Quantcast

Betty's Blog

Timely Teacher Talk

Sponsored Links

Reading for pleasure

I read recently where many adults admitted to seldom reading a real book.  I can't tell you where I read this because my life has been all over the map recently.  The article was a gentle put down for parents who do not read. 

One good idea from the article was for parents to read the same books that their kids are reading.  What better way to reread one of the classics?  I found this to be a novel (ha ha) idea and wish I had done this when my own kids were in school.  This reminded me of what my life was like at that time.  I taught school all day and drove my kids to their various activities all evening.  They were involved in gymnastics, sports, and orchestra.  I'm talking about three kids going in three different directions.  The orchestra teacher held really late practices.  After dinner, homework, etc., I found myself grading papers or working on lesson plans.  Any books that I read were sixth grade novels.

I do love to read.  My kids used to ask me not to bring books on vacation because they wanted me to interact with them instead of reading.  I guess the whole point of this post is to say that it's not always easy to squeeze in a book.  A book has been traveling with me for the past two months, but I seldom have time to open it.  I carry it in my car and read a page every now and then. 

Another little tidbit I read was about a school that decided to make their own reading posters.  Instead of using celebrities to encourage students to read, the staff of Vivian Field Middle School in Texas made their own posters.  I especially like the one of a teacher reading to her three dogs.  Apparently, she hid treats behind the book to keep the dogs attentive.  Teachers are so creative when they get into a project. 

I also like the idea of reading 25 minutes during the school day just for fun.  We did this when I taught middle school.  It was such a relaxing time.  It does help to make life not so busy. 

Posted: Sunday, September 02, 2007 5:47 PM by Betty

Comments

MysteryTeacher said:

Reading is my second job.  I love to read.  It worries me when adults say they don't ever read a book.  Many will read on once and give it away.  My books are like friends.  I visit them every once-in-a-while.  I re-read them and enjoy the memories of what is in them while I am doing it.  I can't imagine visiting a friend once and then giving them away.  My students read every day for "pleasure".  I have a friend who owns an icecream shoppe and gives them a free ice cream for every 4 books they read.

# September 2, 2007 6:58 PM

BLOG'safunnyword said:

LOVE IT!

I will be doing my best to enlist my colleagues' help to steal that idea for posters.

I've always loved reading, and when I got a husband and some kids, was dismayed that they didn't all find the same magic in it that I do, even though I read aloud to them like crazy until they were in high school (the kids, not the husband!).

I have been thinking a lot about how most adults, when reading for pleasure, will read the newspaper, magazines, self-help, how-to or other nonfiction. I'm trying to bulk up my non-fiction offerings in my classroom library.

This is the first year that I am requiring my students to bring a free-choice reading book with them to class. Then, when they get done early with an assignment, they'll have something to read instead of doing a worksheet.

I am hesitant to take the step of approving a magazine, newspaper or comic (although a good graphic novel does hold some sway). If they bring a magazine, I feel like they'll probably just look at pictures! Or a comic-- possibly read it once and then keep it as a prop all year to look as if they're reading. And a newspaper-- you didn't do your current events today, did you? Sigh.

# September 3, 2007 11:30 AM

jtspencer said:

I love to read.  I think it's because my mom and dad both loved to read.  I chose the classics while they were into more contemporary works.  I also grew to really love reading non-fiction.  The current book I'm reading is by Neil Postman, my favorite social-media critic.  I hope my two sons end up sharing this same love.  I feel like there are so many other media diversions that can pull them away.

# September 3, 2007 6:57 PM
New Comments to this post are disabled.