Holding on to Good Ideas in a Time of Bad Ones
I had the privilege of hosting Carl Anderson in my classrom last month through the Literacy Connection. He recommended the book, Holding on to Good Ideas in a Time of Bad Ones by Thomas Newkirk. Well, if Carl Anderson is going to recommend a book, I’m going to read it. Each page brings validation to what I strongly believe. He argues that many of the mandates passing through our schools are only holding our students back. He cites the study The Neglected Rpublished by the National Commision on writing: Writing is how students connect the dots in their knowledge. Although many models of effective ways to teach writing exist, both the teaching and practice of writing are increasingly short-changed throughout the school and college years…Of the three “Rs,” writing is clearly the most neglected. In this time of NCLB, teachers feel the pressure to make sure their students perform well on state mandated tests and good teaching often goes by the wayside.
Thomas Newkirk has 6 principles that guide his teaching: (1) Balance the Basics: An Argument for Parity Between Reading and Writing, (2) Expressive Writing: Maybe the Best Idea of All, (3) Popular Culture as a Literacy Tool, (4) Literacy and Pleasure: Why We Read and Write in the First Place, (5) Uncluttering the Curriculum, and (6) Finding a Language for Difficulty: Silences in Our Teaching Stories.
This thought provoking book is easy to read. Thomas Newkirk presents his points in a humorous way that blends pedagogy with day to day stories of real life in the classroom. It is insightful as you will find yourself saying, “Yes!” many times over. I highly recommend this book for all…those frustrated with the direction their district is taking, or those who just need validation that what they are doing in their classrooms is what is best for kids.
