Melissa Pruitt’s Blog post 2: Share your Reading Life

Reading is and always has been one of my favorite pastimes. As a child I enjoyed spending time in my school library searching for that perfect book. I got so excited each and every time we received a Scholastic book order. The list of books and authors I enjoyed were many. Books continue to bring me joy. I could spend countless hours in Barnes and Noble and new books continue to stir excitement inside me.

After reading Routman’s section entitled Share your Reading Life, I realize that I never truly share the details of my reading life with my students. Yes, many of my students know that reading was my favorite subject and that Charlotte’s Web was my favorite childhood novel. Still I wonder if they understand why I continue to read. Routman stated that many students will not see and feel the power of reading without our enthusiasm and modeling. Routman suggests that we share why we love to read, what we are reading, how we choose what we read and lists of our favorite books and authors with our students. Routman also emphasizes the importance of having a personal library. Working in a high poverty school I realize that most of the students will never have access to personal libraries at home. I need to do my best to compensate for that by providing them with a variety of books on their levels at school. As a special education teacher I also understand that reading is a daily struggle for my students. What came easy to me is a challenge for them.  I have to remind myself of how difficult it must be to learn to love something that never comes easy. Routman reminded me that even students with disabilities can become proficient readers if their interest in a subject is great enough. Nothing is more rewarding then witnessing a student that has struggled and worked hard finally begin to find the joy in books!! I need to do a better job guiding all my students to books they can read that will spark their interest and love for reading.