Books are on my nightstand, in my car, squeezed into my luggage. The coffee table is filled with magazines and newspapers. My office is packed with books I haven’t read yet and my children’s rooms sometimes come alive with books that make noises. I am always on the hunt for more bookshelves for my classroom, so I can bring more books to school. Books surround my world. I am an avid reader. However, I haven’t always been a book addict. In fact, reading was a difficult subject for me in school and some of my first reading memories are painful.
One of the earliest school memories I can recall is during second grade. I was put in the “low” reading group. I actually think the name of my reading group was the “buzzards”. Not really, but that is how I felt. I definitely wasn’t in the “soaring eagles”. My mom and dad were called in for a parent-teacher conference to discuss my reading “problems”. To be honest, I didn’t know I had any problems. Yes, I wasn’t adjusting very well to school. We had moved that year and I had really short hair. Moving is hard enough and it didn’t make it any easier when one of my classmates came up to me and in a snotty voice said “Oh, I didn’t know you were a girl until I saw your finger nail polish!” Just like everyone else I wanted to be liked and accepted and maybe this stress was carrying over into my academics? So, accepting the fact that I was in the “low” reading group made me work harder. I wanted to prove to everyone that I wasn’t dumb and that I could do whatever it was that they asked. Looking back I’m sure the teacher didn’t mean to make me feel dumb she was just trying to help her students with where they were.
I grew up in a long line of teachers. My mother and her grandmother were all teachers. So my mother knew the importance of reading. I loved it when mom would read to me. We would snuggle under a blanket on the sofa. She was the best reader. She would change her voice with the characters and sometimes she would whisper or get really loud. There on that sofa in our living room I went on adventures all over the world. I can remember sobbing my heart out when Little Ann and Dan died in Where the Red Fern Grows or having my mouth water while listening to James and the Giant Peach. I still think that book holds the best description of eating a peach I have ever read.
As I got older, I feel in love with Nancy Drew books. At this point the reading aloud became my role as I had a little sister who loved to listen to stories. Nancy Drew mysteries always left the reader wanting more at the end of each chapter. I found myself carried away to a world where I wanted to be. I remember wishing I were Nancy. She had great friends, she had a cute boyfriend (Ned Nickerson…what a name!), she had a hot red convertible and she was using her detective skills to solve mysteries, oh the danger and excitement. At one point I considered becoming a private investigator but obviously I decided I’d like teaching better.
I continued to read throughout my school years but was often disappointed because I was forced to read books I could of cared less about. Ever heard of Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad? Having a root canal would have been better than reading that book. I often wonder if I would hate that book as much now that I am older and know more? I loved reading Shakespeare’s plays. Our teacher brought his work to life. I will never forget Romeo and Juliet and for once being able to say that I could explain why that play was such a classic. In college I found myself drawn to American Literature (stories and novels that are written by Americans). I will never forget my college professor reading aloud parts of Jonathan Edwards “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”. My professor brought it to life and it peaked my curiosity about the time period in our nation’s history. (Pilgrim/Puritans)
My history of a reader would not be complete without what I have learned to strive for as a teacher of reading. I guess you guys can thank yourselves that you have me as a teacher now instead of my first few years of teaching. I am embarrassed to say that 17 years ago I stood in front of a group of 7th graders and told them that silent reading was meant to happen outside of class and they could visit the library on their own time. We had a literature book (this book was bigger than the Bible) to get through. After all we had a workbook to go with the Literature book so we’d better get down to business. Looking back now is painful and I hope I didn’t kill the love of reading for these students. I certainly didn’t re-interest anyone in reading.
My thinking changed after I attended some reading teacher seminars and I purchased the book Reading for Comprehension. These events changed my thinking about how to approach reading with teenagers. I became an obsessed woman- hitting every yard sale and book sale known in a 100-mile radius of my house. I begged for students and parents to bring in any books they were willing to donate. I started spending a huge amount of money on books from Scholastic…so much so that my husband asked if we should by stock in that company. My obsession wore off and my husband made me my big bookcase that sits in our classroom today. ☺ For birthdays, anniversaries, and a few Christmas’ I asked for books for my classroom.
I also became a believer in letting kids read in class to practice all the skills and strategies that I was teaching. That is why we will start class everyday with 15 minutes of silent reading (SSR). We (Mrs. Falk and myself) will read right along with you. This is sacred time. I consider it my mission to either keep you reading by finding out what interests you and trying to match you with a right book or get you reading again even if it has been a long time since you read a whole book on your own. We will do tons of book-talks. Literature Circles are considered precious time that will ask you to take charge and share your thinking about books with your classmates.
I feel honored that you are part of my reading history this year. I am excited to read about your history as a reader. We can’t wait to introduce you to some great books! Let’s get reading!
Mrs. Gallegos (Mrs. G)
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