I chose to read this section entitled Share Your Reading Life because I wanted suggestions as to how to share my reading with my students in an appropriate way. I found this chapter to be insightful because it shows many different ways to share my reading with my students and it provided me with ample reasons I need to do it. I need to make sure I model to my students that I am a lifelong reader and I want to encourage my students to become the same. Reading is crucial to a student's academic success and as teachers we need to "not lose sight of the fact that if they don't read for pleasure they are not likely to make reading a lifelong habit or goal" (24).
Last summer I read Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. I shared the story daily with my students and they were eager to ask me what happened each day. While the text was not on their age/ reading level, they were able to hear the story. The students were captivated and intrigued. While I do not generally have a lot of time during the year to read many novels, I do read a lot of articles and different texts that I could share with my students. I read and learn new information constantly and would love to be able to share that information with my students. I like the idea of posting my reading in a padlet or journal for the students to access. I think it is important for them to see that I read a variety of texts- adult, juvenile, fiction, nonfiction, books, articles, etc. If I am going to encourage them to read a variety of texts, I need to make sure I model that for them.
Routman explains the importance of having a personal library at home. I firmly believe we need to do everything we can to get books into the child's home. Every year from May- September, I push the Barnes and Noble summer reading program where the children can earn a free book for every 8 books they read. I take trips to Barnes and Noble to pick up these books and I make copies upon copies of the reading journal in hopes that that the students will complete it and will begin building their classroom library. I have given books to the students for birthdays and Christmas in hopes that they will read the books and keep them in their library- even better, I would love for them to let a friend or family member borrow the book as well.
You have a strong identity as a reader that you definitely need to share with your students! I read "Unbroken" last Christmas. Did you know they have a YA version of it now?? Your Padlet idea would be a great way to create a community that values books and discussion around them!
ReplyDeleteHi Cassie,
ReplyDeleteI loved the book, Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand too and enjoyed sharing the story with my family as well. I agree with Routman that we need to share our reading lives with our students because we are modeling not only proficient reading strategies and fluent read alouds but more importantly we are modeling a life long love of reading and we are showing what and why we read. This is hugely motivating and encouraging to our students because it gives them permission to choose what they love learning about and to share it with us as well. I also like your padlet idea of sharing our personal libraries. Sincerely, Dawn