Moms for Education
http://news.yahoo.com/sat-reading-scores-lowest-theyve-40-years-204658542.html
Do you read to your kids? How often?
Do you think the scores are the result of migration to the US, two working parents, genetic/inability, technology/TV, apathetic attitude or another reason?
Granted, English is a tough language but other countries are teaching children native and English languages. So if other kids are learning more than one language, then why can't US kids make the grade??
Replies
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My children are older so no I don't read to them often. My daughter and I will often read the same book so we can discuss. When she gets my old kindle we can start doing that again, I can't wait! My son hates reading and will only do what is required for college.
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My son is three and loves for me to read to him. I really hope that he continues to love reading!
It really is sad that our society isn't doing better considering they are only learning one language as opposed to other countries.
But is technology really to blame? A lot of the games on my sons leap pad read aloud the words on the screen so he can follow along... -
While I see first hand the reading disparities that exist at the high school level, I also think the score drop has to do with the fact that more kids now see college as a viable option. This leads to more students taking the SAT.
I know when I graduated from the high school that I now teach at, roughly 15-20% of students actually took the SAT. Now, we have about 50% of our students who take the test. -
More kids are taking the SAT. It doesn't mean there are more kids that SHOULD, they just are and it doesn't mean that they are ready for college either.
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This. I remember when schools wouldn't give the school code to students who weren't really suited to take the SAT. The sheer number of students taking the test affects the scores.
Quoting mjande4:
More kids are taking the SAT. It doesn't mean there are more kids that SHOULD, they just are and it doesn't mean that they are ready for college either.
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There are schools in low income areas that REQUIRE ALL of their students to take the test and it's FREE. What a JOKE! Those same kids can't pass the basic state tests, but the legislators expect them to be "college-ready". Don't get me started! Oh and by the way, those of us barely hanging on in the middle income bracket still have to pony up the money to pay for the test.
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Thank goodness we implemented NCLB - that worked SO well for our country's education plan.
My kids read or are read to probably 6/7 days a week... (There is usually one night where they either fall asleep early or some activity that gets in our way.)
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I just don't think reading is all that valued in today's society.
My neighbor's 17 year old daughter was just kinda floating along in high school and somehow managed to graduate. She would ask me what basic words meant and told me she hated reading. It made me sad...yet she still wanted to go to college?!
I read to my girls. DD1 is 3 and DD2 is 7 months. DD1 gets read to at least once a day. Usually 3 times a day is more the norm, and she enjoys books! I hope she always does. -
I spit my drink out when I read this. :)
Quoting Kris_PBG:
Thank goodness we implemented NCLB - that worked SO well for our country's education plan.
My kids read or are read to probably 6/7 days a week... (There is usually one night where they either fall asleep early or some activity that gets in our way.)
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I'm mobile, or I would upload the video, but you (general) need to go to YouTube and watch "Why High School Students Don't Read What's Assigned In Class" by Penny Kittle. It has changed the way that our English department structures our classes.
I have repeaters this semester, some who would have never touched a book last year, who are reading, avidly, because they've been given a choice--no strings attached.
"Eyes on text" is one of the biggest things a language teacher can do. Not everybody is going to love and appreciate classics or even more modern class reading. But, every person can find at least ONE book that appeals to him/her. From there, it's a matter of steering, helping, and providing.