While observing in a math class last week, I got to see students working on a math test. It was quite a rigorous test! The students persisted and worked hard to solve the problems. The teacher whispered to me that it was the vocabulary on the test that was causing some students to have a hard time. One student did not know the meaning of the word tailgate. Others stumbled over other academic vocabulary. It was reading that was keeping those students from succeeding! At that moment, I was reminded of what we know - If we want our students to be great spellers, they should read. To be great mathematicians, our students must be great readers. To be great writers, students should read!
I am asking parents and teachers to come together to send a clarion message to our students about reading. Let us, together, speak loudly and clearly that we want and expect our students to become voracious readers. This message can't be conveyed through words alone. We must be committed to take actions that will let our children know that reading is our top priority. Every day teachers and aides take steps to encourage reading. Just recently, I have witnessed teachers taking daily status checks, asking students about their progress and recording that progress. Staff members routinely work with individual students to help them find just the right books. I am asking everyone to become proactive and put positive steps in place to encourage and excite our students about books and about reading. If we ALL make reading our top priority, our students will excel. As a parent, what do you do to encourage your child to read? Please respond to this blog and share how you are encouraging your children to become voracious readers. I look so forward to using this technology to share ideas that will help parents and our students.
This is the main reason I love my job so much… I get to help students find great books to read every day. It is so rewarding to recommend a book to a student, then next time I see that same student they are recommending it to someone else (not even in their class necessarily). When you read a book you love, it’s infectious, and you want to share it with someone else. Students do listen to their peers. If a peer recommends it, chances are they will read it. I witness it every single day. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThank you for what you do:).
DeleteWe think the key as parents is to make reading as enjoyable as watching TV, going to the movies, or playing Xbox/Kinect. If it is presented as a fun activity (something you want to do not that you have to do) then by nature children will desire to read. So often reading is thought of as a task that must be completed-a box to check off if you will. We also let our children stay up a little later if they are reading....they see it as a "treat". Finally, we set the example by reading ourselves (novels, adult Sunday School books, magazines (my love of them counts, right?;) so that hopefully it becomes a lifelong habit. Have a nice day!
ReplyDelete