The new year underway, I began to reflect on my reading life; therefore, also thinking about the reading life in our classroom. Over the break, I was able to enjoy reading for pleasure, where I read books that have been on my "Books I Plan to Read" list for quite awhile. The books I read were recommended to me by dear friends, who are voracious readers and know a good book when they read one. Their recommendations were spot on and I found myself in the "Reading Zone" time and again.
As I began planning our next steps for our reading lives in the classroom, I came across this blog post by a fellow reading and writing teacher. I don't know her, but I know she is passionate about teaching reading and writing and thinks deeply about what she reads. I read her blog often for inspiration.
In her post, she reflects on her reading life and what she noticed. It made me think about why we read and the best way to enjoy reading. The changes I have made to our reading class are somewhat influenced by this post and my own reflections.
She begins her post with a quote by Kate DiCamillo, author of Because of Winn-Dixie and many other acclaimed books: "Reading should not be presented to children as a chore or a duty. It should be offered to them as a precious gift." As a teacher, who considers reading as a "precious gift" in my own life, I hope, if you do not already feel this way, you will see reading as a gift in the New Year.
As you read her blog, post your reactions to her reflections. I have posted my own response to demonstrate the level of thinking you should demonstrate in your own post.
26 comments:
As I read Carol's post, I had a strong connection to #1, #6, and #7. I agree with #1 because I have come to cherish the conversations and relationships I have formed with friends, centered around reading. I long to talk about a good book, hear a good recommendation, or talk about my favorite books.
Also, I find #6 to be true because sometimes I have picked up a book and not found it to be interesting at the time, but have returned to it later in life and loved it. In fact, the book I am reading now is a book I began years ago and thought was boring; however, I don't think I was in the right mood to read it. Having picked it up again, I find it very entertaining and well-written.
Lastly, I love what books do for my thinking and worldview. I have learned so much about different time periods and cultures; therefore, traveling to places I might never go, but it gives me a taste and helps me learn about the world beyond Nashville. Also, I have noticed a distinct improvement in my writing and thought process because of my reading, and it had nothing to do with taking a writing class, but rather, just reading and soaking up the language in great literature.
I sort of made a connection with #4 because sometimes I read a book but I want to read it slow and take my time.
I really had a connection with #1 because I have to agree that it's nice to talk about books with friends and find new books to read. Sometimes I see my friend reading a book and they can't stop.
I thought the Harry Potter series was like that but then I finished it and have been having a hard time finding a new series to get into. Everyone is telling me to read the Percy Jackson series and they say that it was amazing how good it was. I think I probably will start reading it.
When I read Carol's post I thought #2 and #7 were the best. I agree with #2 because it does not matter with how many pages you read, then you it won't now what the book is about . It won't be that fun for example you can not finish Harry Potter in one day or something like that.
I love #7 because after you read a book it is really easy because you can like new puncuation of how to write a book and also learn new words.
When I read Carol's blog, I really thought that number 4 stood out to me. The same thing happened to me with the first number 3 on there. They made me think about things that I've thought of before that are now in the back of my head. Reading them was enteresting to me because I found out that there are people thinking the same things as me.
To me number 4 was completely true. This is because I too agre that if you do so many extra things after reading you don't get as much reading in. Normally I can just remember about what I've read so there is no reason to do extra stuff afterward.
The reason that I agree with the first number 3 on there is because I don't think that it would be fair if some people could read some books and others couldn't. Sometimes I just want a break from reading books "on my level." Actually, I think that just right books are still important to read. But people saying that you should read books "on your level" sounds wrong to me. I'm not saying that you should't do that, but I think people should say to read books that you are able to understand.
When I read the blog post on carols corner I had a strong connection with #2, #1, and #7. I agreed with #2 because I believe that reading should never be a contest or race, it should be a happy and relaxing thing to do anytime. When Carol says you should not read a certain amount of pages, I disagree with her because that basicaly means you shouldn't set goals to be a better reader.
I agreed with #1 because I also think that reading is about connections, community, relationships, talking about books, sharing titles, and making comments about great books. I love sharing titles of great books with my classmates and discusing the books afterward. I also love to hear what other people say about books I have recommended.
The last one I agree with is #7. I agree with #7 greatly because to me writing comes a little bit easier to me as I get older when I read more books and think deeper thoughts. I have noticed that people who don't read as much and don't think as much aren't as good of writers as they could be. If they tried harder and read more they could be really good at writing.
When I read Carol`s post,I had a strong connection with #3 and #5.
I agree with #3 because it really doesn`t mater what reading level your on, you can still read any book. I also agree with #5 because It`s ok to read a little of a book then don`t read it the next day then come back to it.
