STU EGAN: Can Mark Johnson's #NCReads Tips help to understand Constitutional amendments?

Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018 -- Considering those who have propped up Mark Johnson as the state's leader of the public school system also intentionally wrote the text for the constitutional amendments to be confusing and opaque, maybe using some of Johnson's "NC Read Reading Tips" would be helpful in understanding them.

Posted 9:00 a.m. Aug 28, 2018 — Updated 9:00 a.m. Aug 28, 2018

EDITOR’S NOTE: Stu Egan is an English teacher in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School System and the author of the blog Caffeinated Rage which deals with public education.

Every week, State Supt. Mark Johnson releases an “NC Reads Reading Tip” on his Twitter account to give suggestions to parents and guardians about how to help foster and greater love of reading at home.

Considering those who have propped up Johnson as the state’s leader of the public school system also intentionally wrote the text for the constitutional amendments to be confusing and opaque, maybe using some of the NC Read Reading Tips to try and understand these six amendments would be helpful.

It could show whether the tips are helpful and/or show the clarity that is not present in the General Assembly’s wording of the power grabbing amendments they hope to confuse voters with.

Below are some suggestions of how to use those reading tips solely for the understanding of the constitutional amendments.

1. Actual NC Reads Reading Tip: “Traveling for #FourthOfJuly celebrations? Try to spend some time reading with your child to pass time. If you are driving, play audio-books that your child picks out or encourage them to read on their own. #NCReads”

NC Reads Confusing New Amendments Tip: Traveling for late summer vacations? Try to spend some time reading with your family those newly worded amendments to see if you can make sense of them. If you are driving, have someone else read those newly worded amendments and determine if they sound just as convoluted from someone else’s mouth as they do from yours. #NCReadsConfusingNewAmendments.

2. Actual NC Reads Reading Tip: “If you’re excited about a book or article that you’ve recently read, talk to your child about it! Your enthusiasm will show your child just how fun reading can be.”

NC Reads Confusing New Amendments Tip: If you’re exhausted about having to decipher those new amendments you’ve recently read, talk to others about it! Your frustration will show your friends just how stupidly worded those new amendments really are! #NCReadsConfusingNewAmendments.

3. Actual NC Reads Reading Tip: “After finishing a story, have your child repeat the big events of the story in chronological order. Incorporate #drawing to make it even more engaging!”

NC Reads Confusing New Amendments Tip: After finishing reading the new amendments as worded by the special session, try to explain what the amendments really said. Incorporate #handjestures to make it even more frustrating! #NCReadsConfusingNewAmendments.

4. Actual NC Reads Reading Tip: “Give your child books with predictable vocabulary and clear rhythmic patterns. This way they can “hear” the sound of fluent reading as they read the book aloud. #AudioBooks are great for them to follow along with as well.”

NC Reads Confusing New Amendments Tip: Pray that these amendments could actually have more predictable vocabulary and rhythmic patterns and that they actually get to be written in a comprehensible manner. This way people can “hear” just how ludicrous these power grabbing measures are. #NCReadsConfusingNewAmendments.

5. Actual NC Reads Reading Tip: “Have your child examine the cover of a book before starting it. Ask questions such as: “What might the book be about?” Making predictions and building connections between stories will help your child better comprehend what they read.”

NC Reads Confusing New Amendments Tip: Have your friends examine a sample before starting to read it. Ask questions such as: “Do you think you will maintain consciousness after reading the wording of those new amendments?” Making bets about who may be most frustrated might help make the time more worthwhile. #NCReadsConfusingNewAmendments.

6. Actual NC Reads Reading Tip: “Before children can identify letter sounds in words or reading, they can learn how spoken language can be broken down into smaller pieces. Help children learn to break sentences down into words, then words into syllables.”

NC Reads Confusing New Amendments Tip: Before people can identify exactly what the amendments say with the wording of the special session, they can try and break down the text into smaller pieces. Help them learn that no matter how you slice these amendments, they still are horrible. #NCReadsConfusingNewAmendments.

7. Actual NC Reads Reading Tip: “Reading just 20 minutes a day with your child will help them read on grade level. Be sure to ask questions about what they read. Talking about the words in the book will help them understand what they are reading even more. #NCEd#NCReads”

NC Reads Confusing New Amendments Tip: Reading these amendments just 20 minutes a day with friends will not make them any less confusing. #NCReadsConfusingNewAmendments.

8. Actual NC Reads Reading Tip: “Let your children pick articles about their interests for you to read & discuss together. If your child has a tablet or video-game console, research apps & games that revolve around improving literacy skills & problem solving. #NCReads#Engagement”

NC Reads Confusing New Amendments Tip: Let your friends pick news reports and opinion pieces about the amendments for everyone to read and discuss. Then you will see how badly worded they are. Then grab the nearest electronic device to divert your attention spans as the people who called the special session do not want you to actually pay attention to what is really going on. #NCReadsConfusingNewAmendments.

9. Actual NC Reads Reading Tip: “Bring along a book or a magazine any time your child has to wait for something. Whether it be at the doctor or in the cart at the grocery store, it is always helpful to fit in reading practice!”

NC Reads Confusing New Amendments Tip: Bring along a pillow any time you and your friends have to wait for something. You can have something to scream into if you pass that time reading the texts of those new amendments. #NCReadsConfusingNewAmendments.

10. Actual NC Reads Reading Tip: “Early readers can practice retelling a story after reading by drawing pictures of the beginning, middle and end of the story. As they continue to grow as a reader, they can label the pictures and write their own summaries for each.”

NC Reads Confusing New Amendments Tip: Early readers can practice retelling a story after reading by drawing pictures. Try that with the newly worded amendments and see if anyone can make sense of what you drew. #NCReadsConfusingNewAmendments.

11. Actual NC Reads Reading Tip: “Try to make reading with your child a regularly scheduled event (ie: every night before bed). By doing this, you are improving their literacy skills and also getting them used to being a routine, active reader.”

NC Reads Confusing New Amendments Tip: Try to make reading the newly worded amendments every night before going to bed. You will pass out quickly and have dreams in which you are always the confused protagonist. #NCReadsConfusingNewAmendments.

12. Actual NC Reads Reading Tip: “Read a story over and over to your child, even if it feels like the 100th time! As you read, pause and ask your child about what is going on in the book. Be sure to ask about pictures too. You are helping your child build comprehension!”

NC Reads Confusing New Amendments Tip: Read those newly worded amendments over and over to yourself, even if it feels like the 100th time! Notice how they still don’t make sense. #NCReadsConfusingNewAmendments.

13. Actual NC Reads Reading Tip: “When reading at home, try to do so in a place where your children can see you reading, like a living room. When parents set this kind of example, children are more likely to try to emulate them and read on their own as well! #NCReads#NCEd”

NC Reads Confusing New Amendments Tip: When reading the newly worded amendments at home, try to do so in a place where your family can see you reading, like a living room. When parents start getting irritated because they can’t decipher the NCGA’s wording, children will more than likely understand that the NCGA is deliberately confusing people. #NCReadsConfusingNewAmendments.

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