In the introduction, Gallagher caught my attention by placing her definition of Readiacide. The systematic killing of reading. My first question, What does she mean by systematic? After reading this definition I was hoping the book would answer this question for me.
The impression chapter one left with me is that Gallagher does not feel that testing, reading, and standards match each other. In her reflection of the history standards in 10th grade, the book clearly states Gallagher's big 3 topics do not complement each other.
Gallagher then switches gears by saying, “teaching to a test is good, if the test is good” (p.12). What is a good test? I believe she did not clearly answer this question. Gallagher chapter one focuses on skills of the reader but does not support here theory of teaching to the test. As teacher we struggle with assessment and I do not believe that a teacher should teach to a test.
The chapter ends with 16 questions of how to avoid the “Read-i-acide” affect I your classroom. Why not have "steps to avoid" rather than questions. Gallagher also ends with this statement, “A terrible price has been paid when schools value test-takers more that readers”. My dilemma is teachers and the GACE. What do you make of that concept in Georgia ?
My overall all impression is that Gallagher has a tremendous passion for literacy but the first chapter does not fully support the idea of killing reading. I believe that literacy begins at home and with the individual not the teacher. Yes, teachers do have a responsibility to promote literacy and compression but the first chapter sounds like every other book I have read bout improving as a teacher. I hope the rest of the book will change my outlook about reading.