I read Carol's post, and I have a strong connection to #1 and #2. I agree with #1 because I like to tell peole about my book, so they are interested and read the same book.And after they have read it, we can talk about the book and discuss about what we liked about the book and what we disliked about it.
I agree with #2 because my goal is to read 30 pages a day. But if I only read 15 I feel a gut in my stomach and it hurts bad because I didn't finish my goal .So I could stay up and finish reading or I could read 45 pages the next day.
When I read Carol’s blog I thought #2 and #3 were the best. I liked #2 because it doesn’t really matter how many pages are in the book. You read it because you enjoy it, not because there is going to be a reward at the end. You can take all the time you want on a very large book like the book I’m reading now, Eragon.
I liked #3 because you can try to read books that are not on your level. You don’t always have to read books on your level. Like if you are struggling in reading and are on a low level you can still try to read a harder book. It’s good to challenge yourself to harder books. Or if you read at a high level, you can still read easier books too.
When I read Carol's blog post i thought for a time. I decided that numbers 5,6,and 7 really stood up to me most. I understood clearly about what Carol was saying. Sometimes, you need to take time with your reading. Even if you have a book report due tomorrow and you have not even touched the book you still need to take your time because if you rush through your book you will most likely not get it.
I disaree with Carol on number 6 because books are all great no mater what time you read them in. One time I read part of a chapter book when I was sad and when I stopped reading for the time I was happy.
I really agree with Carol on number 7. Maybe someone could read the Bible, think for a few days, and then write little everyday devotions. Once I read a poem and it inspired me to write my own poem about the same thing, just different.
I first agree with number 4 because most of the time with pretty long books I like to take my book slow and easy.
I also agree with number 6 because sometimes the book isn't very interesting at the time but when I come back to it a little later I pick it back up and see that it is more interesting to read, and I can comprehend it easier.
When I read #2 I knew I had some kind of connection to it but I didn’t know what so I decided to keep going read the others and after book club to reread it and think some more about it and then answer. So I did. I still couldn’t decide why. I don’t fully agree with her, but I don’t desagree. I do defiantly agree with her that reading is for your own benefit and for fun not a contest, but I don’t think I’m an over achever. If the thing assigned is homework than I’m going to do it and maybe if it’s for fun I’ll do it to but if it’s for fun I don’t feel worried, bad, or any feelings like that.
I knew immediately that I agreed with the level thing she was saying on #3(first one), but I like reading books if they’re good or not, not just reading a short book. I don’t care if they’re short or long, easy or hard. I don’t have the urge to finish a book I enjoy the reading of it. So like Carol said I think you should be able to read easier books if you want, a moderate one if you want, and a hard one if you want.
I defiantly had an agreement with Carol on #4(second #3). I don’t think you should take tests do dioramas or any projects like that. They don’t have any meaning to them except maybe to do art better but do something fun for that.
For #5(#4) I feel silly writing this because in a way it’s like the last one I wrote I’m wasting time on writing things over again when I could be reading. I defiantly agree with that and I need to work on it in reading and just in general.
These are the main #s that really stuck out and I could connect to them.
I totally agree with #2 you can spend as much time as you want. You always need to think about what you are reading,so you can understand the book and you don't need to rush your thinking.
I so disagree on #3 because you need to be on your reading level so that you are fully able to understand the book you are reading.
I make connections with most of Carol's post!! i agree with everyone, but I dont agree with #4.
I dont agree with #4, because she said that you don't always have time for reading. I know you sometimes need to do other things, but you always have time every day to read. After a soccer game, after school, before bed. I think that you do always have time no matter what you have going on.
I agree with all the others,#1,#2,#3,#4,#5,#6,#7. Like what Mrs Jenkins said on #1 about relationships and so on.
I disagree with Carol on #3. I think we should do a diaroma to show what we thought of the book. Diaromas are fun and shuoln't be thought of as a project, they should be thought of as a fun activity. I also think we should do a diaroma or take a test so our teacher knows we actually read the book.
I half disagree and half agree with Carol on #6. I think you can read a book any time of the year. You shouldn't have to wait to read a book. But with some books you should read them at a special time in your life.
I disagree with Carol on #3. I think we should do a diaroma to show what we thought of the book. Diaromas are fun and shuoln't be thought of as a project, they should be thought of as a fun activity. I also think we should do a diaroma or take a test so our teacher knows we actually read the book.
I half disagree and half agree with Carol on #6. I think you can read a book any time of the year. You shouldn't have to wait to read a book. But with some books you should read them at a special time in your life.
I strongly connected to #2, #3, #5. I agree with number 2 because it really is not a race to see how fast you can read. It's how fast it takes you to understand your book. The pages you read don't get graded. So you should take the time you need.
