Kendrah's Reflection - Mem Fox - 1st reading
Gallardo, Kendrah
Professor Swimelar
09/04/2006
Reflection: Radical Reflections (Mem Fox)
Radical Reflections is a book written by Mem Fox. She introduces her book by stating that, “I tried to remember I was writing for a wide audience of parents, schoolteachers, would-be teachers, teachers of teachers…” This book is written to give support to the populations who want to continue teaching whole language. Mem Fox shares her own experiences of working with different level students over the past twenty years while teaching language arts. She believes that language arts are important to teach in schools. Throughout this book, she plans to focus on writing, teaching of reading and writing, and reflecting back on her own writing.
When I realized that I had to start reading this book for class I wasn’t too enthused about it. First of all, reading isn’t something I like to do for fun but from time to time I will find an excellent book I will want to read. Second of all, I knew I would eventually have to write a reflection about what I read from this book. However, when I first began to read this book I realized that perhaps this book wouldn’t be as bad as I thought it could be. Then, I remembered I needed to write my reflection. I was dreading it but then I remembered that I liked writing reflections because it’s my thoughts of what I read. So, with that said I’ve willingly started reading his book and writing about it. In chapter one entitled, Notes from the Battlefield, Fox states that she plans to focus on why writers write and what the implications are for teachers of writers. Fox explains that she writes because “it matters.” She wrote this book because she was asked to write it by people who she admired and liked. She also wanted to demonstrate her worthiness. There’s always a purpose for writing and “language develops only when it is used for real.” I totally agree with Fox because if I have to write in my journal to relieve stress or to a friend to say hello, I know I will write because it is for a purpose. Fox continues and mentions that teachers make a mistake of giving “unreal topics” to students that are meaningless activities. I believe my teachers made a mistake while teaching writing because they did forget that instead of always following a specific topic perhaps they could make it a topic relevant to the students. When I was in school, I hated writing especially in English class because we would have to write about topics not relevant to students who live in Hawaiʻi. There was no purpose to be excited about writing in that English class. Also, Fox mentions that writing has power and when writing has power it is a craft. Fox defines a craft as being able to put understandings into practice. Teachers must remember to assign topics that will excite students to write and want to write. The students will want to use their power if teachers let them and are willing to understand. Fox finishes up the chapter by writing, “Children develop language through interaction, not action. They learn to talk by talking to someone who responds. They must therefore learn to write by writing to someone who responds.” I think this quote was written perfectly by Fox and sums up the whole chapter I just mentioned.
In the second chapter titled There’s a Coffin in My Office, Fox explains how she teaches as a professor. Since she teaches first year teacher education college students, the college students consist of various ages. Some of these students are still experiencing the world while some have journeyed far throughout life. Whatever the story may be, Fox tries to relate each assignment to each of the students life. Therefore, Fox calls upon two end of the semester assignments that allows them to be creative. As I was reading through some of the examples provided in this chapter I wondered why I never came across a fun assignment like those mentioned in my own classes. If there were more of those kinds of assignments I probably would have fun doing them. The main point in teaching should be that success of “modeling the fact language is a vital tool that can be employed with power and enjoyment for many different purposes.” The goal in writing is to give the power to the student. Instead of guiding the student, the student will guide the teacher. While I reflected back on chapter two it made me see how my teachers could have made a difference in teaching me how to read and write. However, I’m satisfied that I am able to read a book like this so I can make a change.
In chapter three titled The Paths of Story Lead But to the Graves, Fox briefly touches upon the fact that teachers who teach writing must practice writing themselves. Teachers shouldn’t expect much from their student if they haven’t gone through the hardships of writing themselves. Fox admits that she struggles to write at times and therefore she points out that choice of topic is important for a writer. It is hard to write willingly for most people unless there is a topic at interest for a writer to be written about. There are other points that should also be kept in mind while writing and those are the purpose, the audience, the time and drafting and conferencing. Fox goes into depth about these subjects and why they all affect a person’s writing.
Overall, Fox’s book was written with a purpose and that purpose is to continue teaching language arts the right way. Fox reminds the reader to look at every aspect of writing and to realize that every aspect is essential to producing quality work. Throughout the last chapter, Fox writes that we as future teachers can prevent the death of the best methods of writing if we do our part in teaching writing the right way.
