Can We Admit that Reading is Subjective?
And that standardized tests can’t measure a student’s ability to read in a way that truly matters?
We’re in the midst of the rapid worldwide spread of the coronavirus, and schools around the country have closed, some for the rest of the year. Many states have made the decision to cancel their state standardized tests for the year. For English Language Arts teachers around the country, this can be a great opportunity to teach in a way that is, honestly, more authentic to what reading actually is. Because reading is subjective, and standardized tests for reading ignore this vital fact.
Shel Silverstein’s famous story, The Giving Tree, is the perfect example of the subjectivity of the reading experience. In this classic children’s story, an apple tree grows to love the little boy who plays under her shade each day. He climbs the tree, gathers her leaves, and rests against her trunk after a long day of play. The apple tree feels good because she’s making the boy happy. As the boy grows older and visits the tree less frequently, the tree wants to continue to make him happy, so she gives parts of herself so that he can get what he wants. This includes apples for selling and wood to make a house and a boat. The tree gives everything for the boy’s happiness until he is an old man and she is…