I also agree with number 3 because I think it is great to read books in your level of reading but to also read a variety of every kind. Like reading a chapter book then reading a picture book. So what I'm trying to say is that reading anything is okay. As long as you understand it.
I agree with number 5 because I don't think that reading is supposed to be reading an in tire chapter book each night. I think of it as reading maybe 20-40 pages a night. But defiantly not reading a 350 paged book a night.
I agreed with all of them I thought all of them were true I especially liked number two because it does not matter how many pages you just have to concentrate on the book your reading. But I do not agree with number three because I think you should read mainly at your reading level and sometimes below and above your reading level.
I disagree with number three because if you don't read books on your "level" you might have a hard time reading it an example is ...Say I got a teacher's book. Do you think I could read it? NO!
I disagree with number three because if you don't read books on your "level" you might have a hard time reading it an example is ...Say I got a teacher's book. Do you think I could read it? NO!
I agree with the second number three because I personally don’t like making dioramas or taking tests on what I read because it usually takes a long time to take test or dioramas.
I agree with the second number three because I personally don’t like making dioramas or taking tests on what I read
When I was reading the blog post by Carol, I agreed on most of them but #5 and #4.
I don't agree with #5 because when I start nibbling at books, like she was talking about I start reading another book, and then I totally forget about the other book i'm nibbling about. After I forget everything in the book i'm nibbling at I have to start over the book.
I also disagree with #4 like Emily said,''Carol said that you don't always have time for reading". I bet money that you can find just one little time of your day to pick up one of the books you have on your list to read books and just read 20 minutes. If we can do it and we are in fourth grade I think Carol can do it too. But Carol is an adult. :)
I agree with Carol that it does not matter how long a book is it matters if you can read it or not. Like a 2nd grader would not read The Lightning Thief but I may want to read a picture book that is my level. It does not matter how thick the book is it matters if you can read it.
I also agree that some books are better to read at different times. Like I do not want to read A Christmas Story before Christmas. Those were the two I liked best.
When I was reading Carol's post, I had a strong connection to #2, #3, and #6. I disagree with #2 because I think if you push yourself to read a book a day, you will end up rushing to finish it and not understand what you have read. As Carol said, when she was reading a book that was five hundred pages long, she knew that she wouldn't be able to finish it in just one day. And she felt like she failed bookaday. I think that you should take your time so you will understand your book and don't plan when you will finish it.
Also, I agree with #3 because I don't think people should be told what they can or can't read. But I do think that if you struggle with reading, if you pick a hard book, you might not understand it. I agree with Carol when she said she sometimes doesn't want to read hard books, sometimes I just want to read picture books.
Lastly, I find #6 to be true because I have picked up a book and not found it to be intersting. And that is the book that I am reading now. I picked it up a few years ago and didn't understand it, but I decided to try it again and I loved it!
For #2 I agree with her that reading isn't a competition, because that is not what reading's purpose is.You don't just read a book, because you made a bet or something, you read a book to entertain yourself, to teach yourself, and to have fun in the process.
For #3 I do agree that someone should not have to read one certain book or another, but I recommend to people that they should probably stay with books that are on or around their reading level. I also think that just, because a book is seriously long, doesn't mean that the book is on a very hard reading level.
I think that I deeply conected to #2 and #5. I agree with #2 because some of my most favorite books have not been at my reading level. I love to have somewhat of a challange.I think a challange makes a book alot better.
I also agree with #5 because you don't alway have to finish a book right away some books I enjoy more if I take my time and others I like to read faster.
I enjoyed sittting down and wonder about this blog post and thinking about what I wrote.
when I read Carol's post I agred with numbers 1,2,and 7. 2 because it relly dose not mater how many pages you read. 1 because it is fun to share book titles and share parts of books. 7 because I think that after I read writing seems easyer then normal.
I very well agree with #'s 3,4, and 1. I agree strongly with number one because i really don't think we need to take tests and make projects on our books. I think we should be able to read on our own and then ttalk about the book.
For number Four when I read a book i want to take my time and slow down so i can understand the book not just read it to read it.
Number one is my favorite out of all of these I think when you do a bookclub or something you need to share about the book with others because then they could enjoy the book too. Like BK said i think after you have finished a series it is hard to find a new book but then you get reccomendations!!
I agree with 4, because I think that when your reading a book and then you have to do a report or something on it you focus more on the report than the book your reading and never have that much time to read.
I agree with one, because I always like seeing what other people think just in case I ever get confused or have trouble with my book.
I also agree with 3, because if you want to read a 500 page book but you can't read very well I think you should still definitly try.
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