Person Model of the Theory Reading

One of my greatest motivations to go into education stems from my love of seeing children learn to read. Aside from reading being an integral part in schooling, the ability to read is an essential skill that an individual needs. Literacy leads to exploration of the world around us. It allows us to connect with one another, to learn about someone else’s experiences, and to gain an understanding of other individuals. It can take children beyond their own experiences and into their imagination.

I have developed a love for reading over the years, however at an early age, I saw reading as boring and irrelevant. Why did my teachers always make me read books about events from hundreds of years ago? How can I relate to the story I am reading? How many pages do I need to read today to finish the book on time? These were the questions I asked myself daily. I always saw reading as an assignment. It was something I had to do in order to pass a test or make a good great. Never would I have imagined reading for enjoyment. Reading for fun was a foreign concept to me.

My junior year of high school was when it all finally clicked for me. At last I had a teacher who managed to make reading interesting. She challenged me to think beyond the text and interpret the real meaning behind the author’s words. This is the kind of teacher I try to be. I want my students learn to love reading at an early age and to see the beauty behind sharing ideas through a story.

I believe in the importance of treating students as individual readers. Not every student should be given the same book. Not every student should be expected to read at the same pace. In order for a student to feel confident in their reading ability, they need to be given books that suit them. They should be challenged but capable readers. This past semester, the Daily Five was incorporated into my classroom. During the reading and language arts block, students could choose a variety of centers, all aimed at improving their literacy. Each student was given a briefcase in which to keep books specially selected for him or her. When selecting the books, I worked alongside each student. They played a part in selecting the books. My role was simply to guide them in choosing books that would best fit their reading abilities. Allowing students to have a say in what they read is one of the most important aspects of my reading philosophy. Students are much more likely to pick up a book that they had a role in choosing. I saw this each and every day as students flew through the books in their briefcase and also enjoyed reading a book or two to a friend.

           

I also believe that reading should be incorporated across the entire curriculum. I have found ways to use reading in math, social studies, and science. To become accurate and fluent readers, students need every opportunity to practice. I do this by including reading material into each lesson I teach. Math problems can be given as word problems. Students can read interesting text about history or important events. Students can read educational books about animals, weather, or the earth. Reading impacts all aspects of our daily lives, so why not involve it in all aspects of teaching?

Lastly, reading should be fun! It took me many years to enjoy reading, because teachers along the way took the fun out of it. As teachers, we need to motivate our students to develop a love and passion for reading. The best way to do this is by making reading fun. When students enjoy reading, they will want to continue even without being told to. Tap into what each student is reading. Ask them about the book they have in their hand. Act genuinely interesting in what they are reading about, and they will be proud to tell about all they have learned.