Comments on: To Read, Perchance to Skim http://www.coreknowledge.org/blog/2008/01/10/to-read-or-not-to-read-that-is-the-question/ Closing the Achievement Gap: Teaching Content Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:39:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Diana http://www.coreknowledge.org/blog/2008/01/10/to-read-or-not-to-read-that-is-the-question/#comment-71 Diana Sun, 13 Jan 2008 20:11:03 +0000 http://www.coreknowledge.org/blog/?p=86#comment-71 Ah! Yes, I do see your point there. I made a point of going over Hamlet's soliloquy repeatedly with my ESL students, in part because I knew they'd hear it quoted someday, and wanted them to recognize the reference. That wasn't the only reason, but it was one. (I had them read Hamlet, but mostly in modern translation. At certain points, like the soliloquy, I'd refer to the original text.) I haven't been to a cocktail party in a while, but parties of the past could get quite lively with poetry and song. If I could invite you to one of those parties of the past, I would. But alas, that's hard to do on this side of the looking glass. Incidentally, I am quite intrigued by the Core Knowledge program. I have perused the website over time, and hope to learn more. Ah! Yes, I do see your point there. I made a point of going over Hamlet’s soliloquy repeatedly with my ESL students, in part because I knew they’d hear it quoted someday, and wanted them to recognize the reference. That wasn’t the only reason, but it was one. (I had them read Hamlet, but mostly in modern translation. At certain points, like the soliloquy, I’d refer to the original text.)

I haven’t been to a cocktail party in a while, but parties of the past could get quite lively with poetry and song. If I could invite you to one of those parties of the past, I would. But alas, that’s hard to do on this side of the looking glass.

Incidentally, I am quite intrigued by the Core Knowledge program. I have perused the website over time, and hope to learn more.

]]> By: Robert Pondiscio http://www.coreknowledge.org/blog/2008/01/10/to-read-or-not-to-read-that-is-the-question/#comment-70 Robert Pondiscio Sun, 13 Jan 2008 18:33:52 +0000 http://www.coreknowledge.org/blog/?p=86#comment-70 Great literature is clearly its own reward, but familiarity with plots and themes is part of what it means to be fully literate. Through my examples, I'm suggesting that background knowledge is a key to comprehension, whether we're talking about baseball, politics, global warming or familiar literary allusions. I'm not suggesting that we should read classics merely so we can sound smart at cocktail parties. Although if you talk Shakespeare at your cocktail parties, I'd love to be invited. It's nothing but kids, politics and real estate at the ones I've been to. Robert Great literature is clearly its own reward, but familiarity with plots and themes is part of what it means to be fully literate. Through my examples, I’m suggesting that background knowledge is a key to comprehension, whether we’re talking about baseball, politics, global warming or familiar literary allusions. I’m not suggesting that we should read classics merely so we can sound smart at cocktail parties. Although if you talk Shakespeare at your cocktail parties, I’d love to be invited. It’s nothing but kids, politics and real estate at the ones I’ve been to.

Robert

]]> By: Diana http://www.coreknowledge.org/blog/2008/01/10/to-read-or-not-to-read-that-is-the-question/#comment-69 Diana Sun, 13 Jan 2008 18:12:51 +0000 http://www.coreknowledge.org/blog/?p=86#comment-69 I gallop in agreement with you right up to the penultimate paragraph, where I cry "whoa" and pull the reins. Do we read literature in order to hold our own in conversation, or to enrich our language, minds, and lives? If the former, then a passing knowledge may be fine (depending on the type of conversation). If the latter, then it would be far wiser to read a few works in depth, or at least to read select passages closely. I have always found Mercutio, the Friar, and the Nurse more interesting than Romeo or Juliet--and only close reading can do them justice. I gallop in agreement with you right up to the penultimate paragraph, where I cry “whoa” and pull the reins. Do we read literature in order to hold our own in conversation, or to enrich our language, minds, and lives? If the former, then a passing knowledge may be fine (depending on the type of conversation). If the latter, then it would be far wiser to read a few works in depth, or at least to read select passages closely.

I have always found Mercutio, the Friar, and the Nurse more interesting than Romeo or Juliet–and only close reading can do them justice.

]]> By: Favorite book? “None” at Joanne Jacobs http://www.coreknowledge.org/blog/2008/01/10/to-read-or-not-to-read-that-is-the-question/#comment-68 Favorite book? “None” at Joanne Jacobs Sun, 13 Jan 2008 15:24:19 +0000 http://www.coreknowledge.org/blog/?p=86#comment-68 [...] the Core Knowledge Blog, Robert Pondiscio responds: I’m not about to be dismissive of how hard it is to get students interested in classic [...] [...] the Core Knowledge Blog, Robert Pondiscio responds: I’m not about to be dismissive of how hard it is to get students interested in classic [...]

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