Reading Made Fun, Courtesy of Your School November 9, 2009

     The value of independent reading has finally taken a step to the awe inspiring level of academic literacy.  Recently, I observed an exceptional independent reading program in a middle school.  Every day the students had to read independently, select their own books, and upon occasion, blog themselves about their book.  This was a truly amazing strategy that got books into the hands of children without harping and over emphasizing the ability to read and to read well.  There has always been that saying floating around, that in order to be a good writer, you have to be a good reader.  This was certainly proven to be true in the academic pursuits of the students.  Not only were the topics created by the teacher very innovative, but the stories that the students would produce were astonishing.  Their levels of higher knowledge concepts and forms of expression can easily be identified as an extension of the independent reading sessions.  By having the students self select their text, they were enjoying their reading more.  They were able to pick books that they were interested in and not ones that were always required. The conversations between the teacher, the student, and the student’s peers, was fascinating to observe because there was so much more going on in the student’s mind and their ideas were just flowing with creativity.  As a result, the students were also discussing their books and recommending them to other students.  In fact, even the blogging assignments seemed fun to do.  The students were able to critique their books using a variety of “pioneering” questions.  For example, if your book was a color, what color would it be and why?  That sounds like a pretty fun way to talk about a book to me!  In addition to blogging, students would also write book reviews.  Of course, this may not have been as fun because it has a slightly more academic spin to it, but the fact that the students are so deeply involved with their reading processes is simply amazing.  This is truly an amazing concept to behold in the students and teachers (because they would read during the provided time as well); the school definitely inspired learners and educators to embrace the wonderful world of reading and stories.