I echo the previous postings in several ways. I, too, wonder, how to instill a passion for reading in my students. If they find the material difficult it is a turn off. If the material is irrelevant it is a turn off. Sometimes I share with students that I want to learn about something completely outside my realm of knowledge. I once had a friend who was moving to Ethiopia and I wondered what life is like there. Another time, I made good friends with a physicist and wondered what she did for a living. Another example is when I wanted to learn about reading the night sky and learn the constellations, but didn't know where to begin. In these instances, I did not hesitate to go to the children's section of the library and check out the most basic book on the subject. After reading it, usually sitting in the aisles, I would graduate things up to a higher level book, typically one with less pictures and more words. I would do this sort of getting a basic
background for understanding until finding a couple books that would meet my needs for further exploration at home. Today, this is called finding my lexile. I can explain to students that because of the specific jargon or specialized language of a new subject, that my reading level in some subjects is quite low. I think it is important to be honest and model how we struggle with literacy issues. If I have a boring book to read for a book club I might have to read it aloud to stay awake and focus. I wouldn't hesitate to share this with a student, but would also share my successes that resulted from my persistence and use of strategies. Talking about struggles and strategies is important, but is nothing without shared successes.
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Received on Wed Feb 22 2012 - 13:52:38 EST
