Chapter 3 - Melissa Myers

"When students solely read books through the lens of test preparation, they miss out on the opportunity to read books through the lens of life preparation." (Gallagher, 72)

This idea occurred throughout Chapter 3 and intrigued me the most. I agree with this statement. I love to read when I was able to do it on my own and still do when I have the time. But now it seems as if I read more as a requirement than for pleasure, which unfortunately also occurred when I read the assigned chapter in this book. In this case we are the students who may not be forced to read this book to prepare for a test, but are reading it for a requirement. I understand that we are adults, but I wonder how many of us are actually going to use any of this information. They say teachers are the worse students, but really we just like to learn as they do. We need hands-on and must see how it relates to our life.

I feel that we would have learned more from the book if there were study groups. According to Gallagher, study groups are the way to go. It allows for long reading times and thus increases understanding and possibly love for reading. We did not of the activities that Gallagher suggests -- recognizing the value of the book, guided/budget tour, and augmenting. In these and some of her other suggestions students work together as a group to understand the reading. Departments may have been give different chapters and asked to write a blog, but is this really a study group? Are we really learning anything?

I think that readicide is occurring with us reading this book. I did not read this book for recreational purposes. I was told that I have 1 week to read and post as blog about what I read. I have to admit that I did learn ways that stop readicide, but at the same time I was thinking that we are doing this horrible act with the teachers. It may not be for test preparation, but we are required to post something that we read. I am not saying that it isn't a good book, but better preparation should have occurred so that I would enjoy the book more than I am now.