Hello,
We had a rough start. Only ten reading logs came in this morning. I don't mind if we forget one at home once in a while, but the number one excuse this morning was, "You didn't give me one." Absolutely not true. I passed one out to everyone. I announced at least three times last week that I would no longer be responsible for giving out reading logs. I have a stack next to their mailboxes where they can take as many as necessary.
I realize that a lot of kids in the class have a slight allergy to reading. We have to change that. I say we because I definitely need your help. Reading is by far the most important thing that we teach at this level. Reading improvement will make every other academic area easier for your child. Students who read are better writers, better spellers, have better vocabularies, have an easier time with math, and are simply more interesting. All of those improvements that come from reading will make school easier and more enjoyable. And when students do well in school, they have more opportunities later on in life.
Okay, there's at least part of the sales pitch. Now the harder part: what do we do to make this happen. I'll start out with what I aim to do. I will get to know your child. I will find out their likes and dislikes. I pledge to hunt high and low to put the books that your child is interested in, in front of their face. If you don't think your child is interested in any books, you are wrong. Find a topic that they like, be it baseball, horses, insects, Star Wars, whatever, and I guarantee that they will be interested in a book on that same topic as long as it is:
1) Written at a level that they can understand.
2) Attractive (Most kids don't read beat up, old books)
I will spend what I have to to get these books. I've been looking for dirt bike books this year. I've found three. I'll keep finding them and buying them. Last year I bought a forty volume series on horses (on Ebay) to keep a girl reading. I will do what it takes.
I will also work to destigmatize picture books. Third grade is where many students make the jump from picture books to chapter books. I'm here to tell you that picture books are not just for little kids. I will reintroduce your kids to the world of picture books. Nobody outgrows Dr. Seuss, Chris Van Allsburg, or Bill Peet. Picture books are for all ages. Noone should ever feel ashamed of carrying them around. I believe some kids that aren't ready to tackle the thicker chapter books get caught in a no mans land of "Books they understand but are afraid to carry around" and "Books that make them look smart but they can't understand." It is sad. I think some teachers perpetuate this myth of growing too old for picture books, but it is wrong. Worse than that, it is harmful to many kids. I read a couple of picture books to the class last week to begin my war against the myth. I was pleased to see those books being reread during our silent reading time, usually by reluctant readers.
I will also relentlessly spew about all of the great things that I have learned or enjoyed because of reading. Enthusiasm is contagious. Reading is contagious. That's why the beginning of the year can be so tough when the non-readers have so much company. If only one person forgot a reading log this morning, you can bet that one person would have felt a lot worse. One by one, I will convert them.
Here's where you come in. Do you read? Does your child ever see you reading for enjoyment? Do you ever announce something that you just found out by reading the newspaper or magazine? I encourage you to start a book. You can even start the same book your child is reading in class. I'll make sure to get an extra copy in your hands. Children emulate. I would love it if you started reading a few minutes a night.
Okay, request number two: Get the television out of your child's bedroom. I know over half the kids in the class have a tv in their room. They told me. It is the easiest indicator I have on who will have the most trouble staying focused, getting proper sleep, and reading. I'll send home a pamphlet by reading guru Jim Trelease. He has done all of the studies. I'll let him give you the numbers behind it. This is also the hardest one for most parents. They ask me, "What can I do?" but then balk at my answer.
Finally, please stay in contact with your child's teacher. Many of these kids are very savvy in their ability to get out of doing work. I will get each child in this class to write up their homework in their assignment books. If for some odd reason that they don't get it down, check the blog. If your child doesn't think you care about school, they won't either. When your child knows that you are checking in and that we are on the same page, they will try harder. And when they try harder, they have a great chance to succeed. We both want that.
All for now. Sorry so longwinded.
Thanks for reading,
Mr. Shea
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