SKrashen: Are readers nerds?

SKrashen: Are readers nerds?:

Are readers nerds?

ARE READERS NERDS?

Adrienne Schatz, Amy Panko,  Kim Pierce, and Stephen Krashen

                             Reading Improvement 47 (3): 151-153, 2010

Some people think that readers are nerds, "book-worms" who don't get out much, don't do much, and are simply boring, dull people.  The research, however, does not agree with this characterizaton. In fact, the results of a number of studies of adult readers show that readers are "active and social" (Bradshaw and Nichols, 2004).

Table 1 presents data originally published in1982, from Zill and Wingate (1990), comparing literature readers (those who reported reading "any creative writings, such as stories, poems, plays and the like" for the last 12 months), those who read any kind of a book or magazine, and those who reporting no reading.  The results are remarkably consistent, with readers reporting being more active in all categories.

Table 1: Leisure Activities of Literature Readers, Non-Literature Readers, and Non-Readers (1982); adults 18 and older

LEISURE ACTIVITIES	literature readers	readers, not of literature	non-readers
Amusements
Play card, board games	77%	62%	27%
Attend movies	75%	59%	25%
Visit amusement park	57%	49%	19%
Attend sports events	59%	43%	17%
Exercise, Sports
jog, exercise	65%	43%	18%
play sports	48%	36%	14%
camping, hiking	43%	34%	14%
Home-based activities
Repari home, car	66%	60%	28%
Gardening	69%	53%	34%
Gourmet cooking	38%	22%	8%
Collect stamps, coins	20%	10%	3%
Charitable work
Volunteer, charty work	36%	21%	9%
Cultural attendance
Visit historic sites	50%	28%	8%
Go to zoo	41%	25%	11%
Visit museums	32%	15%	4%
Art  & Crafts
Weaving, needlework	42%	29%	18%
Pottery, ceramics	17%	9%	3%
Photography, video	14%	6%	2%
Painting, drawing, sculpture	14%	6%	2%

From:  Zill and Winglee, table 2, page 15.

We cannot, however, conclude that reading is directly associated with being active and social. As Zill and Wingate point out, the amount of leisure reading done is also closely associated with education and affluence (for confirming data, see Bradshaw and Nichols, 2004). It may be the case that those who are more affluent have more time and money to 

Anti-Union Front Group Attacks AFT | Mercedes Schneider

Anti-Union Front Group Attacks AFT | Mercedes Schneider:

Anti-Union Front Group Attacks AFT

Posted: 12/16/2013 1:07 pm

On December 10, 2013, the Center for Union Facts (CUF) (don't believe the name) sponsored a full-page ad in the New York Times attributing the "high school slip in global rankings" to a single issue: The failure of American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten to promote merit pay for teachers.

The ad reads:

We have fallen behind Latvia, Estonia, and Vietnam in science and math. The teachers union continues to protect incompetent teachers and refuses to reward outstanding teachers with merit-based pay. Randi Weingarten, head of the American Federation of Teachers, fights against reforms that would help fix our failing schools.

The test on which "we have fallen behind" is the recently released Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). The results of this test have been discussed extensively on Diane Ravitch's blog. For the sake of length, I will not discuss PISA in detail. I will only advise readers that comparing student experiences across cultures (and governments) is a complex matter. Furthermore, nations obsessed with high international test scores (and other test scores, as well) have earned the name "examination hell"countries.

I will also note that high international student test rankings "do not a global power make."

Nevertheless, CUF would have Americans think otherwise. CUF has mapped out a convenient, simplistic course of events in order to place fault for those "slipping" PISA scores.

Let us consider the proffered chronology in reverse.

Prepare for the Latvian-Estonian-Vietnamese Takeover!

