This was a bad week for me!!! I was very busy and reading was not very high on my priority list. I found just enough time to complete my reading for this week. I am continuing to read "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell. In this book, Gladwell is examining the reasons that certain ideas and trends "spread like wildfire". So far, Gladwell has outlined three types of people that important to the rapid spread of ideas. He labels these people as connectors, mavens, and salesmen. Each one of these roles is filled by a different person(s) and the characteristics of people in each role are different. But, all three types of people are critical to the rapid spread of an idea or trend.
In one of the chapters of "The Tipping Point", Gladwell examines why certain educational television programs are more successful than others. He starts by telling the history of Sesame Street. Endless research and review helped propel Sesame Street to being one of the most popular children's programs of all time. In more recent times, Blue's Clues has also been very successful at grabbing the attention of children and helping them learn. Gladwell notes the way that the creators of Blue's Clues built on the success of Sesame Street and improved the way they tailored their show to children. This discussion was especially interesting to me as a future educator.
My Reading Log
10/25 - 1:30-2:20 am
10/28 - 2:30-3:15 pm
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Week 3
This past week, I finished "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell and moved on to another book by Gladwell entitled "The Tipping Point". In "The Tipping Point", Gladwell examines how little things can make a big difference in everyday life. He is interested in how certain ideas or trends explode and spread throughout society "like wildfire". I am not far into the book, but what I have read so far includes the power of epidemics. Although Gladwell is not only talking about medical epidemics, he references how certain diseases can make the jump from a small affected area to a full-blown epidemic. He applies this same idea to explaining how trends can make the jump from being somewhat popular in a small area to being extremely popular in a large area. I am excited to continue reading and see how Gladwell explains the tipping point phenomenon.
As a side note, I am very intrigued by Gladwell's style of writing. Before reading "Outliers", I had never read any of Gladwell's writing except for a foreword he wrote in another book I read. His writing style intrigues me because of the way he examines trends throughout our society. Gladwell's writings includes both scientific research and first-hand interviews. The way he seamlessly weaves psychology, sociology, and history together piques my curiosity. Although I don't agree with everything that Gladwell has to say, I am still very interested in his writing. On another side note, I was extremely busy this past week and it was hard for me to find time to read. The good thing, though, is that reading always relaxes me and helps me wind down after a stressful day.
Reading Log
10/17 - 1:00-1:20 am
10/21 - 1:20-1:40 am
10/22 - 12:00-1:00 am
As a side note, I am very intrigued by Gladwell's style of writing. Before reading "Outliers", I had never read any of Gladwell's writing except for a foreword he wrote in another book I read. His writing style intrigues me because of the way he examines trends throughout our society. Gladwell's writings includes both scientific research and first-hand interviews. The way he seamlessly weaves psychology, sociology, and history together piques my curiosity. Although I don't agree with everything that Gladwell has to say, I am still very interested in his writing. On another side note, I was extremely busy this past week and it was hard for me to find time to read. The good thing, though, is that reading always relaxes me and helps me wind down after a stressful day.
Reading Log
10/17 - 1:00-1:20 am
10/21 - 1:20-1:40 am
10/22 - 12:00-1:00 am
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Week 2
In my last post, I said that I had ordered "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell and I was waiting for it to arrive. On Monday, a package arrived ay my house and inside was my new book. I was excited! I had read a few reviews of "Outliers" and I knew it had been on the New York Times' Bestsellers List, but I really didn't know what to expect when I started reading.
To begin with, the book is Gladwell's take on what makes people successful. He takes a different approach than most people and says that it takes more than intelligence, hard work, and ambition to be successful in today's world. He goes against the well-known saying that says "you can achieve anything with hard work." Gladwell's premise is that a person's environment and background have a lot to do with their future success, or lack thereof. In his mind, a person is successful in life when they combine intelligence and ambition with a positive environment and background.
Gladwell presents some interesting points and uses the stories of people like Bill Gates and the Beatles to demonstrate his points. I'm not sure I agree with everything that he is saying, but he definitely presents some thought-provoking ideas. Interestingly, Gladwell includes one section in his book that is relevant to the world of education. Gladwell first discusses the well-known achievement gap between students from low-income backgrounds and students from high-income backgrounds. He argues that students from low-income backgrounds learn just as much in school as students from high-income backgrounds. The achievement gap, he says, results from the fact that students from high-income backgrounds continue learning during summer vacation while students from low-income backgrounds do not. Wealthier families are able to send their children to summer science camps and take trips to libraries and museums. On the other hand, children in poorer families are more likely to spend their summers playing outside or watching tv. This may not be a bad way to spend a summer, but it does not contribute to increased reading or math scores. Gladwell provides statistics from the Baltimore school district to back his claims up. Logically, his argument makes sense, but I would like to see more research in this area. Either way, this is an extremely interesting opinion to read about for someone interested in education!
Once I start a book, I have a hard time putting it down. This past week, I almost finished reading "Outliers". I'll be finishing it early next week. Fortunately, I ordered another book by Malcolm Gladwell entitled "The Tipping Point". So, this week, I am looking forward to finishing "Outliers" and starting my next book!
