Determining Importance
Sun, 11/02/2008 - 13:21 — laurie.gatzke
Students have been working with the reading strategy determining importance. We have story mapped fiction stories. The last few classes have been spent reading an essay on illiteracy. We used two column notes to determine big ideas and supporting details. We have also read a Leaderpost news article about First Nations Graduation rates.
Now I would like you to examine information from Statistics Canada. The information is from the Census at School survey that shows what students themselves had to say about their reading and associated daily habits. The data was collected from over 22 000 students across Canada during the 2004 - 2005 school year. Click on your group's link and examine the data to determine the important information. Summarize what is right there in the information. ALSO draw inferences or conclusions about what you think the data is saying. Each group needs to respond in a blog entry. Just click on reply, state your group number and then state the important information from this link as well as conclusions drawn by your group.
First we will do an example together. We'll state what the data tells us and then make inferences, draw conclusions and possibly even ask questions about it.
With your group, visit the following websites and reply with your comments.
Group 1 - Readers and nonreaders by grade level and gender
Group 2 - Readers and nonreaders and favorite subject at school
Group 3 - Future plans by reading habits (highschool)
Group 4 - Readers and nonreaders by who they look up to in their personal lives
Group 5 - Readers and nonreaders by electronics ownership
Group 6 - Readers and nonreaders by engagement in sport related activities
Group 7 - Readers and nonreaders involvement in athletic and other activities
Group 8 - Readers and nonreaders involvement in extra curricular activities
© 2007 Regina Public Schools
Comments
Readers and non readers in grade level and gender
I found that in grade 4-8 their are more females than males reader. I think males have more importance of sports and games than reading books and maybe this shows that males like roaming and playing games rather than sitting inside reading books. Also i noticed one thing that in our book talks almost every male in our class has read a book related to sports.
In grade 9-12 the quantity of both males and females are decreased than in 4-8, but still their are more males than females reader. The decreased in quantity is maybe because of their study burden. Even in moderate and avid readers females are more than males. So, this show us that females are more interested in reading than males.
Reading or Non?
We have found that the majority of non readers are male and the majority of females can read, in the grades from grades 4 - 8.
We have some thought on this peculiar find. First and foremost, it seems that males like to do more physically straining activities, such as sports, and with the hours required to do those activities they simply don't have the time to pick up a book and get some quality reading time.
Another thing that could happen is that males need to do chores and other things. Of course I quickly crossed this out because females do chores and other things as well. I hope.
It also seems that to a boy reading is sort of taboo to males. If you are sitting around reading people might think that you aren't tough enough to do anything else, therefore males tend to go outside and nearly kill each other over an inflated piece of rubber to prove otherwise. Females normally don't think like this. Of course, I'm not female, so I wouldn't know for sure.
There's a few other things I can think of, but I want to hear opinions first. Read opinions, rather.
- Ben
Good analysis, Ben. I
Good analysis, Ben.
I wonder...what do YOU think can be done to promote reading to males your age? I have a son in Grade 8 right now and he is more than willing to read, but I think it's OK among his friends, as a number of them read as well. So, he doesn't get the pressure to not read.
By the way, isn't it nice to have a teacher like Mrs. G. to do these blogs? I think so!
Mike Walter, Superintendent, Regina Public Schools
Reading or Non
If it were up to me, I would try and find some way to mix sports and reading. I know there are several sports books in my school, containing names of the best hockey players and whatnot, that some of my friends read. It might be better to invest more into those types of books, or find a series that is to do with sports and purchase them for the schools.
I myself am more into everything else, so I wouldn't exactly know where to look, but there was a book I saw that one of my classmates did for his booktalk called "Dirt Bike Racer" or something along those lines. I know there is a series of them!
Otherwise I have no idea. It's pretty much up to the student if they wants to read or not, trying to force him/her into it would only make him/her despise books more. But the main thing to do is to make sure a book that might catch their eye is available to them.
