Lorraine Walker’s November Blog Post: Reading Essentials by Regie Routman – Chapter 3 Share Your Reading Life
Many teachers have read this chapter and enjoyed it very much.
Many of those same teachers also love reading and shared some of their love for
reading in their blogs. But for me – the chapter made me feel bad because I do
not love reading. Most of my reading life in school revolved around assigned books
and then I had to analyze them to death. This was difficult because I do not
recall receiving any instruction on transacting with text. Because I have been
reading and learning more about reading instruction over the past year, I can
look back at my own instruction and see many gaps that impacted the joy of
reading. Maybe that is why I keep preaching the importance of independent
reading.
Routman explains the importance of sharing one’s own reading
life. I had a friend in high school that loved to read and she was the one who
shared her reading life with me. She, her mother, and sisters loved reading
romance novels. My friend loaned me some of hers and that is when I began to
enjoy reading. I read several books but soon lost interest because they were so
predictable. However, the joy I received from becoming consumed by a book was
enough for me to seek out other books. I soon learned that I enjoyed reading
realistic fiction/adventure/mystery novels. I read several books about the
Chicago mafia and I have read most of Sydney Sheldon’s books. If I were back in
the classroom I would have something to share.
One strategy suggested in the chapter is to create a class
chart of favorite authors and books. I meet with my Kidwatching group weekly so
I think we will begin our own little list and see where that takes us!
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