OPINION: Here’s a way teachers can help break down equity barriers in high school
It is harder now for high school students to focus on and make sense of long, complex texts, particularly the underserved students who were already struggling with reading.
The 24-hour news and entertainment cycle, cellphones, work schedules and family problems are just a few of the pressures competing for teens’ attention. That means when teachers assign the reading of literature for homework and use class time for lectures and quizzes, they may not be providing the engagement necessary to compete with such distractions.
One strong solution is to have teachers read aloud to their classes, then move into leading inquiry-based discussions about texts.
In this shared-experience vision of reading aloud, students are following along, taking notes with old-school technology: a pencil.
Read the full article, by Danielle Martin, on the Hechinger Report.
The mission of the Great Books Foundation is to advance the critical, reflective thinking and social and civic engagement of readers of all ages through Shared Inquiry™ discussion of works and ideas of enduring value.
