Lorraine Walker’s October Blog Post: No More Independent Reading Without Support by Debbie Miller:
Section 1 – Not This; Is There Enough
Time? And is Time Enough to Support Independent Reading?
I love how Miller poses the question: “But what if there were
a way out? ........ No rotations, activities, or worksheets – just you, your
kids, and books. If you could find a way out, would you take it?” Of course,
she is referring to Independent Reading time and the lack of time we feel we
don’t have. The interesting thing about this chapter is that Miller encourages
us to examine what we do with our time. As I have read several blog posts about
this chapter, I am encouraged by the number of teachers really evaluating what
they do with the time that they have.
Not having enough time is a common reason given by people of
all ages for a number of things they don’t do…..reading, exercising, prayer
time, eating right, cooking……… The list goes on and on. So the question
remains: What do you believe about reading? If you believe it is important and
that children should read, have choice, and time, then you will find the time.
If you believe that reading is important but that the worksheets must be
completed and that is the only way to get grades, then you will find time for
that and not for true independent reading. If we are honest with ourselves, we
will always find time for the things we think are important. When I was young
and did something that was seen unfavorable in my dad’s eyes, he would always
ask me why I did what I did. Most of my answers were met with “That’s an
excuse, what is the reason?” It really took me a long time to figure out the
difference.
What if there were a way out of the …………. Would you take the chance
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