Carol's Reflection on Fox, Ch. 9

"The Story Fights Back" is an eye-opening chapter that shows how real books can stand alone to nurture literacy. Most schools (mine included) use basal readers where dull language is spoken in unreal situations by unbelievable characters, all with the intention of teaching the mechanics of reading. Next, senseless worksheets that don't give children practice in fluency or higher-level thinking must be filled out. After this boring work a child would naturally think that reading gives little pleasure, so why read? I can hear the whispers of my fifth-graders while they fill out their worksheets: "I don't get it," "That was a dumb question," and "Why are we doing this?"

Fox helps children to be literate while they are enjoying themselves with great stories that have wonderful art, rhyme, rhythm, and repetition. Dr. Seuss and Roald Dahl write stories that entertain and teach children at the same time. Good books can stand alone without worksheets to help kids be literate. Fox suggests that alternate activities such as a performance or a story-themed party (Jaimie and I are helping our kids put on a play and party this week!) could replace dry worksheets. I like these suggestions, but my mentor teacher and I would wonder how to put a play or a party into a work sample file.

I appreciate that although some of Fox's stories contain real issues like death or divorce, she always gives them a happy or at least hopeful ending. Everyone wants the feeling that things will work out in real life. Writing happy endings is something that I would like to do and would also encourage my students to practice.