Synthesis Blog:
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/instill-the-love-of-reading-levar-burton
The main concept I have felt throughout this reading is the concept of introducing our students to reading in a manner that helps them fall in love. I don’t remember when I learned to read, but I do know I was young enough that I was able to read chapter books when I started kindergarten. My parents, as educators, had known the value of reading, and they worked to instill this love of reading in me. I asked once how they taught me to read, and I discovered they didn’t know- I just did. I learned because they loved to read, and they read to me. In most home situations, the children may not have this reading-supported environment. For some students, the first time they see a book may be the first time they step into a classroom. In these situations, we, as the educators, must work to instill love of reading and provide opportunities for these students to fully develop as readers.
I found a blog that is focused on this aspect of learning; instilling the love of reading in our students at a young age. Their first suggestion is to meet the students in their comfort zone. In subjects matter chapter 3, we are encouraged to pick texts that reflect a student’s background and life history. Highlighting these experiences and placing value in their culture is crucially important. But after doing so, I think it’s just as important to use their connection and trust in you to stretch their reading horizon. The fourth element of the discussion involves showing students how much you, as the teacher, love to read. As the adult in the setting, we have the ability to shape our student’s opinions of reading, especially through think alouds, which is a practical skill we have been consistently working on in this course. [312]
Hi Courtney! I, too, was raised by a mom who was a teacher, so she definitely instilled this love of learning in me. We need to recognize that this is a rare case. By giving kids real time to read, we can allow them opportunities to find books they love. Also, as a side note, I subscribe to Edutopia's newsletter and it's fantastic!
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Hey Courtney,
ReplyDeleteI could not agree any more with your statement about how we as educators need to find a way to make all students fall in love with reading. Not only because it is something we do everyday to function, but reading can be so essential to helping students at all levels learn. I like the part of the blog you mentioned where we need to meet our students in their comfort zones, but I also believe we need to give them a slight push to get out. To go for that book that has some challenging vocabulary, or a story with a deep thematic element that may take some time to discover! (114)
You're really getting at the core challenges of reading, Courtney. When you compare someone like you with some of the students who will enter your classroom--students whose parents may not have modeled good reading practices--you can see how important nurturing a positive attitude can be. Meeting students where they are, as you suggest, is great advice. Thanks!
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