Blog # 3

What does it mean to repond to a text?
The reading response theory was formed by Louise Roseblatt's transactional theory of reading. She suggests that readers can approach reading with two different motivations, efferent and aesthetic. In other words we read for information or for pleasure. As teachers we should build our instructions with creativity to encourage critical thinking and motivate our students to read. This doesn't just mean using worksheets or standard question and answer formats. There are many ways to scaffold instruction.

First, we must take into consideration what information (knowledge) the reader has. For example, if a student has never seen snow and we are discussing snow, how can we help them make the connection? Books, WEBS, journals, and art can be used to help students make a connection to the text. I love the idea of allowing students to use art to make connections; it's a universal form of expression. Having the students be creative and expressive will help to enrich their connection to the book or information they have read.

My favorite book and why:
The book I enjoyed the most was the one about the teacher, I believe the title was Arizona. This book was a touching story of a very dedicated teacher who always dreamed of going to far away places, however because of her dedication to her students she never actually visited these places herself, BUT...because of that same dedication she introduced and encouraged her many students to visit far away places. I wish she had eventually had the opportunity to do both.

My least favorite and why?
The book that caused my eye brows to wrinkle slightly was The Amazing Bone! A talking bone??? A bone! Why a bone!? Maybe if I had been a cannible or lived in a cave I could have related to this book better. I found myself waiting for the purpose of the author's choice of the BONE! Hmmmm....