children's literature with this teacher! Sadly, in this school there are very few teachers I can discuss children's literature with.

I feel badly that you appear to be caught in somewhat of an anti-child ghetto. How can teachers of children not be fascinated by childrens' literature? Oh, maybe, just maybe, if you are a science teacher who loves to do demonstrations...I might forgive you. Or if you are a physical education teacher who is gifted in physical movement and can inspire all children to get up and move...well, you too could be forgiven. But most of the rest of the teachers of children should be in love with literture as well as in love with the children.

OK. I'll get down off my soap box.

In library school, the children's and young adult lit classes were a mix of library science students and education undergrads. In my children's lit class, there were about five of us from the library school, and about twenty or so ed students. On the first day of class, the professor had us go around the room and introduce ourselves, and one of the things she asked us to do was to mention the last book we had read for pleasure. Several of us from the library science program were a bit shocked at the number of future educators who flippantly admitted that they "didn't like to read" -- a few hadn't even read a single book for pleasure since elementary or middle school! It was an eye-opening experience for me, let me tell you.

I haven't had a chance to read Wangari's Trees for Peace yet (though I do remember reading positive reviews for it), but I'll have to be sure we have it in our collection, so thanks for the recommendation! It sounds like the book has so much more to offer than an ecological argument: a strong female character, insight into another culture, etc. -- but you can't force a person to give a book a thoughtful reading. I know it is discouraging not to have people to discuss literature with at work . . . but aren't you glad you have LibraryThing? :-)

foggi: I stopped liking reading for pleasure when I got to junior high. I'm not really sure why. I didn't pick up the habit until I had graduated from college. Now you can't catch me without my nose in 3-5 books at a time.

Speaking of tree hugger books, I found Once I was a cardboard box... in the book fair yesterday at school. It's a really cool book!

I would go nuts w/o you guys at LT! I'm pretty much the voice in the wilderness here...I so want to push these great books in the hands of the kids and teachers; but they are content to just keep reading so-so series and blah mediocre books (or books w/ tv show or movie tie-ins)...and the teachers are satisfied if their students read something "on their level" and take a friggin AR test. Have I mentioned how much I HATE Accelerated Reader??? I have a miniscule book budget, so I read and read reviews and agonize over which of the best to buy...and then they ask me where the Olsen Twins books are. Sigh. Honestly I could just buy crap and they probably wouldn't notice...

However, there are little glimmers of hope and light. I've just gotten the entire set of 39 Clues series, which kids are asking for. A 3rd grader has asked every day this week if the new Babymouse is ready yet. Diary of a Wimpy Kid is never on the shelf for long. A 4th grader told me how much she's enjoying the book she's reading (a new one I purchased last year)

anyway, LT saves my sanity... ;)

I loved getting books into my kids hands, and my teachers too. I was lucky, in that I was the "expert" and was allowed to buy the books I wanted. (I'm retired now) We have AR, but I made it work for me, by buying dozens and dozens of quizzes that matched the titles I had on my shelves. I also wrote lots of tests. That way the quizzes matched quality books, and the kids couldn't help but get some good stuff.

I discouraged reading under your reading level at a certain point with the elementary students. I wanted them always to be challenged. But by the time they got to high school, I had no guidelines for reading level - just read what you like, ask for genre lists and series lists, and ask me what I love!

Besides, once you get to be a really good reader, you can't find much to read "on your level." Even popular writers like King and Grisham rarely write above a level 6.5 or so. Many of my kids (more every year) tested out at level 12+ and NOBODY writes popular fiction on that level!!

Many of the teachers at my school do not read, and they will tell you they have not read a book since college. I can not imagine not reading.

#6 MerryMary - You are right about the level of AR books! We have a great school librarian who searches for quality, high level books for our students.

Just to play the "devil's advocate" I realize I totally do not understand people who are addicted to exercise. I can hardly make myself go to the gym because it is "good for me"; good for me especially since I am "older"; however, exercise = pain in the a** to me. So, when someone says they do not understand how I can have so many books, or spend so much time and money on "reading" I try to remember that variety does make the world more interesting and I am glad some people work hard to have excellent bodies. They are fun to look at! And then, they can enjoy talking to me.

Had to go to wikipedia for Accelerated Reader ... seems a great way to set up a monopoly, a lousy way to teach.

No idea what British primary schools do now. In the 1970's we took the books home and a parent signed the bookmark to say how much we had read to them. That lasted until age 8 or so, then for the last two years before secondary school we just picked out a book from the school library. I remember King Solomons Mines and Watership Down from around that time.

I learnt most from Mum bringing home a stack of books from Hereford library each month.

