As a teacher and as a father, I have watched a number young people fall in…and then out of love with books.  Even in homes where reading is valued, book-time often finds itself in competition with a variety of school activities, videogames, and number of other pastimes. The situation is complicated by the fact that children’s motivation to read seems to decline as they get older (McKenna & Kear, 1990). In an effort to better understand what is it that motivates kids to read—and what teachers can do to increase students’ engagement in challenging literacy tasks—I visited with educators and researchers around the country who work with reluctant readers... 

Podcast References

Birsch, J. (2006). What is multisensory structured language? Perspectives, 32(2), 15-20.

Guthrie, J.T., Hoa, L.W., Wigfield, A., Tonks, S.M., Humenick, N.M., & Littles, E. (2007). Reading motivation and reading comprehension growth in the later elementary years. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 32(3), 282–313. doi:10.1016/j.cedpsych.2006.05.004

Guthrie, J. T., Meter, P., McCann, A. D., Wigfield, A., Bennett, L., Poundstone, C. C., ... & Mitchell, A. M. (1996). Growth of literacy engagement: Changes in motivations and strategies during concept‐oriented reading instruction. Reading Research Quarterly, 31(3), 306-332.

McKenna, M., & Kear, D. (1990). Measuring attitudes toward reading: A new tool for teachers. The Reading Teacher, 52, 698–706.

McKenna, M.C., Conradi, K., Lawrence, C., Jang, B.G., & Meyer, J.P. (2012). Reading attitudes of middle school students: Results of a U.S. survey. Reading Research Quarterly, 47(3), 283–306.

Nolen, S. B. (2007). Young children's motivation to read and write: Development in social contexts. Cognition and Instruction, 25(2-3), 219-270.

Schiefele, U., & Schaffner, E. (in press). Lesemotivation im Grund schulalter – Ergebnisse einer Interviewstudie [Reading motivation of elementary school students – Results from an interview study]. Psychologie in Erziehung und Unterricht.

Schiefele, U., Schaffner, E., Möller, J., & Wigfield, A. (2012). Dimensions of reading motivation and their relation to reading behavior and competence. Reading Research Quarterly, 47(4), 427-463.

Choice, control, ownership of learning, a few games, and a bit of technology can have a powerful impact on mathematics instruction. 

I was walking through an elementary school recently, and I heard this kid in the hall turn to another kid and say, “Math was really fun today. “  He went on to talk about all the things that they ‘got’ to do. That is what he said.  Stuff we “got” to do.  So, I asked around.  I found out who his math teacher was. And I paid her a visit.  I explained that I was interested in what she does in her class.  You know, what is it that makes a kid say, “Hey.  Math is fun.”  She let me snoop around, even watch and visit with her kids.  And what I saw was amazing...

I recently visited a classroom where a teacher was working with students to examine changes that are underway in schools regarding 'how' and 'from whom' we learn.  This educator insisted that students must work to examine the ways in which we communicate, interpret, and form culture. To do so, he worked with a photographer from National Geographic to bring small town history to life.  I was intrigued when, during our conversation, he told me that, “Teachers need to get beyond this idea that we are authoritative sources of knowledge, and instead seek out experts outside the walls of our schools. It was at that point that I took a little digital microphone and asked him to share some of his thoughts on a project that I have since referred to as ‘Big-time Thoughts from Seemingly Small-time Towns.”

Lately, I have been doing much more travelling than I would like to be doing.  This often means car traffic, airport delays, and of course…road food.  But it’s not all bad. You see, I have recently come to the realization just how many American cities have are host to what I call the Fame Phenomenon. 

We have all likely heard of the Cooperstown’s Baseball Hall of Fame and Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  But there also exists hundreds of lesser known Halls. Titusville, Florida for instance, hosts the Astronaut Hall of Fame.  Dayton, Ohio houses the National Aviation Hall of Fame.  There is even a Robot Hall of Fame in Pittsburg.   I recently spoke at an induction ceremony for the Teacher Hall of Fame.  There are hundreds of such sites around the country, run by organizations feeling the need to enshrine famous or illustrious individuals. To be deemed worthy of such an honor often requires nomination, a rigorous application and review process, and hopefully….selection by a group of electors.

The other day, I visited a classroom teacher who is capitalizing on this American obsession with elitism in the form of a Historical Hall of Fame with his students...

Curtis' Better Learning for Schools podcast episode 002  In this episode, we start to take a look at what assessments are...and what they can become.