What Conditions Promote Literacy Development? cont’d



As some of you may or may not remember from my introduction I have been teaching for 12 years.  In the 12 years, 7 of those have been in Kindergarten.  This year I will be teaching 5^th grade.  Although I am extremely excited about this move I was a bit apprehensive being that I have never taught above 3^rd grade.  As I was talking to my grade level teacher about my reservations she told me, “You’ll do fine!  You love reading so much; you will pass your love for reading on to your students.”  I thought to myself, yes I love reading but how is that going to help my students become better readers.



In the next of Reading Essentials: The Specifics You Need to Teach Reading Well, Regie Routman explains just how teachers can instill in their students a love of reading and it all begins with sharing your love of reading.



Let students know how you are as a reader.  Below are some examples:

·         You love owning books.

·         Have an extensive home library (and bring in pictures).

·         Talk about books with friends.

·         Keep a reading record.

·         Get most of my reading recommendations from friends.

·         Know what I am going to read next.

·         Read more than one book at a time.

·         Read what interests me.

·         Am influenced by book reviews.

·         Read every day in many genres.

·         Love browsing in bookstores.

·         Need to read to continue working as a teacher.

·         Read professional books and journals to “keep up” in my field.

·         Use reading to expand my thinking.

·         Record memorable passages in a notebook.

Share your reading habits with students

Bring in the books that you are reading and the books you are planning on reading next.  Encourage them to share what they are reading now and what they plan on reading next.  For students who are struggling to find books help them by asking them what they are passionate about and then search for books on that subject with them at the school library.  Build a classroom library that includes the subjects which students are passionate about.  Talk with your students about their favorite authors and favorite books.  Begin a classroom list of favorite authors and favorite books.  Allow students to loan their books to the classroom library.  Have baskets with student recommended books in the classroom and have paper available for students to record quotes or reactions to books.



Maintain a Reading Record

Often we have students keep a log of what they have read.  Many times these logs become a chore for students, having to record the number of pages, write a short summary or get parents to sign it.  Instead model for your students how to keep a reading record by simply keeping track of the number of books you read per month.  Model that if it is already the 15^th day of the month that you are behind in reading so instead of turning on the television or getting on the computer that you pick up a book instead.



As we all know students look up to us as teachers.  As my colleague stated to me, we too can instill in our students our passion for reading.