Interview with Readicide Author, Kelly Gallagher

Anthony Rebora- Interviewing Kelly Gallagher
Can Reading Be Saved?
Published Online: April 4, 2011
Education Week Teacher
Complete URL: http://www.edweek.org/tsb/articles/2011/04/04/02gallagher.h04.html

In this interview, Kelly Gallagher, answers a variety of questions about reading instruction in America. Without spoiling all the great points made, let me highlight a couple.
* "And here’s the compounding problem: That lack of reading has created a gaping hole in students’ prior knowledge and background, which is very, very important to bring to the page. A lot of times my kids can read the words on the page, but they can’t comprehend the text because they don’t have requisite prior knowledge and background information."
* "Schools have put all of their emphasis on academic reading and functional reading and completely abandoned the idea of trying to turn kids on to the kinds of reading we want them to do 10 and 20 and 30 years from now—and that’s recreational reading."
* "You gotta have water in a pool if you’re going to be a swimmer, and you have to have really good books, particularly around reluctant readers, if you want kids to be good readers. "

Well those are just a few quotes, points made, that resonated with me. This interview was interesting and relevant to all teachers. It is a relatively short interview, but well worth the read.