When I was a youngster I loved. reading. One memory that always sticks
out in my mind was in first grade. Wehad to read these little books that the teacher gave us. We could take one home, practice reading it,then bring it back and pass it off to one of the room mothers that would come listen to us read. Once it was passed off we could take the next book and practice reading it. I was a very good reader, because my mom made me practice long before I went into Kindergarten. I was the first one to pass off all the books my first grade teacher had. So she
called my mom and told her that she needed to come down to the school. When my mom arrived in my classroom, my first grade teacher, Miss Spendlove, started playing the graduation song and had me walk up and down each isle in the classroom. When I made it to the front of the class, she had a trophy and a certificate for me. My mom always took me to the library to pick out new books each week. From that point on I was always wanted to be the best reader in every class.
out in my mind was in first grade. Wehad to read these little books that the teacher gave us. We could take one home, practice reading it,then bring it back and pass it off to one of the room mothers that would come listen to us read. Once it was passed off we could take the next book and practice reading it. I was a very good reader, because my mom made me practice long before I went into Kindergarten. I was the first one to pass off all the books my first grade teacher had. So she
called my mom and told her that she needed to come down to the school. When my mom arrived in my classroom, my first grade teacher, Miss Spendlove, started playing the graduation song and had me walk up and down each isle in the classroom. When I made it to the front of the class, she had a trophy and a certificate for me. My mom always took me to the library to pick out new books each week. From that point on I was always wanted to be the best reader in every class.
This helped me with all my school work and I was also on a 12th grade reading level by the time I was in 6th or 7th grade. I liked to read as long as it was about something I was interested in. I did not like to read when a teacher assigned me a book. It was better for me when the teacher had a list of books and I was able to choose from the list. The older I got the less I liked to read. My
mom and sister always trade books back and forth all the time, but I’d rather be outside doing something. I will occasionally pick up a novel to read, but it is hard with all the other homework I have, to find time to read a book of my choice. I would say I’m more likely to look up something on the internet to read now.
mom and sister always trade books back and forth all the time, but I’d rather be outside doing something. I will occasionally pick up a novel to read, but it is hard with all the other homework I have, to find time to read a book of my choice. I would say I’m more likely to look up something on the internet to read now.
Physical education is a little different discipline from all the others. I would like to have the students be able to pick out a sport or activity they like, and read a book on that subject. I would
them have them right a paper about the book, not about the summary or plot, but about if the book inspired them to become a better athlete or things like that.
There is a lot of research that suggests that most students (like yourself) tend to like reading less by the time they reach upper elementary school, a trend that continues throughout their middle school years. I think this trend makes secondary teachers' jobs even harder than elementary teachers in some ways--because you are dealing with the motivational aspect of reading and not just the comprehension aspect of reading. It is a great idea to give students choices regarding what they read to offset some of this difficulty, as you noted.
ReplyDeleteI love to read, however I can honestly say the majority of my textbooks were never opened. I just find reading a textbook boring. I do read a lot of agricultural information but I pick and choose my sources. I guess in a way it is half recreational, half "text" reading. I think it is a better way to learn. I hope I can find away to motivate my students to read subject content but hopefully not through a text book.
ReplyDeleteI thought completing the text set assignment was an awesome way to find all the text resources that are offered. I just need to figure out away to acquire these text and get them into my students hands.
Just FYI, I'm scared to death to write on the whiteboard. I'm from the illiterate spelling generation that never learned to spell thanks to Microsoft Word.
I love your idea about having students write about a book that is inspiring to them. When students get to chose a book they like the experience is that much more enjoyable and they often times get more out it. Plus you then have a huge list of inspirational books to read when you have the time. Fun idea! :)
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