Literacy needs of  adolescents in their own words

After reading our assigned articles last week I had a huge takeaway. I realized that we as teachers don’t rely on our students input enough. As teachers we sometimes think that our way is what’s best for our students because we see what they need to work on most. In order to truly understand what a child needs we have to incorporate the child in the process, find out what methods the student prefers to use, what methods, if any give them anxiety or they just don’t understand. As educators our job is not to just teach, it’s to listen and understand as well.

Sustained Silent Reading

Silent reading time can be wonderful if properly planned. One of my big takeaways from the article on sustained silent reading is that you have to have a plan in place for incidents that come up. It doesn’t seem like one should really plan for reading time but it is important. What happens when a student has no book, a student who decides they don’t like their book, a student who would rather talk to their neighbors. Before our silent reading time begins we must decide how we’ll handle these situations. Are we going to give consequences to students who aren’t reading or will we lovingly redirect them participate in the act of reading? Should we have a system of holding students accountable for reading? Most importantly how can I ensure I have books that interest the students. The most important takeaways from this article was choice. Students deserve the option of choice to feed the fire for their reading lives. When students are given an opportunity to pick a book of their choice they’re more likely to finish the book and move on to the next. Forcing a student to read a particular book can only lead to frustration with the book and teachers.  

My literary life seemed to happen almost organically. I remember my mother buying books for me when I was younger. We’d go the store and pass by the rack of books with the ‘gold’ spine. I can even recall my mom asking me to go get the TV Guide and tell her what’s coming on next. Was it a sneaky mom tactic or was she really too tired to get up and the TV Guide herself. Eh, who knows, but it was little things like that which kept me reading. There were always books available. I didn’t think much of it; what kid really does?

My love for reading isn’t something I can pinpoint but I’ve always read. I do recall that it was in 10^th grade that I had a teacher who pushed me to not just read but also write. I began to use my reading as a source for my writing. I’d rewrite ending to books that I’d read. My imagination could make anything happen and reading (along with a protective mother who didn’t want me hanging out all the time) helped me understand that. That development of my writing helped me write a screen play during college.

I don’t read or write as much now as I’d like to now. It is something that I regret. Instead, I have my children tell me about their books. My daughter found a Dork Diaries audiobook and now she has me listening to it with her. I also bring my oldest son books that my 8^th grade students have read. Sometime if I can find two copies we set a number of pages to read and talk about it. I have a few sneaky mom tactics that I use too. Somehow, someway I’m reading.

 

 

My post is about reading. (SHOCKER!!) My husband and I are struggling with getting one of our children to read on a regular basis. On the flip side, his twin sister feels weird that she reads all the time. My twins, Addison and Adair are different in so many ways. Reading is just one.


For Adair, we try to allow him the opportunity to find books that he'll enjoy. But once we get home he's not interested at all. It's like having a clone of the child that chose the book. Adair is struggling with his reading so I can kinda understand why he's hesitant. He's all about feeling as if he doesn't need any help and with a teacher for a mom I'm like a drone hovering above as he reads. Not the best method.


With Addison, she's now into chapter books and will try to finish a book as quickly as she can. It doesn't matter where she is, a corner in the dining room, the couch, my bed, her bed, it doesn't matter the girl likes to read. (She gets it from her mama.) What bothers me is that she asked if she's weird because she reads so much.  I wasn't ready for that one. Weird?! Because you love to read?! Who said it?! Point them out! Now that's what I wanted to say, but I kept my poker face. and gave her as many reassurances as I possible could. Once I explained how much I loved to read when I was in school she felt better. Then I had to explain why she doesn't see me read books I like very often. I felt as if I handled it well. 


That's when I realized it would be a good time to have another conversation with Adair about reading. We had to make a deal, dad and I would allow him to read alone more often but he had to promise to sound out every word and if he can't figure it out he has to come to us for help. I promised I would back off and let him be the big dude he wants to be. Naturally this deal was sealed with a pinky promise.


For those of you wondering if we've tried to let Addison read with Adair, the answer is yes. The result was more arguing than reading.


I'll end this by saying I'm optimistic in what doors reading will open up for both of them. I can only hope that Addison continues to excel and wants to read about different subjects. I pray Adair builds more confidence in his reading abilities and begins to enjoy a good book more often than he does now.


Only time will tell what happens.... then I'll be able to tell you.


JJones