"Meaning is constructed in that realm where readers meet the words in the text and consider the ideas in terms of their own experience and knowledge. The author's creation stems as much from what readers bring to the text as from the author's own preconceived notions. More than anything, authors intend to capture readers and hold their attention throughout the book and beyond." ...pg. 2
Donald Graves writes, "When I was in elementary school I might have been categorized as a "dreamer reader." I remember reading T Model Tommy, by Stephan W. Meader, when I was in sixth grade. As I recall, the book was about a young enterprising boy who parlayed owning a small truck into a growing business enterprise. I immediately wanted to live the life of Tommy and start my own business. I read along, living through the characters, and would soon be lost in a reverie that had little to do with the text at hand." For most of his life, he categorized himself as a "defective reader". He lacked precision in answering precise questions about the text. ....Forward
Take a moment and think about your childhood experiences with reading.
Then choose one of the questions below and respond.
1.) How did you feel about reading as a child?
2.) Do you remember the one book that you absolutely loved reading and you did not want to put it down? What made you enjoy it so much?
3.) Do you remember the one book that you had a very difficult time reading? Now that you teach reading to elementary students, why do you think it was so difficult for you?
As a child, I was just an okay reader! I didn't like reading, but I didn't hate it either. I read when I needed to and answered the questions that were required. I was never really able to "get lost in a book." Then my fourth grade teacher read aloud, Tales of the Fourth Grade Nothing. She was so engaging and modeled how to ask questions while reading to better think about the characters and events in the story. This is when I remember becoming a "reader".
ReplyDeleteI remember struggling with reading when I was a child. My kindergarten teacher recommended that I repeat kindergarten because I wasn't as strong of a reader as the other kids. She made me feel like it was okay and that I would catch on even faster. I gained the confidence I needed to become a better reader. I enjoyed reading the Babysitter's Club. I couldn't get enough of them!
ReplyDeleteI liked to read as a child. Since my parents were always reading, I had a great example to follow. When I was 10 years old I snuck one of my dad's books off the shelf. The Amityville Horror was one that my dad had said, "NO!" to when I asked to read it. I read it in secret by flashlight at night (great idea, right)! When I started having bad dreams I had to fess up. I still finished reading it, because that is something you just do not quit reading. To this day I still love scary books and movies.
ReplyDeleteThank you for responding!!!
ReplyDeleteI remember reading in elementary school, I was in the "Gingerbread" group. I believe it was the highest level in the class. My teacher was very encouraging and I loved reading in class. Read for fun? I don't think so! I like to read now, but I didn't have any models for reading as a kid. Who read for fun? GEEKS and NERDS! I'm sure my daughter gets enough influence at home to help build her love for reading (Yeah, that's what they all say).
ReplyDeleteAs a child, I never enjoyed reading. There was too much pressure to be great at it...even from an early age. We knew people moved to our particular suburb because they had "the best" school system. Therefore, if we didn't excel at school, we were wasting our parents' money and not good enough to be there. Talk about guilt and anxiety! WOW! We were worried about SAT scores and what college we were going to from birth!!! The elementary classes were quite competitive. Everyone wanted to be in the "smart people" group. No matter what the teachers categorized us as (blue birds, green groblins, red rovers, etc). If you were in certain groups, you felt superior. If you weren't, you were destined for failure. It was supposed to be a great environment with the latest techniques implemented and the best teachers. Looking back now, I realize it was unhealthy to have those worries and concerns as small children. It did not foster a love for learning...only the need to be successful. To this day I do not join book clubs because I don't like to feel pressured to read. It would become work, a chore, or another thing to add to the to do list. I really wish I had read more for enjoyment, and less for the grades.
ReplyDeleteI grew up wandering the aisles of used book stores. Still to this day, I feel like a kid lost in wonderland when I'm in one. Back then my sister and I would search faithfully for the next book in whichever series we were reading (for me, Sweet Valley High!), while my mom scoured the shelves for another copy of Lucifer's Hammer. I imagine that it was her passion and love of reading, so authentically modeled to me, not forced on me, that naturally inclined me to love reading as well.
ReplyDeleteMeryl,
ReplyDeleteThe Babysitter's Club was my second favorite!
I remember as I was growing up, there would be quiet time on the weekends when my parents would read (books, magazines, newspapers) and my brother and I would join our parents (books, comic books, Sunday comics). The house would be quiet for hours while the whole family spent time absorbed in reading--what a wonderful memory! Libraries and book stores were some of my favorite places to visit (I still love those places). When I was in my early teens, my best friend and I would spend our school vacations and summers at the local library. The librarian became like a grandmother to us. I encourage my son to read by buying him anything to read that strikes his interest. It makes me sad to imagine how many children don't live in a home that fosters a love of reading.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in elementary school, one of my teachers called us by bird groups so I had no idea if I was in the high, medium, or low group. It was best that way since I had no desire to read. However, I didn't have anybody really encouraging me to read for fun. My dad use to tell me to pick up the newspaper and read it, but that seemed boring to me. I loved reading the Garfield comics in the paper, but that was the extent of it.
