"I don't get it." Who knew such a simple statement could carry so much weight? As a teacher, one must consider all the possibilities that the statement could have. When Students Can't Read, What Teachers Can Do describes a situation in which an alliterate student consistently expresses that he does not understand the reading material. In cases like these, the student does not know how to ask for help; his problem could be in sounding out words, comprehension, or he could just not understand why he needs to read the selected material in the first place! Decoding the meaning of "I don't get it" is most important in giving students the help they need to succeed.
In the upswing of technology with the stimulating television and video games, teens and older children seem less likely to curl up with a good book. Often their time is spent on technology over reading because they are bored by what they read in school and don't know where to look for a good book. Teachers of adolescents need to be aware of titles that are current and would appeal to young readers. Creating incentives to read outside of class, like assigning extra credit opportunities, and recommending books for each student may interest more teens to get involved in books. This past weekend I read a teen novel called Jumping off Swings that I would recommend to young adults, not to mention the ever popular Harry Potter and Twilight series'. Reading books targeted for teens both sets an example for students and allows you to have conversations with them about books they enjoy.
(Chapter 2)
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