Share Your Reading Life
What is the goal of reading? To function in life? Learn about anything the world has to offer? To enjoy reading? I have to admit, I would prefer to live through experiences rather than read about them. I would rather visit a waterfall; hear the roar of the crashing water, feel the spray even from a distance, and witness the sheer size of it's beauty. I don't know of any book that can provide those sensory experiences. I do live in the real world, however, and realize that many of our children will not be exposed to these experiences. Through literature they are able to explore and discover any experience they can dream of.
On page 24, Routman lists the ways reading infiltrates his life. He has an extensive home library, he keeps a reading record, and he reads in many genres. It is obvious that his life is completely influenced on many levels by reading. We know that kids (and people) don't do what we say, they do what we do. Without having the students come to his home or follow him around, he tries to paint the picture of his reading lifestyle. On pg. 27, he stresses the importance of a personal library. We all agree; but how do we get children of poverty, or ESOL children to develop personal libraries if it is not a priority in the home?
Putting my reflective thoughts into action; (aka. a To-Do-List)
1. Create a working chart labeled; FAVORITE AUTHORS- and hang it in classroom- add to it (pg. 30)
2. Have students create book reviews (pg. 32)
3. Adding genre to reading logs (pg. 35)
Some critical thoughts- He suggests not having parents sign off on reading logs. I'm not certain I agree! How do we ensure they are reading at home? Why shouldn't there be some parent responsibility? I agree that we shouldn't give kids hours of homework a night- but I think reading should always be a part of night time procedures.
I love your idea about the favorite authors chart! That will be a great cumulative record as the year goes on. I'd love to chat more about the book reviews idea--there are some neat ideas out there for using technology to do just that with students! You raise some thoughtful questions about families and their involvement in this reading process. This is actually what I'm hoping to study for my dissertation, so I will keep you posted. :-) For now, I'm wondering what kinds of reading activities do children engage with at home with their families? Is reading limited to leveled texts or library books? What other kinds of literacy experiences do ELL families share at home and in the community? Can a reading log document these literacy experiences?
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ReplyDeleteGreat points Tara! I realize that at our school we will have obstacles we face. If we have parents sign off on reading logs then will children feel like it's part of required homework vs. them feeling like they are reading because they love it? I do however feel like we could teach children ways to access books outside of school like at their public library and cheap books sales. Parents never have an issue buying devises or toys when children ask. Why not get children to ask for books instead?
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