Gallagher and Christenbury are amazing. I want to meet them. I love Chapter 8 from Deeper Reading because I feel that deeper reflection is what I strive for in my classroom and imagine my students being able to do. I want them to be able to enjoy the books that they read and even if they do not necessarily like it, that they are able to see value in it. I think that by using the strategies that Gallagher points out, it can expand our students thinking about their reading much further than if we told them that they are reading it because it is a classic or because it is required. When we show them how it can connect to their own lives, they are more inclined to invest themselves in the topic or subject being discussed.
I personally enjoyed the Circles of Reflection on pg. 157. I think it is important to not only focus on the student's own life, but to bring his/her attention to the people and settings around them. Each circle gives them a different opportunity to focus on things that are surrounding them but it also moves them towards the point of thinking about their community, nation and humankind. I feel that sometimes I don't really have an impact on the world - I am just one person, you know? But if I am pushed to consider aspects of my community, country, or humankind in general, I feel that my significance in the world is greater than if I just reflected on my own life - even if I just have reflections about my world, I become more aware of what's happening and that makes me a better citizen.
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I loved the Circles of Reflection idea as well. I think it holds tremendous potential for helping students look beyond the book and even beyond themselves and view life through all the different venues (community, world, peers, etc.). And maybe in doing so, students will find things that they are passionate about and want to pursue in the future.
I guess this is why it is important to read other people's post before I write my own. I agree with everything you said and if you don't believe me you can read the post I just wrote.
I agree. Dr. Franklin, can you book them for our final exam time? (Just kidding)
Reflecting is vital in the classroom setting as well as in the world. The trick is to use the world'a knowledge to harness the student's imagination.
Yet I probably would have gone with Making Love (out of nothing at all) as the title to this section because 'love' and reflection can be switched better.
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