Professor Swimelar
09/04/2006
Reflection: Radical Reflections (Mem Fox)
Radical Reflections is a book written by Mem Fox. She introduces her book by stating that, “I tried to remember I was writing for a wide audience of parents, schoolteachers, would-be teachers, teachers of teachers…” This book is written to give support to the populations who want to continue teaching whole language. Mem Fox shares her own experiences of working with different level students over the past twenty years while teaching language arts. She believes that language arts are important to teach in schools. Throughout this book, she plans to focus on writing, teaching of reading and writing, and reflecting back on her own writing.
When I realized that I had to start reading this book for class I wasn’t too enthused about it. First of all, reading isn’t something I like to do for fun but from time to time I will find an excellent book I will want to read. Second of all, I knew I would eventually have to write a reflection about what I read from this book. However, when I first began to read this book I realized that perhaps this book wouldn’t be as bad as I thought it could be. Then, I remembered I needed to write my reflection. I was dreading it but then I remembered that I liked writing reflections because it’s my thoughts of what I read. So, with that said I’ve willingly started reading his book and writing about it. In chapter one entitled, Notes from the Battlefield, Fox states that she plans to focus on why writers write and what the implications are for teachers of writers. Fox explains that she writes because “it matters.” She wrote this book because she was asked to write it by people who she admired and liked. She also wanted to demonstrate her worthiness. There’s always a purpose for writing and “language develops only when it is used for real.” I totally agree with Fox because if I have to write in my journal to relieve stress or to a friend to say hello, I know I will write because it is for a purpose. Fox continues and mentions that teachers make a mistake of giving “unreal topics” to students that are meaningless activities. I believe my teachers made a mistake while teaching writing because they did forget that instead of always following a specific topic perhaps they could make it a topic relevant to the students. When I was in school, I hated writing especially in English class because we would have to write about topics not relevant to students who live in Hawaiʻi. There was no purpose to be excited about writing in that English class. Also, Fox mentions that writing has power and when writing has power it is a craft. Fox defines a craft as being able to put understandings into practice. Teachers must remember to assign topics that will excite students to write and want to write. The students will want to use their power if teachers let them and are willing to understand. Fox finishes up the chapter by writing, “Children develop language through interaction, not action. They learn to talk by talking to someone who responds. They must therefore learn to write by writing to someone who responds.” I think this quote was written perfectly by Fox and sums up the whole chapter I just mentioned.
In the second chapter titled There’s a Coffin in My Office, Fox explains how she teaches as a professor. Since she teaches first year teacher education college students, the college students consist of various ages. Some of these students are still experiencing the world while some have journeyed far throughout life. Whatever the story may be, Fox tries to relate each assignment to each of the students life. Therefore, Fox calls upon two end of the semester assignments that allows them to be creative. As I was reading through some of the examples provided in this chapter I wondered why I never came across a fun assignment like those mentioned in my own classes. If there were more of those kinds of assignments I probably would have fun doing them. The main point in teaching should be that success of “modeling the fact language is a vital tool that can be employed with power and enjoyment for many different purposes.” The goal in writing is to give the power to the student. Instead of guiding the student, the student will guide the teacher. While I reflected back on chapter two it made me see how my teachers could have made a difference in teaching me how to read and write. However, I’m satisfied that I am able to read a book like this so I can make a change.
In chapter three titled The Paths of Story Lead But to the Graves, Fox briefly touches upon the fact that teachers who teach writing must practice writing themselves. Teachers shouldn’t expect much from their student if they haven’t gone through the hardships of writing themselves. Fox admits that she struggles to write at times and therefore she points out that choice of topic is important for a writer. It is hard to write willingly for most people unless there is a topic at interest for a writer to be written about. There are other points that should also be kept in mind while writing and those are the purpose, the audience, the time and drafting and conferencing. Fox goes into depth about these subjects and why they all affect a person’s writing.
Overall, Fox’s book was written with a purpose and that purpose is to continue teaching language arts the right way. Fox reminds the reader to look at every aspect of writing and to realize that every aspect is essential to producing quality work. Throughout the last chapter, Fox writes that we as future teachers can prevent the death of the best methods of writing if we do our part in teaching writing the right way.
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