Joan Moser
January 29, 2010
Have you ever had a student who, for whatever reason, just didn't like to read? Perhaps you have one of those students in your class right now. You know, the one who during literacy just has to go to the bathroom, or shop for a new book, or sharpen a pencil. In other words, the Master of Reading Avoidance. As teachers, we spend an enormous amount of time thinking about these students, planning for their success, finding a menagerie of books we think might be 'the one' to get them hooked. I couldn't help but to think about all of the 'reluctant book lovers' in our classrooms when I heard a quote by Pam Allyn the other day, "You don't learn to do things well, you don't love to do."
Hearing Pam's quote reminded me of a conference where Regie Routman was speaking. Regie was emphatic when she spoke about students who don't like to read. She suggested we read aloud magnificent books to our class, model our own love for reading, and listen carefully to our children to find out their interests, passion or things that tickle their funny bone and find books that match those interests. However, she also mentioned an astonishing idea that has stuck with me. Regie said that along with the myriad of strategies we all use to engage our reluctant readers, it is also our job to convince them that reading is fun, each day telling them explicitly, how fun it is.
Daniel Pennac, author & educator wrote at the beginning of book Raising Bookworms by Emma Walton Hamilton, "A child has no great wish to perfect himself in the use of an instrument of torture, but make it a means to his pleasure, and soon you will not be able to keep him from it."
Perhaps this is the week we make reading a means of pleasure for our Masters of Reading Avoidance.