READING IS WILD!!!!!!!!!!!

Honestly, reading the first few pages in this book and the first chapter made me miss reading for fun.  It’s difficult for me to read during the school year because of all the academic texts I need, and then when I do find free time I find myself on netflix.  I need to take a step back and get back into that new and wonderful world of reading.  One quote in the book that really resinated with me was, “When you are swept up in a wonderful story, there is something satisfying about falling into a book and walking with the characters until the journey ends” (Miller, p. 16).  I loved Miller’s idea on ‘Reading Emergencies’ and bringing a book with you everywhere you go.  When I’m indulged in a really good book, I’ll take it with me everywhere and even if I have only a few seconds, I will whip it out and read whatever I can.

I also totally caught on to the fake reader or reading avoidance.  I can think of a few kids that I work with who I know don’t actually read their book.  They sit there with the book in front of their face and pretend to read.  There is one kid in particular that I think about, and I brought it up to him the other day.  He asked me if he had been reading for ten minutes and I told him straight up that he hadn’t been.  I told him that I knew he wasn’t actually reading and he was only sitting there with his book in front of his face.  I went about much more nicely when actually speaking with him, but I think he was quite surprised that I caught on to his ‘sneaky’ trick.

I’m excited and also nervous for my future ‘fake readers’.  One thing I wish Miller elaborated on, and maybe she will in future chapters, is how exactly to deal with fake readers.  I know she gave us a few tips, like find ‘the right book’ and switching their seats, but there has to be more than just those two.  I’ve tried these tactics with the kids I work with and still have not prevailed with all.  I am, however, excited to create my own reading environment in my classroom.  I want it to be comfortable and casual, a place where my students can escape into their books and a different reality with ease.  I would also like to have a large library, which I know I need to get started on, so my students will have a plethora of books to choose from!