Laura Emory Post 3 Miller (2013) Section 1: Not this: Is There Enough Time?

Debbie Miller says it best when she says “that in order to become thoughtful, strategic, proficient readers, children need to read. A lot.”  We want our students to read to learn about themselves, about others, about the world that we live in.  To learn more about what a good reader is and does, we must provide them with tools and the time to practice.  Miller also says that she understands why some feel overwhelmed with the thought of when and how to incorporate the time that the students desperately need.  Can we make the time to find out what our students really need during the day?  Can we shorten our calendar activities, announcements, maximize our transition times, and finally focus our reading block time on actually reading not completing worksheets and other various activities?  Can we make our reading block be about what is best for the kids not the adults and grading systems?

     While our students are reading they need for us to monitor this reading by talking and writing and they also need for us to provide feedback to them that will help them to improve.  Miller states that “unguided choice and lack of monitoring can mean that students see struggle while reading as their own permanent deficiency.”  The thought of students blaming themselves for not being “good readers” should hurt teachers deep down.  Our students, no matter the level, should feel confident and comfortable reading, not defeated.  We must make the time in our busy days to 100% focus on our students and what they need in their reading instruction and provide them with the time and resources to practice reading- true reading not fake reading.  The love of reading begins with us and how we present reading to our students.