The Matthew Effects By Tamar

Slide 1: The Matthew Effects, or I loved to read when I was young; school made me hate it!

Slide 2: The Matthew Effect states that: • Those already rich in reading get richer (inference from Matthew 25:29) • Coined by reading researcher Keith Stanovich. • He has observed a widening gap between students who read and those who do not.

Slide 3: Some major causes for this shift: • Internally, physical growth and shifts in emotional outlook. • Hormones! • Externally, peer pressure and socialization. • By seventh grade, school is ‘a brain factory’.

Slide 4: When we were young… • Reading was something parents did with their kids • Parents got to teach the LOVE of reading! • Kids thought books were magical…

Slide 5: Somewhere around sixth grade… • Kids begin to ‘discover’ each other. • They also get bored more easily! • They don’t like what is called ‘required’ reading. • So, they stop reading (at least at school).

Slide 6: What can teachers do about this? • Establish personal • Find out what turns interaction. them on! • Use these interests as • The bait will keep ‘bait’ for reading- them interested! related activities. • Allow students to • Let them be the experts access prior that teach you! knowledge.

Slide 7: What about the curriculum? • Teachers feel ‘locked in’ to the demands of the state and their departments, right?

Slide 8: Getting the best of both worlds… • Be persuasive – offer choice as the bait to complete required reading. • The more students read, the more likely they are to love it again!

Slide 9: Sharing is a good thing! • The more encouragement they get, the more likely students are to share. • Student empowerment through choice of material encourages mutual trust.

Slide 10: They will keep reading ! • Teenagers deserve the choice to read what they want. • Let them share their knowledge and interests! • They will retain their love of reading for life!

Slide 11: This presentation was made by: • Tamar B. • Spanish teacher • Lifelong reader • Book lover!