Rhiannon Wyatt-August Blog-"The Pleasure Principle"

While reading “The Pleasure Principle” by Nancie Atwell I realize the way that I was instructed in reading when I was in elementary school is not what every reading classroom looks like today. Atwell states to not rely on “test driven comprehension tests”. However, “The way to get kids to read and love it is to let them choose their own books.” Instead of filling our reading time with teachers talking and children listening and completing vocabulary exercises, teachers need to give their students time to experience the satisfaction of books.    

The reading workshop method is very appealing to me. It is one that I would like to begin using in my classroom to help my students love reading and therefore grow as readers.  I feel that letting the students have freedom to choose what they would like to read is a great way to encourage their growth. Several years ago, I implemented a method very similar to reading workshop.  It may not have had all of the components that is mentioned in Atwell’s article.  However, a 30 minute amount of time was carved out in our day, every day, for reading.  I had a couch, carpet, and stools that the children could rotate getting comfortable and reading a book of their choice.  I would have 4 to 5 children that I would conference with each day about what they were reading and I would even have them read some of the book to me.  The students really enjoyed that time and I learned a lot about my students both academically and personally.  I felt that my students benefited greatly from the reading workshop time that we had on a daily basis that year.  I would love to implement it again and instill the components that Atwell mentions in the article.