#4 -- So, maybe there's hope for some of those non-readers I met? ;-) At that point in your life, would you have said, "I don't like to read"? To me, there's a significant difference between not liking to read, and not having time to read.

#5 -- I don't know any librarian who likes AR, but I know several teachers (including my uncle, who teaches 4th grade) who love it. He says that it encourages reluctant readers to read something, and I can kind of see his point. It's the enthusiastic readers that are hurt by the system, as they aren't always free to read whatever they want to read when constrained by AR.

#6 -- True, that popular writers don't write at a high "level"! A few months ago I had a student come in looking for books at AR level 8 or above. Even that's tricky!

#8 -- Good point. And I do realize that people learn differently (not all through reading) and that people enjoy different things. I guess what was so surprising to me is that people who want to teach, particularly at the elementary level, would not be interested in reading at all.

Planting trees is bad? Not in my world.

I wouldn't label this woman a conservative though, just a closed mind. Sad for someone who is supposed to be helping to open childrens minds.

Might these two books be of use to you?

http://www.librarything.com/work/7598155

http://www.librarything.com/work/8040673

thanks Old Sarge...maybe I'll try to find a teacher who will actually read one of them. lol

If you have read another of my threads in the Librarians Who Library Thing, you know that I have a Cunning Plan. It is to buy as many great books as possible, and then, as kids start checking them out instead of mediocre-to-crappy books, I will slowly and sneakily remove all the cruddy books from the shelves. And, since the district bought AR Web last year, almost everything I buy will have a test. I will never be a fan of AR, but since it was totally imbedded in this district, I have to live with it. But even though it is a little more work to do the research to buy well-written books, that's what I'll do. Kids will still have to test on them, but at least maybe they'll have read something meaningful.

btw, I do have some "fun" books on the shelves too. Captain Underpants and Goosebumps are there too, along with starred review books.

theexiledlibrarian - I feel your pain, but keep spreading the love, even if they don't all catch it, some will who might not have otherwise, and that is a good thing.

I used children's literature to teach or enhance almost every subject I taught with my children, but even so, only one of mine loves to read. The other two are quite literate, they just don't read books. They read all sorts of things online though, researching, fooling around and whatnot.

RE: AR- Mweh... I don't absolutely hate it, but it's not my favorite either. It really doesn't test comprehension, just random facts from the books. The quizzes could be built a lot better. Four years ago we piloted the new AR system, and I have to say I don't like it compaired to the old system. It's not as kid friendly, so our younger ones have a harder time with navigating it.

I first experienced the AR program last year when my son was in grade 2. From that, and continuing into this year, I get the impression that the goals set are just rough guidelines. This year, my son was set a points goal of 20.5, and reading range goal of 4.2-6.7. Quite a wide range I think. But I also have a son who enjoys reading. His teachers seem happy to let him discover books and authors on his own, they haven't tried to steer him in any way. And they aren't overly concerned with when the book is read. My son spent most of the summer reading The Goblet of Fire and didn't finish it until the first week of school. He was allowed to take the AR test and did well. So to me, there seems to be a lot of leniency with the AR program, or with the teachers anyways. I don't know if this is the policy in general and I don't know how this program would impact a reluctant reader. I'm just excited that he likes to read!

ETA - keeping my fingers crossed that the same will be true for son #2

ETA2 - And I'm happy that all his teachers so far seem to enjoy books. Son keeps telling me about the latest book teacher is reading to the class. At the moment, it's aCharlie Bone book.

#15 -- Sounds like you and your son are fortunate in his teacher and how s/he (or the school system where you are) uses AR.

a mini-rant, on one of the reasons I don't like AR...a 2nd grader just returned a book, saying "I read that book for no reason. I couldn't take a test on it." So I asked him, did he like the book. Answer, "Yes." "Then you didn't read it for no reason. Sometimes we read a book just because we like it, not to take a test."
Sigh.

OK, I am not a teacher or a librarian, so I had to google "accelerated reader". Here is what I find on Wikipedia, as of 2200 on 10.20.2009 Eastern:

"sucks dick software assessment in wide use by primary and secondary schools for monitoring the practice of reading, and it is created by Renaissance Learning, Inc."

The most surprising intro to a Wikipedia article I've come across.

18: I remember reading a Wikipedia article about an extreme utopian socialist (I can't remember who now) who didn't believe in money or wealth and would knock on people's doors asking to stay overnight as he traveled about spreading his message of utopian socialism. The article concluded with:

"He was a complete dumbass".

Let it never be said that Wikipedia contributors don't editorialize.

WikiVandalism is occasionally as humorous as it is annoying.

