Sometimes 'Jurassic Park' Is a Better Path to Learning

Sometimes 'Jurassic Park' Is a Better Path to Learning

Last week, Schools and Learning reported on the debate over the effectiveness of the Accelerated Reader program, which assigns books a readability formula that determines grade level and difficulty. Critics say the program creates a disincentive to read the classics. But one area teacher e-mailed to tell us her side of the story:

I am a reading teacher, and I teach students with disabilities, including ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder), autism and specific learning disabilities. I think the Accelerated Reading program is fantastic. What I have learned is that for students to be engaged, they must want to know about the subject. I read "Jurassic Park" to my ninth-graders, and they ate it up! On the other hand, many ninth-graders were having tremendous difficulty with the classic novel "To Kill a Mockingbird."

As a parent and a teacher, I think it is natural for us to feel like, "Hey, we had to learn it, and look how we turned out." This does not always work with this generation of kids. For me, it is a constant inner struggle about what kids should be able to do and what I can get them to do. It has turned out so much better when I find a novel they can relate to.

I teach at an ethnically diverse school, and even though I can see that the central themes in "To Kill A Mockingbird" can be applied to a variety of cultures, a 14-year-old from Morocco might have some difficulty. This is not to suggest that these themes should not be attempted, but I think we have to scaffold lessons in reading that generate motivation.

When I read "Jurassic Park" (part of the Accelerated Reader program), I took the position that books are always better than the movie. After reading this high-interest literature and then showing them the movie, they got it. As a result, I am hoping that I am planting the seeds to where a student might later opt to read Shakespeare, rather than the Harry Potter series.

I think it is very important that teachers and schools evolve. Evolution of learning has changed a lot of things over the past 30 to 40 years. We have seen an expansion of services available to students with disabilities, and we have seen tracking of the minority student lessen. Change is good sometimes. Consequently, for these times, the Accelerated Reader program fits.

Arlene Whitlock

teacher

J.E.B. Stuart High School

Fairfax County