One thing that I absolutely love about books is that the only interaction is with text. The text has the power to create images and emotions. Written words, simply words on a page, can have you up in arms or in tears. They have the ability to move you. They can persuade you, keep you open minded and empathetic, or can support a believe and provide foundation.
When I become a teacher, I want to start everyday by writing a quote on the board. Not necessarily focus on it, but hope that the students will read it and ask about it. I've written a few of my favorites down and even have some from memory. Perhaps I'll make them relate to the lesson, but I don't think it would be necessary.
Everything from Aldo Leopold's "Education, I fear, is learning to see one thing by going blind to another," or Emerson's "Society is always taken by surprise at any new example of common sense" or even "I've gone to look for myself. If I get back before I return, keep me here.- (I don't know who said/wrote it)"
I was just thinking that we all have works, texts, and words that have impacted us, and many times a quote has that power. It may be another way to get the students interested in the power of words.
Ryan,
ReplyDeleteI think you should also share with your student what words have the ability to do. I really enjoyed reading that. I know that when I was in school I thought I was a poor reader, because I didn't know that I was supposed to think, feel, or bring my personal experiences to the text. So while the quote idea is great, I hope you let them know that there are many ways to think about the text on the page.