Comments on: The Problem of "Challenge" http://blogs.slj.com/nonfictionmatters/2008/12/22/the-problem-of-challenge/ A School Library Journal Blog Sun, 05 Aug 2012 22:26:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Linda Zajac http://blogs.slj.com/nonfictionmatters/2008/12/22/the-problem-of-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-601 Linda Zajac Tue, 23 Dec 2008 13:42:27 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/nonfictionmatters/2008/12/22/the-problem-of-challenge/#comment-601 I found my blog post that pertained to this subject so I have the details. I'm replacing quotes with parentheses because I've seen in this blog they get truncated. There was an article about a year ago in the November 2007 issue of U.S. News and World Report. The article is called (Room to Improve) (pp 45-50) and is about No Child Left Behind. (Schools have little incentive to teach gifted students to meet their potential.) That article mentioned that schools are cutting gifted programs because of NCLB. Funny, I've never heard anyone say (that's a great piece of legislation). I found my blog post that pertained to this subject so I have the details. I’m replacing quotes with parentheses because I’ve seen in this blog they get truncated.

There was an article about a year ago in the November 2007 issue of U.S. News and World Report. The article is called (Room to Improve) (pp 45-50) and is about No Child Left Behind. (Schools have little incentive to teach gifted students to meet their potential.) That article mentioned that schools are cutting gifted programs because of NCLB. Funny, I’ve never heard anyone say (that’s a great piece of legislation).

]]> By: Marc Aronson http://blogs.slj.com/nonfictionmatters/2008/12/22/the-problem-of-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-602 Marc Aronson Tue, 23 Dec 2008 04:47:02 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/nonfictionmatters/2008/12/22/the-problem-of-challenge/#comment-602 yes this is exactly what I am talking about -- a teacher who wants to let kids explore, and an environment that, for many reasons, discourages the teacher and binds the students. yes this is exactly what I am talking about — a teacher who wants to let kids explore, and an environment that, for many reasons, discourages the teacher and binds the students.

]]> By: anonymous http://blogs.slj.com/nonfictionmatters/2008/12/22/the-problem-of-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-603 anonymous Mon, 22 Dec 2008 16:46:29 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/nonfictionmatters/2008/12/22/the-problem-of-challenge/#comment-603 I entirely agree that children should be challenged more in school, so long as they feel "safe" to make mistakes. If we are to have students charter unexplored territory in the classroom, it should not be used as an assessment for reporting purposes nor should it lead to unhealthy competition among peers. Having said all this, I recall when I first taught a grades 6/7 class and during the second week of school gave out a brain teaser question in math. I explained to my students that it was intended to challenge them and see how they could problem solve. The next day, my principal was at my door explaining that she just had gotten off the phone with an angry parent who thought what I was doing was developmentally inappropriate! I was asked to not introduce these types of activities in class; I did try to explain that I was not assessing my students with this activity; nevertheless, the parent felt it might discourage her child more in mathematics. Instead, I sent these questions home on Fridays to students who chose to complete these brainteasers for bonus marks. I would think that other teachers out there have faced similar experiences, thus discouraging them from challenging their students. I entirely agree that children should be challenged more in school, so long as they feel “safe” to make mistakes. If we are to have students charter unexplored territory in the classroom, it should not be used as an assessment for reporting purposes nor should it lead to unhealthy competition among peers.

Having said all this, I recall when I first taught a grades 6/7 class and during the second week of school gave out a brain teaser question in math. I explained to my students that it was intended to challenge them and see how they could problem solve. The next day, my principal was at my door explaining that she just had gotten off the phone with an angry parent who thought what I was doing was developmentally inappropriate! I was asked to not introduce these types of activities in class; I did try to explain that I was not assessing my students with this activity; nevertheless, the parent felt it might discourage her child more in mathematics. Instead, I sent these questions home on Fridays to students who chose to complete these brainteasers for bonus marks. I would think that other teachers out there have faced similar experiences, thus discouraging them from challenging their students.

]]> By: Marc Aronson http://blogs.slj.com/nonfictionmatters/2008/12/22/the-problem-of-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-604 Marc Aronson Mon, 22 Dec 2008 08:32:32 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/nonfictionmatters/2008/12/22/the-problem-of-challenge/#comment-604 Tricia: Part of your post was cut off, I guess they don't allow quotation marks. I'm in total agreement with your comment. Tricia:
Part of your post was cut off, I guess they don’t allow quotation marks. I’m in total agreement with your comment.

]]> By: Tricia (Miss Rumphius) http://blogs.slj.com/nonfictionmatters/2008/12/22/the-problem-of-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-605 Tricia (Miss Rumphius) Mon, 22 Dec 2008 06:30:20 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/nonfictionmatters/2008/12/22/the-problem-of-challenge/#comment-605 This is the very reason I had a large nonfiction library in my classroom. During free reading time, students often chose these books to explore, and they weren't targeted at their reading level, but rather covered a range of topics that would interest them. I also think this thinking should extend to parents and librarians. My son (nearly 8) lives in the nonfiction section and regularly selects books far above his reading level. While I see some librarians and many more parents dissuade their children from these choices, I let William pick the books that interest him. This generally does mean more reading for me, but he does try to struggle through on his own. Sometimes he will ask " This is the very reason I had a large nonfiction library in my classroom. During free reading time, students often chose these books to explore, and they weren’t targeted at their reading level, but rather covered a range of topics that would interest them.

I also think this thinking should extend to parents and librarians. My son (nearly 8) lives in the nonfiction section and regularly selects books far above his reading level. While I see some librarians and many more parents dissuade their children from these choices, I let William pick the books that interest him. This generally does mean more reading for me, but he does try to struggle through on his own. Sometimes he will ask ”

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