1. Reading “to” Students
Reading “with” Students
Your Stance:
You know everything and the students are idiots
You are in control of the process
You tell students what to do and use “I/you” a lot
The Consequences:
Students remain dependent on you for everything
You become increasingly frustrated with what they can’t do and start to blame them
You burn out as discipline problems mount in your class
Your Stance:
You know more but you build on what students know and engage them
You are working to give students ever more control
You say “let’s” and “we” a lot
The Consequences:
Students begin to participate a lot more in discussions
You and the students begin to feel smart and capable and part of a team
Students become increasingly independent and you look for ways to challenge them and yourself. You LOVE your job.
The Subtle but Incredibly Important Difference between Reading “to” Students and Reading “with” Students