Ashley Schwieger Blog 2

So far, I’ve really been enjoying the Miller text. I particularly like the idea of reading during edge times and encouraging our students to do this. She mentions near the beginning of chapter 1 that we often feel guilty about reading, because they are other things to do and I have always had this struggle with reading. I always feel like I should be cleaning, or doing homework or working out, or something “productive.” So this past week I have been challenging myself to read during edge time and have been carrying my nook with me everywhere we go. In the past 5 days I have read all three of the books in Marie Lu’s Legend series. Of course I had a couple of binge moments, where things just got too intense, but after these moments I would put it away and read during edge times. I was able to get shit done without feeling guilty about reading and avoiding reading all together. Some of our students may not feel any guilt about reading too much, but perhaps reading during edge times with make them feel accomplished. They used their time where they would normally do nothing (waiting for appointments or car rides) to do something. I also thought of the convenience of eBooks and tablets and smartphones. Reading is always at our fingertips. Ebooks are so much cheaper (usually) than buying a print copy of the book (or sometimes even free) and more convenient. I can carry around hundreds of books in my purse. If I get bored of one, or finish one, I can find other. Maybe this is one way we can encourage our students to read. They don’t have to carry an actual book around if they don’t want to. And if they don’t like a book they are reading, they can easily find another one while waiting in the dentist’s office. I am really enjoying the new ways I can encourage others to read. I have too many friends and family members who also struggle to find the time to read or feel guilty for reading too much.