UPE News Update
January 19, 2018
The Imperative to Read Carefully
Chris Briggs-Hale
As reading teachers, our primary job is not just to produce children who can read anything, but to inspire young readers who can carefully, methodically, and powerfully think about what they have read. There is a real challenge to this type of deep reading in a world where attention is assumed to last seconds rather than hours.
Online, text is crafted to get the fasted “clicks,” the most “likes,” and the most emotional responses. To accomplish this, purveyors of online content often rely on establishing conflicting “positions.” Left or right. Good or bad. Fun or boring. Simple choices light up the primitive, emotionally-fed judgement centers of our brain. High-jacking these brain-impulses is GREAT for making money…but not so great for developing slow, powerful thinking.
The ability to sort through emotional responses, to discern good logic, to weigh evidence that contradicts belief, are skills that the best in any field master. The imperative to teach deep, careful reading skills is real.
Here are some examples of old and new reading comprehension questions in fourth grade:
Old Reading Comprehension Questions:
- What was the main idea of this passage?
- Who was the protagonist (remember that one?)
- Why did such-and-so character do _____?
New Reading Comprehension Questions:
- Which detail from this story helps you understand what the author meant by the word “drift?” (Note the level of subtle thinking and careful rereading might be needed by a question like this).
- After reading these two poems, what is the theme best expressed by both?
- How does the character react to the question in the third paragraph? What evidence from the text proves your answer?
See the difference? It’s exciting! The comprehension levels we teach to today engage so much more thinking. This is good - the world is in demand of careful, thoughtful readers! UPES is producing them!
SAC Meeting Reminder
Box Tops for Education
6th Grade Scientists
Kindergarten is studying kings and queens. We designed the crown in TEAMS on the computer as a class, and each student had a role in contributing to the design. The result was a life-sized crown made by one of our 3D printers.
Ute Pass Elementary Activities
Monday, January 22, 2018
ARTS 14 Classes
Tuesday, January 23, 2018
STAR
ARTS 14 Classes
3:00pm SAC Meeting
Wednesday, January 24, 2018
ARTS 14 Classes
Thursday, January 25, 2018
STAR
ARTS 14 Classes
Friday, January 26
8:30am-4:pm 5th to the Denver Museum of Science & Nature
Here's how you find us!
...at the foot of Pikes Peak in the Rocky Mountains
Email: cbrigggshale@mssd14.org
Website: http://upe.mssd14.org/
Location: 9230 Chipita Park Road, CO, United States
Phone: 719-685-2227
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ute-Pass-Elementary-234424271585/