Yes, it is. I love being able to incorporate computers and technology into my schoolwork. Thanks Mrs. G!
- Ben
Males & Females
I think that maybe reading is portrayed as a taboo activity for males. I like your description of throwing a ball around. I agree with you that perhaps society sees this as a more acceptable activity for boys.
Non-Readers and Readers Engagement in Sports
Readers play more sports with 90% as non-readers only 87% play sports. Grades 9-12 readers don't play as much sports Then the 4-8 readers. Non-readers watch more sports. Non-Readers play more conputer sport games. Readers read more about sports. More non-readers coached sports. It looks like non readers get busy in high school so they continue to read about sports. and non readers like to play the video games more. Do you think that the this makes good sense.
Readers playing more sports
I wonder why readers play slightly more sports. I would have thought it would be the other way around.
Future plans by reading habbits (high school)
Future plans by reading habbits (high school)
- People who do not read get a job so they can make a living without going to University or collage.
Also people who are not readers dont think or university as much as they think of collage because university is more theory and collage is more hands on so you dont have to do as much reading.
Why do you think only 13 % of people think of going to a technical intitute when you can make alot of money after you graduate??
Nickolaos and Savanaha
Future Plans
I wonder why so few consider technical college too especially in the booming times in Saskatchewan. The need for trades people is high. Perhaps we could collect some data about our grade 8 classes by designing a survey that will give us information about the future plans of our students.
Future Plans
That is a really good question. I think that going to a technical school is an awesome choice for secondary education. Reading is still a necessary skill but it is a more hands on approach to learning. You truly can make a great deal of money in the trades and you make a positive contribution to society as well.
Miss Flett
i think the same.
They are focused on getting money the people that don't like to read because all their life they want to be rich but they need money and that has to be heavily focused or it wont happen.
Involvement in Extra Curricular Activities Readers Non-readers
It appears that readers are more active in sports and other physical activities. Readers prefer to watch t.v and to for a walk. Readers tend not to like rollerblading and hockey. Then for the other activities readers particitpate in more. The only activities that non readers like more then readers are hockey and skateboarding.
Julie,Liam
Why?
Do you have any thoughts about why nonreaders may prefer hockey and skateboarding?
non readers vs readers
I think its just what they prefer.
I think...
I think that non readers may prefer hockey and skateboarding because
they like active sports better.
Julie
Readers and Non-Readers in Sports Related Activity...
Our group looked at a table that compared kids from grades 4-8 and 9-12 in sports related activity. We found out that from grade 4-8 more readers play sports then non-readers, however only by a little bit. From
grades 9-12 more non-readers play more sports. Some reasons for this may be:
-Possibly because from grades 4-8 kids tend more to sit in front of the t.v. and play video games instead of playing sports. Kids who tend to read maybe find sports more fun, then playing video games.
-In grades 9-12 kids have more homework and kids who read maybe spend more time studying than playing sports. Non-readers would rather be doing activity than studying.
Does anyone have anymore ideas on why this is so?
-Osman and Amy
Thoughts
I found it interesting that slightly more readers in grades 4 - 8 play sports. I would have thought differently. Could it be that readers have read about the health of our teenagers and realize that exercise is really important to overall health in old age?
Readers and non-readers engagements in sports
Many people think that readers spend more time reding books that playing sports but the graph has proven them wrong.Non readers whatch more tv because they have more free time.Same as playing sports games because people who dont read or dont want to read have more free time. Justin & Evan
I agree too
I agree on this too this seems to be a repeated on because the boys take offense when shown the graph so they say the reason.
Grade 9-12 Future planning by reading habits.
We have figured out that more highschool non readers would rather travel and get a job right after highschool than highschool moderate and avid readers. The graph shows that 27% more highschool avid readers are planning to go to university than nonreaders. We think that this is so because highschool avid readers usally take more of an interest in eductation than nonreaders. Non readers would rather go and get a job right after highschool because they don't have an interest in schooling and wouldn't want to have to do school anymore. we think that more highschool non readers go to trade schools than avid or moderate readers because trade school involves less reading than university.
