2008 Woodie Awards
Students develop reading appreciation
Benjamin Pomerance
Issue date: 4/20/07 Section: News
Originally published: 4/26/07 at 6:07 PM EST
Last update: 4/26/07 at 6:06 PM EST
"This is why we have this class," Ackland said. "Reading a book should be like taking castor oil. With the proper teaching style, reading is fun."
Ackland said his goal is to make graduate students think like kids again. To him, poor use of "locus of control" in classroom situations shows why many students do not like to read.
Too often, Ackland said, teachers force students to read a particular book.
If students were allowed to choose their book, sharing the locus of control between teacher and student, Ackland said he believes students will be more receptive to reading the books they picked out themselves. Ackland's students have their own ideas.
Senior Brenna Merry said she believes students will read books if the subject interests them. Teachers need to spend time researching student and community interests, Merry said, and select their required readings accordingly.
Another budding teacher already has plans for her classroom. Senior Katherine Moehringer said she intends to let students pick their own books for all of their reading assignments.
"They might not read so-called classics every time," Moehringer said, "but they'll be reading something."
Above all, senior Maria Forkey said teachers must be enthusiastic. Forkey remembered observing one teacher degrade certain aspects of reading right in front of his students.
"He sucked the energy right out of the room," she said. "He ruined reading before the kids had a chance to explore it for themselves."
PSUC English Professor Bruce Butterfield said a teacher should never tell a student if a book is good or bad. Reading preferences, Butterfield said, is a highly personal matter.
"Students discussing books is always exciting, even if I personally dislike a book they're discussing," Butterfield said.
Yet Butterfield said he wonders if the nationwide decline in reading has affected PSUC. Recently, he reduced the amount of required reading for his literature classes, but many students still do not complete them by the due date - if they complete them at all.
Ackland said his goal is to make graduate students think like kids again. To him, poor use of "locus of control" in classroom situations shows why many students do not like to read.
Too often, Ackland said, teachers force students to read a particular book.
If students were allowed to choose their book, sharing the locus of control between teacher and student, Ackland said he believes students will be more receptive to reading the books they picked out themselves. Ackland's students have their own ideas.
Senior Brenna Merry said she believes students will read books if the subject interests them. Teachers need to spend time researching student and community interests, Merry said, and select their required readings accordingly.
Another budding teacher already has plans for her classroom. Senior Katherine Moehringer said she intends to let students pick their own books for all of their reading assignments.
"They might not read so-called classics every time," Moehringer said, "but they'll be reading something."
Above all, senior Maria Forkey said teachers must be enthusiastic. Forkey remembered observing one teacher degrade certain aspects of reading right in front of his students.
"He sucked the energy right out of the room," she said. "He ruined reading before the kids had a chance to explore it for themselves."
PSUC English Professor Bruce Butterfield said a teacher should never tell a student if a book is good or bad. Reading preferences, Butterfield said, is a highly personal matter.
"Students discussing books is always exciting, even if I personally dislike a book they're discussing," Butterfield said.
Yet Butterfield said he wonders if the nationwide decline in reading has affected PSUC. Recently, he reduced the amount of required reading for his literature classes, but many students still do not complete them by the due date - if they complete them at all.
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