Trina Lancaster Blog Post #1 No More Independent Reading Without Support Ch 1

This chapter opens up with something that I truly believe and live myself. “When children read extensively, they learn about themselves, other people and the world; they learn that reading is something they can do that empowers them to control their lives, connect with each other and make the world a better place.”

          After reading this chapter, it reminded me of my after school classes where I have taught reading to second, third and fifth graders who were some of the lowest readers in their class. I would always start out the hear grumbling from them about how they hated to read! It would really hurt my feelings because I was so excited to read and excited about sharing my love of reading with them. I would jump right in telling them why I loved to read. How I loved to travel through a book, visit historical places or learn about the 1800’s or Roaring Twenties, and how if I was having a bad a day I could get lost in someone else’s story and forget about my problems. I would tell them that you will almost never see me without a book to read. How I will read waiting in traffic or at the doctor’s office or wherever I had an opportunity to read. I would ask them to tell me what their favorite subject is and then tell them that you have to be able to read to enjoy math, science, art or social studies. That you have to learn to read to drive a car and travel. That reading is everything and it makes you super smart! Instilling the love of reading to children is so important and I love having the opportunity to share my reading style with them and giving opportunities to develop their own reading style.

          With 4-K it’s all about getting them to listen to a story and becoming a storyteller they want to listen to and finding exciting activities that build the foundation that will carry them on in later grades. Finding the time to teach everything in a school day is hard but after reading this chapter it does give you that “hum” moment that makes you rethink what can be eliminated to open up time in a more efficient manner.