Reading in the Wild – Sierra Randall

What are your take-away ideas from the Miller text so far? What ideas are resonating? What seems challenging? What are you most excited about in terms of teaching reading? Most afraid of?

I have enjoyed reading the Miller text so far, even though it has only been a little bit.  I read the little excerpt about reading series books and I couldn’t agree more with what Miller has to say.  Reading always felt more forced for me while I was in elementary and middle school, but when some of the series like Judy Blume and Divergent were brought up, it made me reflect on the books I actually did enjoy reading during this time.  It makes me completely agree in that series are a good way to build a rapport with students and to enjoy reading in your free time.  In terms of teaching reading, I’m nervous that some students will come into my classroom with a negative association with reading and that it will be difficult to teach.  I know that for me Sustained Silent Reading was like pulling teeth and made reading lose its fun.  Teaching reading excites and scares me.  I am excited to help share great books and open up the imagination of young students, but I am scared they won’t be willing if they feel it is being forced upon them.  I believe reading should be promoted more as something to do in your leisure time to help students gain a love for reading.  I am looking forward to reading more of Reading in the Wild.  Books like this help me reflect on my own personal schooling and how I want to be as a future teacher!