Chapter 7

The very first paragraph shows there is something very, very, VERY wrong with reading classes right now. The fact a student could simply think "They just read it. and then they answer all the questions. That's what makes them good readers, because they can answer the questions." School and life are about KNOWLEDGE, not a test. And the title of that beginning section is one of the truest statements I've heard: "You mean you Make It Make Sense?" Yes. Yes you do. Meaning is not implicit in language. We create it. That's a basic philosophical concept of language. Words are arbitrary, and we shape them to our societal meanings. When you read a piece, you take what is presented and create your own world out of it.

The strategies presented are great ways to make sure students are actually comprehending and thinking critically on their own. Not just answering the questions. Nothing is more aggravating than knowing students seriously think that school is just about answering questions. That is not knowledge.