TINA-LOUISE SMITH reviews Refreshing Reading: Six Workshops for Teachers, Lecturers and Students Involved in the Teaching of Reading by Eleanor Russell (Macmillan, R31,35)
THE aim of Refreshing Reading is to get teachers to get to grips with the process of reading and so facilitate change in the way we teach reading.
The six units of the book involve teachers in reading activities that show different aspects of reading and understanding texts. Each activity is straightforward and practical. It is rewarding to go through a unit, enjoy the activities and become more aware of how you read.
Most of us take our daily reading for granted. The questions that accompany the activities force us to analyse the way we read. They encourage deep and relevant thinking that leads to useful insights. Teachers can also imagine themselves in the shoes of the learners through activities that illustrate the difficulties learners encounter when starting to read.
I think a mirror text activity (when text only becomes legible once reflected in a mirror) would also work well here. The exercise drives home the confusion learners feel when confronted with text they must learn to read.
In keeping with the outcomes-based ideology, Russell lists the desired outcomes at the beginning. At the end of the book you can go back and check that you have achieved what you set out to do.
There are logos which are explained at the start of the book and guide the use of the materials. Workshops are presented methodically and clearly. They require light preparation including notes for the facilitator. Everything you need is in the book.
All in all this is a user-friendly book that deals successfully with the task at hand. It is useful for those in training and as a refresher course for established teachers. I am sure it will encourage more creative teaching of reading.
— The Teacher/Mail & Guardian, February 28, 2000.
M&G Supplements