Comments on: Unit #2: Why Read?

By: Tom K

Tom K — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 21:26:31 +0000

Todd,

You may want to take a look at Sven Birkerts’ short Harvard Magazine article titled “What, Me Read?” I begin one of my literature courses with this each year.

Tom

By: Jean

Jean — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 16:30:12 +0000

Todd,
I work for a family literacy program that is part of the city school system here where I live. I teach an adult reading class for the program participants. It has been a struggle to get the students interested in reading, even with all the statistics available concerning the benefits of reading. I was very excited to see your site, and to hopefully get some ideas to inspire my students to learn to love reading.Keep up the good work!

Jean

By: Tom

Tom — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 19:56:25 +0000

First, I love the extension. I’d go to class just for that.

The idea here is really solid. I think you’re giving enough detail for those who would try this sort of thing- more would turn of the adventurous and still not be enough for the timid.

What you’re doing is really close to the Core program at the Univ. of Richmond. I think it’s now $49,000 a year so you’re giving students some valuable class time.

I’ve always wanted to see a “Pimp My Lesson Plan” site for people to submit units/lessons and let other people take a shot at pimping them out.

By: Todd

Todd — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 16:29:13 +0000

Fixed! And I added PDFs of each article, as well, just in case you’re into that sort of thing.

Let me know how the project goes with your seniors. I’m always curious how these plans play out in other classrooms. I’ll be putting up my PowerPoint presentations soon, too (with heavy reservations), so maybe those will help you communicate the ideas in these texts.

Keep me posted on how it goes and feel free to ask any questions! Thanks for letting me know there was a problem. I would have missed that. It was a long day yesterday.

By: Naomi

Naomi — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 16:18:13 +0000

Dear Todd,

I met Vanessa this summer at an Eng 2 Support training this summer and she shared this site with me. How invaluable it has been! Thank you for sharing your thoughts, your strategies, and your hard work.

I am currently beginning a new outside reading book with my seniors who groan “Another book?!” I think I may have them read the articles by Bloom and Emerson. Both articles are the same one by Bloom, but posted under different titles. Perhaps one was mis-uploaded.

Let me know!

Thanks,
Naomi