On its blog, CUF implies that some incredible, terrible consequence will befall these United States for our having PISA scores ranking behind Latvia, Estonia, and Vietnam in math and science. Now, keep in mind that I am proceeding with the CUF assertion and not analyzing 

12-16-13 Schools Matter

Schools Matter:

Black Men in Newark Get Drama Class in Prison

Black men in Newark are getting literature and drama classes in prison. What are black boys in Newark getting in school?Let's ask our new Senator and our Governor who thinks he is presidential material if they know.Here is some educational information for New Jersey's elected representatives and their corporate privatizers and scam artists in New Jersey. Since they are in the process of ruining an

by freetoteach / 8min 

 

12-15-13 Schools Matter

Schools Matter: One Hundred KIPP 5th Graders in a Single Classroom on the Floor for a Week Until They "Earned" Their DesksKIPP spends a great deal of money promoting their brand of total compliance segregated charter schools as the tough love, no excuses solution for schooling in urban communities disabled by poverty and the lack of hope. KIPP and its billionaire supporters contend that

by mike simpson / 20h 

The Most Important Parent Parameter Of Them All – redqueeninla

The Most Important Parent Parameter Of Them All – redqueeninla:

The Most Important Parent Parameter Of Them All

 ….it’s called time_devoted_to_kid.  That’s what distinguishes not kids who “make” it, but kids who have a fighting chance to make it.  It’s someone willing to devote their time in service to the needs of their kid, any kid; a kid.

So it doesn’t necessarily have to come of or for a child of your loins.  And sadly the devotion is not a sure-fire bet.  But as a generality it sure does explain a lot about the likelihood of a child’s success.  When the child is central to someone’s attention, that is the medium for their growth.

A hallmark of this country is the amount of time spent in thrall of athletics, as spectators, as participants, and as contributors to a partisan federation focused on furthering the business of one specific sport.  If you’re not currently one investing time_devoted_to_kid you may be unaware of the mind-boggling number of man-hours spent in service to the effort.  This past weekend, for example, just this one past weekend in southern California alone – one of seven sections within 1 of 59 “Local Swim Committees” — nearly a thousand families each attended at least three regional swimming invitational meets.  This is a first, thrice-yearly winnowing in the megalithic effort to nurture life-long fitness in our young or grow the next Missy Franklin/Michael Phelps, whichever comes first.  Each family is represented by at least two 

NYC Educator: What You Aren't Reading in Gotham Schools Could Fill a Battleship

NYC Educator: What You Aren't Reading in Gotham Schools Could Fill a Battleship:

What You Aren't Reading in Gotham Schools Could Fill a Battleship

I was pretty surprised last summer when Gotham Schools managed to cover Moskowitz rallies at least three times while ignoring a UFT press conference to stop Bloomberg from imposing his destructive policies on his predecessor. When I confronted them about it, they gave me a line about giving their people days off. Evidently, I, as a union advocate, was being petty about their giving immense coverage to one side of a story and none to the other.

Last year I asked whether getting coverage for 100 signatures on a petition was unique to E4E. I was told in the comments that it wasn't, and that anyone could do it. So I made a petition asking for equal consideration for all ESL students when taking the English Regents. A Gotham reporter called me, asked all about the petition, and then proceeded to do nothing whatsoever about it.

When I emailed someone there about their fawning coverage of E4E, I was asked to write a piece explaining why I felt they did not represent the overwhelming majority of working teachers. Not only did they not run it, but they never even responded to it. So as not to waste my time, I modified it and got it published elsewhere. Two weeks ago I had a piece in the Daily News which they failed to link to. I cannot recall reading a single teacher-bashing editorial in the NY Post that didn't make Rise and Shine, including a remarkably ridiculous piece from their favorite E4E/ failed teacher/ current school administrator.

In any case, here's another story that didn't make Rise and Shine today. Apparently, although Gotham felt it important to 

12-16-13 THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG Have We Made Our Schools Safer? — Whole Child Education

Have We Made Our Schools Safer? — Whole Child Education:

THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG

Have We Made Our Schools Safer?

December 16, 2013 by Klea Scharberg

This past weekend marked one year since the tragic school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. During this time, we read, listened to, and participated in discussions on how to keep our schools safe and secure. And also during this time, at least 25 school shootings have occurred, including Friday's shooting at Arapahoe High School in Colorado. School safety is a complicated issue with no single or simple solution.

Have we made our schools safer over the past year? Earlier this year we hosted a discussion on the Whole Child Podcast on what we, as educators, believe is crucial to making our schools safe—not just physically safe, but also safe places to teach and learn. Guests Joseph Bergant II, superintendent of Chardon Schools in Ohio; Howard Adelman, professor of psychology at UCLA and codirector of the School Mental Health Project and the Center for Mental Health in Schools (a whole child partner); and Jonathan Cohen, adjunct professor in psychology and education at Teachers College, Columbia University, and president and cofounder of whole child partner National School Climate Center discussed what is required for students and adults to feel socially, emotionally, and physically safe in schools.

