As teachers we are often one of the most influential people in our students' lives. On a daily basis I spend about 9 to 10 hours with my students. That is probably more than their parents spend with them by the time they get home, eat, and go to bed. Teachers make a big impact on their students. I can remember all of my teachers, even back to preschool, and I remember which ones influenced me the most. I was always one of those students who loved to read. My mom was the first one to develop my passion for reading and my teachers molded me into a better reader so that I could enjoy it even more. I want to pass my passion for reading onto my students. I don't want them to see it as a chore, and very often it becomes one, especially for struggling readers.
I loved how chapter 3 emphasized that we should share our reading life. A lot of my students choose to do things simply because I do them. I see this when my students are playing teacher. They say the things I say and even copy my mannerisms. If I can influence them to love to read then that will hopefully continue for the rest of their lives. Routman says that if they don't learn to read for pleasure then they are not likely to make reading a lifelong habit or goal. As a kindergarten teacher, I am privleged to get to work with them in the beginning of their school career. I can help to create lifelong readers and I can do this simply by showing them my love for reading.
As a reader I enjoy sharing with others about I loved and I also like to see how many books I have read. I really liked the idea of having students recommend books to each other and share what they liked the most. I want to create an area in my room where I can put up some of my favorite books and create an area for books my students enjoy as well. Routman says, that even students with reading disabilities can be proficient if there are interesting books. Having an area of books students and I recommend would help to build their interest and make them eager to read. I know that I am more likely to read a book if someone recommends it to me. I liked the idea of creating a class reading record. My students would likely look at it as a challenge to read as many books as possible and that will help build their excitement for reading and it makes them feel accomplished and proud.
Routman mentions in the chapter that she doesn't agree with making parents sign off on reading students do at home. She wants students to assume the responsibility and share their reading on their own. I had never really thought about this in that way. Usually we have parents sign to show that they are working with their children, but that is making the parents responsible and they aren't our responsibility. While we like to know that parents are taking an interest in their child's learning, often students are punished because their parents did not do their part, and often our parents are unable to work with their child for various reasons. We want parents to take an interest on their own and not necessarily force them to. I would love to find a way to see if our students are sharing with their parents what they are learning without putting the responsibility on the parent.
I am excited to use some of these great ideas to encourage my students to be passionate about reading as much as I am.
What a great post, Jennifer! I agree with you about their watchful eyes--it would catch me off guard sometimes when my kids would be in the author's chair and assumed the "teacher mannerisms" that I didn't realize they saw in me. It was scary and funny all at the same time. :-) I love your idea about having an area in your room for book recommendations. Kindergarteners are totally capable of this kind of work! Your reflections on what we ask of parents are important. Yes, we want them involved, but what's the line between involvement and grading parents through our students--or worse yet, punishing parents through our students? Your question about ways to build home/school partnerships in more positive ways is a good one. I actually used photography in my kindergarten class as a non-threatening way to build home/school partnerships and encourage dialogue between students and families about what happened at school that day!
ReplyDeleteHi Jennifer,
ReplyDeleteI loved this chapter too and appreciated how Routman encouraged us as teachers to share our reading lives with our students. You are right about the amount of time we spend with our students. I thought about how powerful spending time strategically during the day sharing the books we love and providing students to do the same through book talks, recommendations, and reviews. Opening up our lives as people who love to read and who choose to read because of the sheer enjoyment allows us to model for students way beyond standards, but a way of life. I also appreciated how you thought about the limited amount of time our students have with their own families and parents and how assigning parent signatures to reading logs can limit their interactions and can be used in punitive ways for our students. I want to encourage you to continue to reflect on ways to involve parents in supporting their students as readers in ways that are positive and meaningful. Thank you! Dawn