Readicide: Killing the Love of Reading One Student at a Time This article is about the shortage of adolescent readers – only about one student in four – who can read and comprehend their textbooks is alarming (National Center for Education Statistics, 2005). Increasingly, research reveals that the reading skills of secondary students are substandard and significantly below expected levels (National Center for Education Statistics, 2005). In a 2007 comprehensive national survey of American reading, researchers found that time spent in reading falls off dramatically at around the age of 13 and, more often than not, continues throughout the remainder of secondary school (National Endowment for the Arts, 2007). Kelly Gallagher (Gallagher, 2009), a noted literacy expert and full-time high school English teacher, coined the term “readicide” to describe how educators are killing the love of reading which has contributed to the loss of both reading skills and the love of reading. He defines readicide as “the systematic killing of the love of reading, often exacerbated by the inane, mind-numbing practices found in schools (Gallagher, 2009).” In the following article review, “Reversing Readicide,” I will briefly describe four instructional practices that Gallagher (2010) believes lead to the decline of reading, and briefly summarize suggestions for reversing those practices.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study published in February 2011, showed that the babies are at risk of having certain types of congenital heart defects was 20 to 70 percent higher than it was for babies whose mothers didn't smoke. The defects included those that interrupt the flow of blood from the right side of the heart into the lungs and openings between the upper chambers of the heart. The data was collected from 2,525 babies who had a heart defect at birth and 3,435 babies who were born healthy between 1981 and 1989 in Washington, D.C. Learning disorders, behavioral problems and lower IQ’s are also all effects smoking can have on an unborn
A spate of research since has found no link, and the original study was eventually retracted by the Lancet, the journal that published it (Another Study Sees No Vaccine-Autism Link section, para. 6). Recent concerns were that parents believed their children were getting too many vaccinations too soon. Norton (2013) states that in the United States, children can be immunized against 14 different diseases by the time they are 2. Norton (2013) also states that a recent survey found that about one-third of parents thought children receive too many vaccinations in their first two years of life, and that the shots could contribute to autism.
Traditional students are weak in reading and writing due to the “No Child Left Behind Act” implemented in 2001. Students were passed on to higher grades, not knowing the basics. The adult students were held back grades until they learned what was needed to continue. Traditional students are taught in schools how to use computers and the internet. Computers are now being introduced in kindergarten classes.
The abnormalities include facial deformities and defective limbs, face and heart. Most of these children are below average in intelligence. In one study, however, even mothers who drank moderately during pregnancy had babies who were less attentive and alert, with the effects still present at four years of age. Cigarette smoking by pregnant women can also adversely influence prenatal development, birth and postnatal development. Fetal and neonatal deaths are higher among smoking mothers.
Mitch McNamara 3012456 Engl.102-AS14 Dr. Ford October 18, 2013 Causes of Addictions (revised) In “Embraced by the Needle” writer Gabor Maté in his expository essay argues that in a person’s childhood they need a loving non-stressed environment so they will not need to look to outside sources such as drugs for that warm comforting feeling. These life experiences initiate brain development at an early age by promoting the growth of receptors and nerve cells, which inevitably will make children less susceptible to addictions later in life. Many parents of drug addicts had childhood issues or were emotionally distressed growing up. This likely deemed them unsuitable parents and unable to provide their children with positive warm interactions
Struggling Middle School Reader: Successful, Acceleration Intervention Rosemary Papalewis Leah Sykes-Rangel ED 385 Mrs. Melissa Mainiero Sept. 24, 2010 Many students repeat the 8th grade because their reading skills are not proficient enough for them to move on. In fact, Torgeson and Burgess both agree that one child in eight who show signs of reading difficulties at the end of their first grade year rarely obtain reading skills along their current level. Teachers more than often enough are to blame. However, outside forces such as a student not attending class regularly or financial burdens also play a role as well. Whatever the case may be, reading levels are quickly declining instead of accelerating.
The rate for teenagers who stay on the wagon after treating their addiction at a treatment facility alone is less than 10 percent. Three Strikes Policy But not every student attending the school manages to stay clear of drugs and alcohol. An average of seven students a year fall back into addiction, and they are not coddled. For those students there is a tough "three strikes, and you're out" policy. Judi Hanson said the importance of carrying out that tough policy was a lesson she had to learn.
Schools have put together financial classes in hopes the students would have a basic understanding of how to live within their means. Research has shown, though, these classes are less successful than expected (Norvilitis 3). Parents play an important role in a student’s financial education. According to a survey done by Sallie Mae in 2008, about a quarter of the students have had their parents discuss the importance of using the credit card wisely (Mae 17). Also, the Congress has a sight on credit card mishandling and a bill was proposed in August of 2001 by Representative Louise Slaughter that “limited the amount of credit that could extended to students to twenty percent of their income or five hundred dollars if their parents co-sign for the card” (Silver-Greenberg
In Scarlett Chiang’s article “Education on Safe Sex Needed :Poll” she gives a quote from Associate professor Steven Ngai Sek-yum who said “the survey showed the government's 1997 sex education guidelines were outdated. In the past 11 years, things have changed a great deal. No one predicted teenagers could get so much information on the internet. The recent cases of pregnant young girls show the importance of sex education” (par. 4).