We also shared articles and resources on the importance of safer, connected schools, including

• "What's in Our Control: Safer, Connected Environments" by Sean Slade
• "Support, Optimism, and Hope" by Klea Scharberg

 

12-13-13 THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG Learning Compacts Between Schools and Families — Whole Child Education

Learning Compacts Between Schools and Families — Whole Child Education: Learning Compacts Between Schools and FamiliesSchool and home can often be worlds apart. In a recent issue of ASCD Express, we looked at the types of outreach that draw family strengths and influence into the school community in positive ways and unite these two spheres of a student's life. This video discusses Step 5: Outreac

by mike simpson / 17h 

Courageous Parents Threatened when Opting-Out of Common Core | Truth in American Education

Courageous Parents Threatened when Opting-Out of Common Core | Truth in American Education:

Courageous Parents Threatened when Opting-Out of Common Core

Filed in Common Core State Standards by Karen Schroeder on December 16, 2013 • 0 Comments

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Parents hate to see their kids treated like Borg robots in a Star Trek movie while forced to fit into the government’s definition of equal and successful. Surprise! Surprise! Parents want their kids to develop as individuals each prepared to follow his own dreams.

In a video on Common Core, New York State PTA Education Coordinator Bob Aloise supported calling Child Protective Services and charging parents with “educational neglect” for opting-out their kids from the curricula or testing.

Despite outrageous threats and insults, parents across the U.S. are expressing disgust with the one-size-fits all, turn-my-child-into-a-robot form of standards imposed by Common Core.

Courageous parents must reject the threats spewed as their kids opt-out of curricula shaped by Common Core Standards and skip high-stakes testing.

Since a grassroots effort seems to be the only way to stop this insane governmental overreach, parents across the U.S. are creating support groups to fight the intrusion by a dictatorial federal government.

Citizens are angry that state legislators, superintendents, state and local school boards have no 

The Washington Teacher: Forcing Out Effective Educators in DCPS Through Buyouts

The Washington Teacher: Forcing Out Effective Educators in DCPS Through Buyouts:

Forcing Out Effective Educators in DCPS Through Buyouts

Forcing Out DCPS Effective Educators Through Buyouts

By Candi Peterson

Forty three DC Public schools Educators out of fifty-five signed up to testify at the DC City Education Chairman, David Catania's Round table on Public Education held on Saturday, December 14, 2013 at McKinley Senior High. I was among those DC educators willing to endure the brisk cold wintry Saturday morning to express my perspective on public education and discuss ways to help our students succeed.

The title of the round table was "Setting Students up to Succeed" although many in attendance questioned the motives of Chairman Catania's as seeking to get a political leg up on other DC mayoral candidates using support of public education as  his platform.

I was glad that the Washington Teachers' Union (WTU) saw this event as an opportunity to elevate the voice of educators who as the inside experts can speak truth to power about what our students really need to succeed. WTU had panels of educators to bring testimony in a number of different areas including, budget and assessments, professional development, special education and teacher evaluations.

DCPS Chief of Human Capital, Jason Kamras was among those seated  in the McKinley auditorium and didn't escape the attention of some teachers who expressed concern about fear of reprisal for testifying. Before the start of the hearing, I mentioned the audiences 

PD: Same Old, Same Old. | My Island View

PD: Same Old, Same Old. | My Island View:

PD: Same Old, Same Old.

December 16, 2013 by tomwhitby

On January 15, 2014 my Blog will be three years old. With this post included I have written 223 posts just for my blog. In addition, I have done several dozen guest posts for other blogs. On a week-to-week basis I strive to write something new about education, or at least a new take on an old subject, but there are some subjects that linger with very little change.

Social media’s influence in education is a great example of slow change under the influence social media itself on education. The acceptance of social media in our culture has allowed social media’s slow acceptance into our school system as a source of branding, collaboration, and communication. The idea of blanket banning of students and teachers from all social media, although, unbelievably, still existing in some less enlightened districts, has been a declining practice. There are far fewer posts about that narrowly considered practice. At least this is progress.

Technology’s acceptance in education however, seems to be a never-ending subject amongst bloggers. Many refer to the fear factor involved with educators and technology. I do not understand what there is to fear from technology. It is what we all depend on to drive our civilization at this point. It is part of our