Week 4- Post 2- Taryn

In response to Leo:

I think you bring up a really good point. What if all our kids like to read are trashy books and celeb-gossip magazines? In other words, what if our students enjoy reading crap? Is that really good enough?

Not everyone feels the way we do about English. Most people I know roll their eyes when they're told they have to read a book. (I about pee my pants with excitement, but that's only because I have the English major/super nerd combo.) My ex wouldn't pick up a novel if you paid him to, but he's an extremely intelligent guy who finds anything interesting that has to do with math or mechanics. Magazines about computers: fabulous. Short articles on the newest cell phone technology: he loves it. News stories on tracking devices: all about it. But hand the kid a novel and he'll barely make it through the first page without crying.

Here's the thing...we all have different likes and dislikes when it comes to what we read about. Most of what the average person likes is much different than us English nerds. And who gets to define "crap" anyways?

So do I let my 11 year old student read the romance novel in the back of the class during silent reading? Hell yes I do, because good God, she's freakin' READING. I've heard too many stories about limiting students' choices when it comes to texts and, to be quite honest, it rarely turns out very well for motivational factors. I say that if they can find something that keeps them interested and doesn't do them any harm, why not let them be enthralled with whatever they choose? Even if I personally consider it to be nothing more than smut, at least some form of reading is sparking their interest.