ReplyDeleteIt is funny how people evolve because I LOVE to read now. I can sit down, block anything out, and read a book in a day. I wish my parents would have helped me explore different genres because I think that would have helped open my eyes to different types of literature when I was a youngster.
As a child my mother bought me books that she knew would spark my interest in reading. She bought me the "Little House on the Prairie" series and also all of the Nancy Drew mystery books. Although I preferred to be outside playing with my brothers I did enjoy reading because my mother choose books that I enjoyed. My whole family has alway enjoyed reading and particularly mystery books.
ReplyDeleteHow neat, Darcy, that your mom knew you well enough to know which books would capture your attention.
ReplyDeleteok this my 1st time blogging and I am not doing so well.....I typed my response and apparently did not post correctly so now you get the really condensed version!!!
ReplyDeleteI was a good reader but didn't really enjoy it that much - except for when I was chosen to read the readings at our weekly mass (went to Catholic school). There were only a few of us that were chosen because we could read without making mistakes.
My favorite book was The Boxcar Children - checked it out over and over!!!
I flat out hating reading as a child. I was still decoding words in the fourth grade. I do not know how I made it that far before my teacher put me into tutoring. I guess I was one of the real RTI founders! lol I remember my tutor had a yellow bug for a car and she worked with me every Tuesday and Thursday. I never really felt like a true "Reader". I read cliff notes all through high school and took really good notes and managed to make "A's" on almost all my test. I read the Notebook years ago and now love Nicholas Sparks books!!! I love to teach children reading more than anything, because I know how much they will struggle if they don't learn to enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it funny the subjects we love to teach and the reasons behind why we love to teach them????
ReplyDeleteI entered kindergarten with great anticipation of learning to read. I was excited with every word I learned to recognize and practiced constantly. My mother took us to the main library often and the bookmobile stopped in front of my house every two weeks, and I would check out a basketful of books. They were treasures to adventures and insight into others lives. When I was seven, my parents gave me Little Women, and I was there...another time and place and I became another person. I became Nancy Drew in a split second and was challenged to solve mysteries more quickly than the average detective! Reading is a part of me!
ReplyDeleteIt has been so much fun reading everyones' posts. I have enjoyed reading for as long as I can remember. I can remember my mom or dad reading golden books to me at bedtime. My first basil was "Dick and Jane". Couldn't wait to see what was going to happen to Spot.
ReplyDeleteAs a child I remember my Mama taking me to the public library. My sister and I would spend hours there picking out books and old VHS'. The library was a good memory and I still love going to libraries. I think later in life getting involved with sports reading just got pushed aside as a "have to" with homework while the sports were my hobbies. I hope in the future to regain a love for reading.
ReplyDeleteI didn't love reading when I was a child, but I did enjoy reading the Little House on the Prairie series on occasion. I did, however, enjoy being read to at bedtime. I often thought reading took up too much time and I was more interested in playing with friends. If I was lucky enough to check out a book from the library that interested me I could read for hours straight. This usually was not the case. If books didn't capture my attention right up front, I really struggled to stay interested.
ReplyDeleteAs a child I really enjoyed reading. My parents and grandparents would read with me all the time. My grandma started me off with Dick and Jane and then later on she introduced me to the Little House on the Prairie Series and the Anne of Green Gable Series.
ReplyDeleteAs a child I didn't enjoy reading. This is partially due to my family relocating so much throughout my childhood. It seemed that every new school brought upon a new language and a new alphabet. I would find myself concentrating most on just getting familiar with the language and the print and as soon as I would get comfortable with it and the reading process started... we would move once again!
ReplyDeleteWhen I was younger....I mostly stuck to the fairy-tales and reference books. I can't really remember any particular favorites until I was older. As I grew I enjoyed Encyclopedia Brown, Cam Jansen and some Babysitter books. I found that the short stories held my attention longer. The books I remember having difficulty with are mostly history books. I found them...boring.
ReplyDeleteAs a child I didn't enjoy reading, but I do remember looking forward to my parents reading to me a lot. I try to encourage and instill a positive outlook of reading within my students. I hope to develop life long readers, especially with Cash who at this point prefers to be read to rather than sounding out words. Finding that "one book" that starts the spark is really important.
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