Reading Log
10/10 - 12:00-12:30 am
10/11 - 1:00-1:30 am
10/12 - 12:45-1:30 am
To begin with, the book is Gladwell's take on what makes people successful. He takes a different approach than most people and says that it takes more than intelligence, hard work, and ambition to be successful in today's world. He goes against the well-known saying that says "you can achieve anything with hard work." Gladwell's premise is that a person's environment and background have a lot to do with their future success, or lack thereof. In his mind, a person is successful in life when they combine intelligence and ambition with a positive environment and background.
Gladwell presents some interesting points and uses the stories of people like Bill Gates and the Beatles to demonstrate his points. I'm not sure I agree with everything that he is saying, but he definitely presents some thought-provoking ideas. Interestingly, Gladwell includes one section in his book that is relevant to the world of education. Gladwell first discusses the well-known achievement gap between students from low-income backgrounds and students from high-income backgrounds. He argues that students from low-income backgrounds learn just as much in school as students from high-income backgrounds. The achievement gap, he says, results from the fact that students from high-income backgrounds continue learning during summer vacation while students from low-income backgrounds do not. Wealthier families are able to send their children to summer science camps and take trips to libraries and museums. On the other hand, children in poorer families are more likely to spend their summers playing outside or watching tv. This may not be a bad way to spend a summer, but it does not contribute to increased reading or math scores. Gladwell provides statistics from the Baltimore school district to back his claims up. Logically, his argument makes sense, but I would like to see more research in this area. Either way, this is an extremely interesting opinion to read about for someone interested in education!
Once I start a book, I have a hard time putting it down. This past week, I almost finished reading "Outliers". I'll be finishing it early next week. Fortunately, I ordered another book by Malcolm Gladwell entitled "The Tipping Point". So, this week, I am looking forward to finishing "Outliers" and starting my next book!
Reading Log
10/10 - 12:00-12:30 am
10/11 - 1:00-1:30 am
10/12 - 12:45-1:30 am
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Week 1
Well, I didn't get off to great start with my pleasure reading. When our class started, I didn't have any books at home that I hadn't already read. Thankfully, though, I had a list of books that I was hoping to read. So, I ordered "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell from Amazon, but it didn't arrive till late this past week. In the meantime, I decided to reread a book that I read a few years ago called "The Life of Reilly" by Rick Reilly. Rick Reilly is a sportswriter and for many years, he wrote for Sports Illustrated. Each week, he wrote the article that ran on the inside back cover of the magazine. "The Life of Reilly" is a compilation of these back page articles with a few longer articles included as well. Although Reilly's articles are always sports-related, they often have more to do with life than sports. I think this is why his writing appeals to me. I enjoy the sports aspect of his writing, but his articles also have an emotional side that is more important than sports.
One of my favorite articles from "The Life of Reilly" is about a elementary school PE teacher and coach in Illinois who also officiates high school sports. One of his goals was to officiate a state championship football game. After years of officiating, he finally receives the letter saying that he has been selected to officiate in the upcoming state championship game. Unfortunately, in the semifinal game prior to the state championship, he makes several inaccurate calls and the state subsequently forbids from officiating in the championship game. Also, he receives death threats and hate mail from the fans of the team that lost the semifinal game. He takes all of this extremely personally, enters a state of depression, and eventually attempts suicide. Fortunately, a neighbor gets him to a hospital and the doctors save his life. In the hospital, many of his former students and players come to visit him. At this point, he finally realizes that so many people love him and he still has a lot to live for besides just refereeing a state championship football game.
Stories like this are why I enjoy reading material by Rick Reilly. I enjoy reading about sports, but I really enjoy the extra meaning that his stories have as well. Below, I have included my reading log of dates and times when I read. As for next week, I am excited about starting my new book!
Reading Log
10/3: 11:15-11:45 pm
10/4: 12:00-12:30 am
10/6: 11:00-11:30 pm
One of my favorite articles from "The Life of Reilly" is about a elementary school PE teacher and coach in Illinois who also officiates high school sports. One of his goals was to officiate a state championship football game. After years of officiating, he finally receives the letter saying that he has been selected to officiate in the upcoming state championship game. Unfortunately, in the semifinal game prior to the state championship, he makes several inaccurate calls and the state subsequently forbids from officiating in the championship game. Also, he receives death threats and hate mail from the fans of the team that lost the semifinal game. He takes all of this extremely personally, enters a state of depression, and eventually attempts suicide. Fortunately, a neighbor gets him to a hospital and the doctors save his life. In the hospital, many of his former students and players come to visit him. At this point, he finally realizes that so many people love him and he still has a lot to live for besides just refereeing a state championship football game.
Stories like this are why I enjoy reading material by Rick Reilly. I enjoy reading about sports, but I really enjoy the extra meaning that his stories have as well. Below, I have included my reading log of dates and times when I read. As for next week, I am excited about starting my new book!
Reading Log
10/3: 11:15-11:45 pm
10/4: 12:00-12:30 am
10/6: 11:00-11:30 pm
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