... students aren't talking about books anymore.
The Beginning: August
My single greatest joy is reading. I love reading. In fact, I am what one might call a life-dependent reader. My life is so entwined with reading that it depends on it. There are many reasons for this, but the most outstanding one was a my 7th grade reading teacher. She changed my life in so many ways, with the act of reading, that I could never begin to thank her. This is perhaps why reading is so dear to me.
Like most educators, I know that reading means knowledge. It is at the epicenter of our life's pursuit. (Okay, maybe math teachers don't all share the same affinity for reading, but they appreciate it, sometimes.) So it is with little surprise that nothing gets educators in a bigger huff than seeing more and more children turn away from reading. It leaves me thinking, what have I done? What have I not done? Did I do enough? Can I change this? Can I fight the oncoming tsunami that is the non-reading 7th grade population? I certainly am not the first teacher to observe and question these facts. In her book, Book Love, Penny Kittle does just that.
My single greatest joy is reading. I love reading. In fact, I am what one might call a life-dependent reader. My life is so entwined with reading that it depends on it. There are many reasons for this, but the most outstanding one was a my 7th grade reading teacher. She changed my life in so many ways, with the act of reading, that I could never begin to thank her. This is perhaps why reading is so dear to me.
Like most educators, I know that reading means knowledge. It is at the epicenter of our life's pursuit. (Okay, maybe math teachers don't all share the same affinity for reading, but they appreciate it, sometimes.) So it is with little surprise that nothing gets educators in a bigger huff than seeing more and more children turn away from reading. It leaves me thinking, what have I done? What have I not done? Did I do enough? Can I change this? Can I fight the oncoming tsunami that is the non-reading 7th grade population? I certainly am not the first teacher to observe and question these facts. In her book, Book Love, Penny Kittle does just that.
The Middle: September- October
I started with what I wanted. I wanted to encourage reading in as many ways as possible. I wanted my students to talk about reading. I wanted to encourage students to think about books in a positive light. Most importantly, I wanted to make a difference, in at least one student. Some of these are difficult to calculate and track but I will do my best.
I started with a survey. I asked my students to answer honestly. I explained the purpose of the survey was for my homework and that I wanted to encourage reading. (Side note: The students are interested in the results) My first survey is as follows:
1.Do you like to read? Y / N
2. Do you read books outside of school? Y / N
3. Write one word to describe reading (adjective)
The Results:
I started with what I wanted. I wanted to encourage reading in as many ways as possible. I wanted my students to talk about reading. I wanted to encourage students to think about books in a positive light. Most importantly, I wanted to make a difference, in at least one student. Some of these are difficult to calculate and track but I will do my best.
I started with a survey. I asked my students to answer honestly. I explained the purpose of the survey was for my homework and that I wanted to encourage reading. (Side note: The students are interested in the results) My first survey is as follows:
1.Do you like to read? Y / N
2. Do you read books outside of school? Y / N
3. Write one word to describe reading (adjective)
The Results:
I wont lie.... some of those results were hard for me to see.
But, I soon realized that it would just fuel the fire of my goal. I wanted to change those numbers. I wanted to change their minds. I think that this might be just because I am so darn competitive, but I also think it is because I knew that with a little bit of nudging I could do what I set out to do. I could change someone's mind about reading.
I did a few things to start of the change
I did a few things to start of the change
- Started talking about my books and my love of reading.
- I defined Bibliophile... (if you don't know what that means, google it, you will see my face)
- I talked about Goodreads and how I find books
- I insisted that the students read 3 times a week for at least 15 minutes (THIS HAD A HUUUUUGEEEE IMPACT, more later)
- I encouraged students to read at home over the weekend.
- I encouraged students to talk about their books
- I created a classroom bookstore (VIDEO COMING)
- I do daily book chats with students to talk about books in a casual sort of way.
- I asked my students about books, TV shows, Music, Movies and more to tell them about more books.
- I talk about books practically AD NAUSEAM.
- I defined AD NAUSEAM.
|
Notice Any Trends?
Positives: The majority of my students like reading from what I can tell. On average about 40 of the 50. That is an 80% success rate as far as I am concerned. Negatives: The students who don't like reading, REALLY HATE READING. What Did I Do After: I went back to the list of things I could do, and I did them even more. I started talking to individual students. I began recommending books to the students who polled negatively against reading. And if that weren't enough, I stayed on their case. |
IS IT WORKING?
YES!
Don't get me wrong, there was a small part of me everyday that thought...This stinks! But after 1 month my results were showing in BIG ways. My students began to ask for more SSR time. They wanted to come to book chats. One student who began the year saying she hated reading said that she now not only liked reading time but wanted more time in class just to READ! |
|