We will start publishing contributors’ posts for Engaging Literate Minds (Stenhouse, 2020) on Monday, June 15. What questions do you have about the study? Comments or any quotes to share if you’ve started reading it?
There are so many amazing quotes but one I find myself going back again and again to this one: "Changing our teaching is, in may ways, not that difficult. It certainly helps to have colleagues with whom you can plan and problem solve. It also helps to have concrete examples along with the thinking behind them... The difficult part is letting go of old habits and beliefs about teaching, learning, literacy and children." Change is hard because it requires us to first look long and hard into the proverbial mirror. It's easier to point a finger of blame at our situation, others, lack of support, or even the times..... but to be responsible professionals requires us to acknowledge our role in the change process and put the needs of children over the discomfort that comes with admitting our thinking and thus practices might NEED changing.
"We understand that we are preparing children so that they can live fulfilling, independent lives while helping to build the democratic society in which they live-to make it better." (Johnston et al., 2020) I find this profoundly pertinent.
One common question: "When and where do posts and discussions take place?"
We should have a post every day, Monday through Thursday, starting next week for five weeks. They will be on the blog: readingbyexample.com (Go to https://readingbyexample.com/2020-online-book-study/ for the schedule.)
Every Wednesday there will be a discussion about the chapters for each week on this newsletter: readbyexample.substack.com
On Friday I will also do a round up of the posts and other content on the newsletter.
There are so many amazing quotes but one I find myself going back again and again to this one: "Changing our teaching is, in may ways, not that difficult. It certainly helps to have colleagues with whom you can plan and problem solve. It also helps to have concrete examples along with the thinking behind them... The difficult part is letting go of old habits and beliefs about teaching, learning, literacy and children." Change is hard because it requires us to first look long and hard into the proverbial mirror. It's easier to point a finger of blame at our situation, others, lack of support, or even the times..... but to be responsible professionals requires us to acknowledge our role in the change process and put the needs of children over the discomfort that comes with admitting our thinking and thus practices might NEED changing.
I recall that quote too, Mary, and I agree - the easier thing to do is to call attention to other factors. Harder is to reflect and self-renew.
"We understand that we are preparing children so that they can live fulfilling, independent lives while helping to build the democratic society in which they live-to make it better." (Johnston et al., 2020) I find this profoundly pertinent.
I appreciate you sharing this quote, Ryanne. Living for others as well as ourselves seems like a preferred outcome of education.