Page 283 - Learning to Learn

LEARNING TO LEARN: BECOMING A SELF -GROWER 283
EXPERIENCE 10: READING FOR LEARNING READING
Reading for Learning
In her 1960 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel To Kill a Mockingbird,
Harper Lee introduces us to a six-year-old girl nicknamed Scout,
who loves to read. The novel is set in a 1930s Southern town, hard
hit by the Depression. Scout’s father, a lawyer named Atticus Finch,
had taught her to read before she went to school. Instead of being
pleased, her teacher is dismayed because Scout is so far ahead of the
other children. The teacher forbids Scout to read in school, and Scout
is heartbroken. Her father promises Scout that she can read all she
wants at home.
Can you relate to this story? Some of you may have spent long summer days reading books in a series,
such as Harry Potter or the Twilight books, eager for the next one to come out. On the other hand, some of
you may not read unless required to do so for classes, or feel that you simply do not like to or are not good
at reading. You likely read more, and more often than you realize. Do you really read less than your parents
or grandparents, or do you just read differently? Think of all the things you have read in the past week:
E-mail from friends or someone’s personal blog? An online news site or an article in a local newspaper?
A magazine that focuses on a favorite hobby? A textbook, an assignment handout, or a classmate’s paper
as a peer reviewer? The latest installment of a graphic novel?
However, like so many other things we do these days, we all tend to read too quickly to do it effectively. We
skim written communication and half-listen to conversations. However, to become a strong and successful
learner, you need to both read and listen well. This experience will build on the reading skills you already
have and strengthen them so that you can be a confident and more successful lifelong learner.
The goal of the reading for this experience is to help you learn how to improve your reading and
comprehension skills. We will also look at the connection between reading and writing, two activities that
form the foundation of your college education.
Molly is a first-semester student who grew up on a dairy
farm an hour outside of the city where she now attends
college. She was very active in high school sports,
including softball and soccer. Molly even tried
wrestling for a season. She tends to get bored
easily and is happiest when she’s physically
active. Molly wants to be a nurse and work
with rural families. She knows from her own
experience that many farm families are so
busy taking care of their farms and livestock
that they don’t take very good care of their
own health. Molly would like to change that,
and introduce new ideas like nutrition and
maybe even yoga!