reading logs

Ok, so I'm experimenting with the reading log idea that I spoke of in a previous email. I'll post the document later (not in PDF yet) but basically there's 4 on a sheet that can be folded in half and tucked inside the book cover on the text.

With the Latin 1's, I told them I'd just collect them after 4 but the Latin 2's handed theirs in yesterday. Since that's my split level class, I agreed to take them--but then the original plan also included going over any questions the next day which we couldn't do yesterday because we were going to the computer lab to review for a quiz.

ANYWAY. Last night I looked through the logs. I have one area for problem vocabulary and another for problem sentences. So I got out some paper and made a list of the words and sentences that came up, marked how many people put down which sentences, etc and just now made it into an overhead which I will put up at the beginning of class.

This was neat for me, because I saw what tripped them up, including vocabulary that I assumed they knew.

But I think this is working... I mean, here's the thing: if the goal in AP is reading LOTS of Latin, how are we going to get them there if we don't build up their independent reading skills. If we allow them to think that they need to have a text with all the English written right over the Latin (we've all seen this or even done this), they will NEVER develop reading skills.

From the sentences that were missed, I could tell which students weren't reading in word order applying the basic metaphrasing that we use. Also that they were still shaky on endings.

But it was good--you could see some conscientious students at work. AND this was NOT hammering in that they only way you can understand Latin is by writing out English translations. If I had told students to write out a translation, that would just inadvertently support the notion that Latin can only be understood by translation.

NOW, I have to figure out how to get them to go back and reread old stories.