At the beginning of every year, I always let my students know how much I love to read. I love to read all types of books. I get excited about reading, especially if I'm in the middle of a good story. It makes me over the moon happy to see students who love to read like I do. I wish it was possible for me to sit down and read while my students are reading during the day so they can see how into a story I can get. Whenever I pass out a reading log for the first time, I let my students know that they are not the only ones who will be doing that homework. I tell them that I promise to read for at least 20 minutes every night just like them.
In class, one of the first things I show my students on their computers is how to log in to Tumblebooks. This website is one of my favorites. So much so, that my own son loves to read and listen to books on his tablet at home through Tumblebooks. It is such an awesome website, especially for beginning readers who love a story, but are often frustrated because they can't read fluently yet. Another of my favorite websites to tell students about is the Spartanburg Public Library Overdrive website. With simply a library card number, students have pretty much unlimited access to ebooks on a computer or tablet. This is actually how I do most of my personal reading. I get so excited about a new series or a new book and many of them I read on my iPhone. It's awesome to be able to take a book with you anywhere.
The most important idea of reading I communication to my students is to be a better reader, the best practice is to read. I wish I could carve out enough time in the day to allow students to just sit and read a book for pleasure. I want them to love books and reading for the rest of their life.
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ReplyDeleteKelli,
ReplyDeleteI am inspired that you promise your students that you will read for 20 minutes each night just like you ask them to do! This summer I had a moment with my niece where tumblebooks saved the day and much more. She needed to sit in my lap for a bit while her mom moved some dangerous items. After watching a biscuit book on tumblebooks she became a fan! I have now bought her lots of biscuit stories and it's our special reading connection! I hope you get your wish of being able to carve out some reading for pleasure time in your classroom!
Hi Kelli,
ReplyDeleteI loved how you are sharing not only your love of reading with your students but you are always working to help provide access to more books to your students. I knew about Tumblebooks but I didn't know about the Spartanburg Public Library Overdrive that allows students unlimited access to books that they choose! Thank you for sharing these resources! Sincerely, Dawn