Over the years, I’ve become fascinated with what people choose to read and why. The operative word here is “choose.” Parents, teachers and schools make most of our reading choices for us during our first few years as readers. Even after I started telling my mom what books to buy me—this was pretty early on in my life, as mom will be happy to tell you—the books that stand out as my early favorites were all ones teachers put in my hands. Most notably, Miss Hanrahan. She was my 5th grade teacher and the first person who told me I could be a writer. (Bless her, wherever she is.)
I'm loving your blog reboot, Alex! I think about the reading for pleasure question so much. I use a workshop model, meaning kids largely get to choose what they're reading within the course, but, as the teacher, I'm still the one buying the books in my classroom library and making recommendations. The days when I get the right book in the right kid's hands are my best days, as are the days when a former non-reader comes in asking for more.
I'm loving your blog reboot, Alex! I think about the reading for pleasure question so much. I use a workshop model, meaning kids largely get to choose what they're reading within the course, but, as the teacher, I'm still the one buying the books in my classroom library and making recommendations. The days when I get the right book in the right kid's hands are my best days, as are the days when a former non-reader comes in asking for more.