19th Mar 2007
who am I as a reader?
I asked my graduate students to post a response to this question the week before Spring Break, and I realize that this is one that I need to answer myself. My own conceptions about reading and readers have a lot to do with what I do and how I do it, whether I realize it or not.
I am an avid reader. Actually, avid doesn’t cut it. Reading, more than cooking or hiking or even photography (or other things I will not mention here), is what I love to do. I do it as an escape, for when there’s things I should be doing or facing. Right now, as I blog and intermittently grade 30 papers, there’s two books at my feet on the floor that are all but calling to me: ‘Tis, by Frank McCourt and Julie and Julia, by Julie Powell (I will not get distracted into talking about plots and high points, I swear I won’t…)
Anyway. I read like I breathe. I do it when drying my hair (seriously) and sometimes when I am cooking, which has disastrous results. I would rather read than watch tv, but I have had to cut down on screen and page time with my migraines and so now I know much more about pop culture than I used to. I can read a book in a night, and I read just about everything. This weekend, I read John Grisham’s latest, which was a nonfiction book about a wrongly convicted man, and quite good. I have read all of the Harry Potter books several times, and War and Peace. I have started loving graphic novels, but I also really like philosophical fiction like that of Richard Powell. My favorite book is A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and I know I have read it more than 100 times. And with the advent of the internet, I really do read constantly and about everything. A true nerd’s paradise, I must say.
So I am someone who loves reading, but who has taught middle schoolers and struggling readers and I can understand why someone might not like it. But I never give up hope that I can find that one book that will change a person’s mind and make him or her love reading, just as I do.
I also understand why some people don’t like to read. You may not be able to find that one book that will change a person’s mind. In my classroom, I read parts of books out loud to my students that I know will pique their interest. This usually makes them ask to read the entire book. Last week, I read a portion of “The Watsons Go to Birmingham.” One of the characters gets his lips stuck to the mirror of his car while kissing it. My students thought that was great and most, not all, wanted to finish the story. For those other students, I will try and try again.
That is a great book! It’s funny — you’re right that there isn’t necessarily that one book and yet still I hold out hope….
Wow, Dr Dana, you and I definitely follow a similar path and have similar goals. Like you, I truly love to read. (Did you get to read my blog?) Anyway, I also teach middle school struggling readers. As challenging as it may be, I am determined to find as you stated that one book which will promote self motivation and a strong desire to read. I believe it is imperative that we not ever give up hope with this population of children and adult readers. We must continue to press on in our research by continuing to develop new and improved ideas and ways to stimulate our struggling and reluctant readers, within and outside of educational settings.
I am most certain that we will find that special book or text that will tap into those unique mind sets and spark the snaptic waves, which will fill in the gaps and allow our sruggling readers to become the new consumers of books and authors of tomorrow.
Reading IS really FUNdamental, and everone should be able to enjoy the beauty of reading.