That’s so interesting. The last time I remember anyone reading that way out loud was in elementary school when you’re just beginning to work on critical thinking. I think I do that as I’m writing my books but how worthwhile to say it out loud. I’m thinking specifically of how when I help my kids with homework. Can’t wait to see how you sprinkle this through your newsletters!
What a treat to have a professor like that! I love hearing about the transformational courses of peoples' educations. Thanks for giving us a peak into yours!
I love this! This brings to mind how my reading life has changed since become a FM patron last year. Last spring, I knew if I did or did not like a book. But that was it. Now I am better at knowing why I do or don’t like a book, and even more than that, evaluating both my reading experience of a book as well as the book itself. I am still learning and I’m looking forward to seeing more on this from you!
Taryn, I know from book club that you are excellent at articulating your thoughts on books!! I'm honored to hear that the FictionMatters Book Club has had a small part in that!
My brain immediately jumped to 1) reading my own work (which I know most everything about), and 2) where the best 'public' for a highly introverted older author to read to might be.
Youtube springs to mind. I've always planned to do the 'as read by author' version for an audiobook; adding a visual is daunting but intriguing. Adding myself visually is terrifying - but I can be such a ham in public (when demonstrating my novel mobility aid, an Airwheel S8 that I bought for my 70th birthday present to myself - 30 sec video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTnUZ7sbteY ) that I may be shortchanging myself when I don't need to.
Looking forward to seeing how YOU do it, so I can see what to imitate.
I’m already in love with this series! I’m grateful to have this language-- “critical thinking made visible”-- to talk about some of my public work as well. Thanks for all you do to cultivate a space of public reading, reflecting, and connecting! 💛
I absolutely love this concept and can’t wait to read! In my years in the library I spent so many hours wondering aloud as I read to kids - such an important part of the process!
Can't thank you enough for this post. Just put the George Saunders book in my library queue.
I've always been a reader, most often likely guilty of rushing through books as if they were a box of chocolates I felt compelled to gobble up. For eight years though, starting in my fifties, I did a stint as a fifth grade teacher. By far one of my favorite parts of that job were my daily read alouds to my students, where indeed, I had the opportunity to model close reading to my kids. It was the only part of the job I found effortless. The astonishing thing was that the students seemed to love when I'd stop and ask probing questions, puzzle out a new vocabulary word, or go back to an earlier section of the book for clarification. I never felt like I was a stellar teacher, but whether it was true or not, I felt that my interactive read alouds, which surely must be a form of close reading, were Olympic material.
Reading is a central foundation of education which in today's educational system is often sidelined. Education has become amorphous especially in the cities where elected politicians and teacher's unions have an alliance putting children's education last. In many cities children are unable to read and do not value reading even after completing their education. There is a major disconnect between education and outcomes in education which are often substandard and unacceptable despite enormous resouces expended on it. Colleges and universities which promote "diversity, equity and CRT" are undermining education because it subsittutes political agendas over merit, academic achievement and accomplishments. So we have publicly funded failure widespread in education without accountability. All institutions need effective permanent oversight and accountability from elected and non-elected citizens.
That’s so interesting. The last time I remember anyone reading that way out loud was in elementary school when you’re just beginning to work on critical thinking. I think I do that as I’m writing my books but how worthwhile to say it out loud. I’m thinking specifically of how when I help my kids with homework. Can’t wait to see how you sprinkle this through your newsletters!
What a treat to have a professor like that! I love hearing about the transformational courses of peoples' educations. Thanks for giving us a peak into yours!
I agree! I learned so much from him even though I never got to take his philosophy classes!
I love this! This brings to mind how my reading life has changed since become a FM patron last year. Last spring, I knew if I did or did not like a book. But that was it. Now I am better at knowing why I do or don’t like a book, and even more than that, evaluating both my reading experience of a book as well as the book itself. I am still learning and I’m looking forward to seeing more on this from you!
Taryn, I know from book club that you are excellent at articulating your thoughts on books!! I'm honored to hear that the FictionMatters Book Club has had a small part in that!
My brain immediately jumped to 1) reading my own work (which I know most everything about), and 2) where the best 'public' for a highly introverted older author to read to might be.
Youtube springs to mind. I've always planned to do the 'as read by author' version for an audiobook; adding a visual is daunting but intriguing. Adding myself visually is terrifying - but I can be such a ham in public (when demonstrating my novel mobility aid, an Airwheel S8 that I bought for my 70th birthday present to myself - 30 sec video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTnUZ7sbteY ) that I may be shortchanging myself when I don't need to.
Looking forward to seeing how YOU do it, so I can see what to imitate.
I’m already in love with this series! I’m grateful to have this language-- “critical thinking made visible”-- to talk about some of my public work as well. Thanks for all you do to cultivate a space of public reading, reflecting, and connecting! 💛
I'm so excited to follow this series!
I absolutely love this concept and can’t wait to read! In my years in the library I spent so many hours wondering aloud as I read to kids - such an important part of the process!
Can't thank you enough for this post. Just put the George Saunders book in my library queue.
I've always been a reader, most often likely guilty of rushing through books as if they were a box of chocolates I felt compelled to gobble up. For eight years though, starting in my fifties, I did a stint as a fifth grade teacher. By far one of my favorite parts of that job were my daily read alouds to my students, where indeed, I had the opportunity to model close reading to my kids. It was the only part of the job I found effortless. The astonishing thing was that the students seemed to love when I'd stop and ask probing questions, puzzle out a new vocabulary word, or go back to an earlier section of the book for clarification. I never felt like I was a stellar teacher, but whether it was true or not, I felt that my interactive read alouds, which surely must be a form of close reading, were Olympic material.
Reading is a central foundation of education which in today's educational system is often sidelined. Education has become amorphous especially in the cities where elected politicians and teacher's unions have an alliance putting children's education last. In many cities children are unable to read and do not value reading even after completing their education. There is a major disconnect between education and outcomes in education which are often substandard and unacceptable despite enormous resouces expended on it. Colleges and universities which promote "diversity, equity and CRT" are undermining education because it subsittutes political agendas over merit, academic achievement and accomplishments. So we have publicly funded failure widespread in education without accountability. All institutions need effective permanent oversight and accountability from elected and non-elected citizens.