We think that the 4% of highschool avid readers would rather travel because they want to learn about different contries. I wonder if they will take schooling in a different country or if they will take schooling later in life. What do you think?
Ashley and Edis
Travel
Great question. I know that I chose to travel before I went to university. It was a good thing because I learned a lot about myself and other countries. I learned that there are many opportunities in this country that students in other countries don't have. So.....why not give them a go!!
Readers and Non-readers by who they look up to in their personal
We have figured out that grades 4-8 Non-readers look up to friends and sportsmembers more then they look up to a relative. Readers from grades 4-8 look up to their relatives more then freinds, sportsmember and musicians. Twenty-seven Non-readers from grades four to eight look up th their relatives but thirty-two readers look up to their family members.
Non-readers from grades nine to twelve look up to both family members and friends/sportmembers. Moderate readers from grade nine to twelve look up to their relatives, friends and musicians more than anyone else. Avid readers from grades nine to twelve look up to their relaitves, friends, musicians and actors.
We are thinking that once readers and non-readers start to get older they start looking up to everyone instead of just their family members or their friends. Why do you think that readers and non-readers start looking up to everyone once they get older instead of just one person?
Kelsey.R and Kaytlynn.G
Looking Up
I wonder too if as we get older we look up to more people. Does that mean we are more self centred when we are younger?
Agree..!! Jorys and Ryans
I agree because that is true most of the people that don't read much do physical stuff.
Readers and non-readers by grade level and gender
We have found out that there is a majority of male non-readers than there are female non-readers.
62% of non-readers are male. 55% of readers are females. This is in Grades 4-8.
The majority of non-readers in highschool are males, and the majority of readers, moderate readers and Avid readers are females.
We think this is happening because:
1. Boys play sports more often. We are not saying that girls do not play sports, but the majority of people who play sports are males.
2. Boys do not read as much as girls because they have a short attention span.
3. Boys are more into video games than books, because they hold more action that we can see instead of useing our imagination
We would like to know what other people think this is caused by?
by: Carson and Jordan M.
Boys Reading
What do you think boys like to read?
Boys reading
I think boys like to read more about history and non fiction stuff like that.
Well...
I think it is because guys like to play more sports then they probably would choose to play video games. then girls enjoy reading.
Good Job!
Good infomation, but watch out for those spelling mistakes otherwise really good. As you said this might because boys like video games more so ,we don't have as much imagination. Although I play lots of video games and read lots of books so this is not always the case. Keep up the good work.
Imagination
So, you have lots of imagination when you read books but also play a lot of video games. What do you read when or before you play video games?
Readers and non-readers engagement in sport activities.
We figured out that readers are a little bit more active than non-readers because non-readers just watch and play sports on the computer more often then readers and readers actually play the sport instead of going on the computer to play it.
Melissa & Brandon J.
not all the time
Not all raeders are more active than non-readers. I used to play hockey, but I didn't read very often. I was ussually tired or didn't have time. I would have hockey practice from 4:00 - 5:30/6:00 then supper then homework. By that time it was 7:30 and I was just to tired.
By: Carson and JAM
not truee
i am a non reader but i play sports more than playing on computer!
This is what we think!!!
Its seems that girls read more than boys but that does not necessarily mean that they are smarter like some people are asuming its just guys do more sports and are more athletic than most girls. You can be a very good reader but not so great at math and other subjects. But also you can still be a not very fluent reader but still be a good reader. Do you think that guys like Stephen Harper and Bill clinton and Bill gates have the time to read? but they are very smart they are very busy people and they usually don't get a time to relax...
Ryan & Jorie
bill gates
bill gates probably read
he has to read if he wants to sign a contract
Harper, Gates, Obama
I think they have to read a lot but I also think they have a lot of people who read for them and brief them on the reading. Think of the important documents that these guys sign. If they don't know what is in the document before they sign, I don't imagine they would sign because they are signing either on behalf of their country or company. What kinds of reading do you think these guys do?