#18; your Wikipedia post made me laugh. I went to the site, and it's evidently been re-edited. Darn; b/c I really wanted to forward that to some people I know!

As a program, I suppose AR is no better/worse than other educational programs out there. And though Renaissance Learning in their promotional materials, says that it is to promote voluntary reading for pleasure, and doesn't recommend extrinsic rewards, that is not the reality of the situation in this particular school. AR is required reading, tied to their language arts grade, and extrinsic rewards are routinely offered. I tried realy hard to be as un-involved in AR as possible, but it just wasn't going to happen. AR is imbedded in this school district, all the way to high school level--even though the high school librarian has admitted that there is rampant cheating going on, and that her students are now non-readers probably because of AR. So now, against all my principals, I offer rewards as students meet their goals; have scheduled "AR DEAR days" & offer games in the library to win prizes; have students' names on the library wall showing how far they are to making their yearly goal. Books are color-coded according to their reading level, and their library cards are now color-coded as well, so that I can monitor their reading materials. I know very well that if they get something "not on their level" the teacher will just send them right back. I instituted a rule last year that one book had to be AR; their 2nd could be anything they want. Teachers have taken that privelege away from their students, insisting everything they read be AR. I hate that I've caved on my principals on this!

My last district, btw, would not allow AR, and recently removed it and Reading Counts from the few schools that had them. Color coding or leveling the collection was considered a violation of students' right to privacy. That district promoted literature in many innovative, fun, and meaningful ways. I often had teachers asking for books to extend science, social studies, art and music lessons. That doesn't happen here at all. One kindergarten teacher didn't even know who Corduroy was!

I work in a high school library (no AR) and we get any students from middle schools with AR. At the beginning of this year, one of the schools sent some ARCs to their students who had made remarkable progress in their AR levels. For kids who supposedly learned to love to read, guess how many times they've been in this library. Not one of them even once.

22: You know what taught me to learn to love to read? Moving to Tanzania.

This was before sattelite television, before VCRs even. Before video games. If you wanted to watch something, you had to break out the reel to reel film projector, set up a screen and so on. We only saw a movie every now and then. But we did have a pile of books. By the time I had access to TV and video games and so on, my reading habit was already entrenched.

I am convinced that if you want to make children avid readers, you have to take the TV away from them.

#23 Absolutely agree ... and not just children!

I've been television-free since March 2001.

They haven't yet prosecuted me for Thought Crime, though I did receive some unpleasant phone calls and a visit by a TV license inspector ...

In a book the pictures are better, there are no adverts and its always wide screen with Dolby Surround :-)

#23

I had access to television and video games and the like - and I am still a reader.

25: I HAVE access to television and video games and the like - and I am still a reader.

I am reading my first doorstopper fantasy novel, at a whopping 819 pages. Is this a rite of passage for me?

Only if you finish it. :P

My 8.5 year old is a great reader, but she prefers babymouse and wimpy kid and geronimo stilton to anything I've recommended - until recently when she finally started reading Enchanted Castle by E.Nesbit - she says so far its GREAT! and I am SO EXCITED! she might actually read The Treasure Seekers and The Wouldbegoods and then possibly the Gammage Cup and then maybe The Book of Three - i Can't Wait! to share these with her. I think the moral is that getting them to read is the first step, and they'll often prefer to read what their friends are reading (ie trash)to anything an adult suggests, unless they trust the adult's taste, but the hard part is just getting them to start, anywhere. Once they are readers anything can happen.

Since she's enjoying E. Nesbit, she might like Edward Eager. I'd start with Half Magic.

Perhaps it comes under your idea of trash, but Ranger's Apprentice is another one of those book series that's getting kids to read again.

The kids at my school love The Diary of a Wimpy Kid series...they are seldom on the shelves.

Thanks, Jennieg. We've got Half Magic on the same shelf, along with the other Eagers, waiting her pleasure.

You're my kind of people.

I enjoyed the Ranger Apprentice books too!

Now, I know some of our kids read books that I cringe at (hello Sponge Bob Squarepants) but my motto is: at least they're reading.

#21, what you describe is going on at the school my kids attend, and as a parent I'm frustrated that they'll make reading a chore and not pleasurable, and the reward system sends the wrong message, and yeah, a lot of cheating goes on to satisfy their goals.

As for other comments in this post, my 4th grader loves the Wimpy Kid books and also Sachar's Wayside school series. Her reading level is technically above that, she should probably be reading books on a higher level, but I'm not pushing her toward reading anything that isn't fun for her at this point. At least she's reading.

34 - Book 9 just came out in Australia - Halt's Peril! I'm reading it now.

So jealous! I've been waiting for book 6 to come out here, and then forgot about it for a little while. I just ordered it today.