Valorie Whiteside Blog Post #5

Blog Post #5 Routman Chapter #3: Share Your Reading Life

I agree completely with almost everything that Routman discussed in the chapter Share Your Reading Life. When the author talks about how he introduces himself to a new group and talk about himself as a reader I think it is probably the first and most important step is reaching your goal.  It is this moment when you have your students true and total attention.  This is a great moment for the student to get to know their teacher.  As the year goes on I think that the teacher becomes a role model for the students and younger students want to be like the teacher.  They listen to you and look up to the teacher.  Therefore when they see how much you love to read they may give reading more of a chance.

 I agree with Routman that if students don’t read for pleasure they are not likely to become lifelong readers.  It is vitally important for students to read text that they are interested in.  When Routman discusses that if a student just don’t like to read or won’t read you have to help that student find a book that he is interested in.  This is how I helped both of my sons learn to love to read.  With one son it was Sports Illustrated for Kids.  With the other it is the I Survived series.  Regardless of what the genre was neither son wanted to read until they were introduced to something that they were interested in.  From there the habit of reading was set.  Therefore it is important that you find out what the student if passionate about then help the find a book about what he is passionate about.

Routman advises that we let students know what we are reading and what we will read next.  I think that this is great advice because unfortunately teacher have to teach a lesson them move on the next thing.  Letting students know what you are going to read next shows them that it doesn’t stop after they read one book.  This keeps reading fresh and on the forefront. 

When Routman discusses the importance and pleasure of having a personal library a light turned on and many thoughts came to my head.  This is so true.  He talks about loving owning books and just holding them in his hand, referring to them, taking them out and flipping through the pages, admiring the covers, etc. I completely related to this because I feel the same way.  I have a paperback book shelf.  That’s where I keep only paperback books that I have read.  I love looking at it and seeing all the books I have read.  I take pride in seeing just how many books I have read just for pleasure!  I never thought sharing my library with my students before but I think it would be important to do this with my students. Routman shared his library with his students and even showed them a photo of the library.  He asked students who has a library or a shelf at home for their own books.  I think students would be proud to raise their hands to this question.  As educators we can also help students build their library.  Organizations are always donating new or slightly used books to schools and having book drives so that we can give books to the students for their personal home libraries. 

Routman advises to talk about favorite authors and books.  I agree that many of our students do not know many authors.  However, they do know book series.  I have seen proof of this on all levels.  Ranging from Pet the Cat, the I Survived series, and Goose Bumps to the Twilight series. 

I also agree that maintaining a reading records is important for the students.  My son has maintained a reading record for years.  Each time the page starts to fill up he has a certain excitement and pride at how many books he has read.  However, I do not agree with the chapter when they say that parents lead busy lives and we should not require parents to sign off on the students reading and it should be up to the student to sign off on his own reading.  I think that given the opportunity even the sweetest kid will fudge on his reading sheet.  Especially if there is a prize involved.  Signing off on the reading also keeps parents involved in their child’s academic progress.