Readers and non-readers by who they look up to in their lives
In all grade's more readers look up to their relatives and other people but, more non readers look up to friends, sportspersons and musicians compared to readers. This might be because non readers watch more television and join more sports teams compared to readers who watch less tv. Non readers only look up to their relatives and other people because they do not know a lot of musician or sportsmen since they don't watch television that much or join sports teams. Who do you look up to? Are you a reader or a non reader?
Alex, Yoowha
Reader
I am a reader. I look up to people who are use their brains to treat others fairly and justly. I look up to sports people who read and write and set an example to others in this area. I look up to musicians who write lyrics with a strong message about peace and unity or who tell stories of the past. Ever hear of Leonard Cohen. He writes poetry with strong messages and some of his poetry has been put to music. Stan Rogers wrote songs that told stories about history. Lastly, I look up to my professors who encourage me to read and think about what I read and about how I can apply my reading and learning to my daily life.
Cool
Good information.
Readers and nonreaders and favorite subject at school
Grades 4-8 Students
More non- readers like physical education more than readers. More readers like art and math more than non- readers. Neither readers or non- readers choose english as their favourite subject.
Grades 9- 12 students
Non- readers like physiacl education more that moterate readers and Avid readers. More readers like art, math and science better than non- readers.
We think this because they don't have to do as much book work. Also more students like physical education. This might be because it may be more fun.
We wounder why non- readers or readers didn't pick english as their favourite subject.
Ashley, kaitlyn
English
Interesting thoughts about English. What could be done to make English more interesting and engaging for students?
English Response
I think that English class could be made more interesting if people didn't have to analyze the book as much. I do think it's good that people share there views on what is happening in the story, but constantly talking over every little part of the book isn't so great. It does get boring and people just lose interest.
-Amy
Readers and Non-Readers Favorite Subject - Reply
We think that English class wouldn't appeal to non-readers for the fact that you have to read and write. Possibly readers wouldn't like it either because instead of actually reading a book you have to analyze it.
-Amy and Osman
Readers and non-readers and favorite subject in school
We think that non readers like physical education because they are enrolled in more sports out of school then readers. I think that non-readers or readers don't like english as much because its just not as interesting to them then all the other subjects.
Evan & Justin
Why people hardly like english
Maybe most people do not like english because it is harder for the students to say and get ideas about their english assignments?
Melissa & Brandon
Why people hardly like english
We think that this is true because english is such a hard language for people from other countries to learn. English takes words from lots of languages so that could make it a bit harder as well.
Kaytlynn G. and Kelsey R.
Non-Readers/Readers Grades 4 - 8, 9 -12
We found out that non-readers from grades 4 - 8 enjoy physical education and computers, the most. Readers enjoy art, math,computers,and science. We also found out that non-readers from grade 9 - 12 enjoy physical education and computers the most. Moderate readers enjoy art, while avid readers enjoy english,math and science. Readers from 4 - 8 educational subjects and avid readers from grades 9 - 12 also enjoy more educational subjects too. I wonder, Why non-readers enjoy less eductional subjects while avid readers enjoy education subjects? We think that it is because avid readers read a lot of stuff that they learn in books.
Chelsea
Barron
Nonreaders educational subjects
What can we do to engage students in grades 4 - 8 in more of the educational subjects?
readers and non readers by who they look up to in their lives
We found that younger people look up to family more than older students, and the more they read the more likely they are to do tHis. The less you reAd, and the older you are, you are more likely to Look up to a friend or sportsperson. Older people look up to someone like a musician or actoR, and not maNy younger kids do. Also the more you read the better the chance you look up to somEone like a business person, religious figure, politician, or someone in the community.
Why dO you think these groups of peoPle look up to the different role models depending how much theY read and how old they are???
BY JoRdAn and TyLeR
Response
I think non readers look up to sportspeople and musicians etc... is because they watch television and because of that know more sportpeople and musicians.
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