Wednesday, March 17, 2010

reading for time.

I am a hypocrite. I am a teacher and I am guilty of assigning reading logs to my students. 35 minutes a night. 4 nights a week. I have to say as a teacher I love it. Keeps kids on track and when the parent signatures are honest, the reading log reinforces accountability.

However as a mom I hate it... the reading log that is. I hate that my boys are trained to set the oven timer and listen for it to ring like a dog sensing an earthquake. Most nights, the second that timer goes off, they race for the reading log to be signed...mid sentence...mid climax....it doesn't matter. That bell means they are done reading. FREEDOM.













Recently, Davin has become interested in reading for fun.  No timer.  No parent signatures. 

He brings home a new non-fiction book (usually about animals) from the school library each week.  He loves the pictures and the pages loaded with scientific facts.  Both boys love when I pick a novel that we read together.  Currently we are reading "The Lightning Thief".  One chapter a night.  Davin is intrigued by the fantasy of the Greek mythology that is embedded in the story.  I love his inquisitive side when it comes to comprehending this story.  I enjoy our post-chapter discussions. 

One of my favorite questions: "Mom, I wonder what it would be like to have horse hooves instead of feet?  Do you think I would be the fastest kid in school?"

4 comments:

Sara said...

Ok, this gives me hope. Logan is the same way. He does not have any interest in reading. He is constantly asking "mom, how much time is left?". And, when he's done, he's done. Doesn't matter if he's on the last page of his book. I read to him when he was little. All the time. I have a million books in my house. I am always buying from the book orders, we just spent 50$ at the book fair. I just don't get it. I thought it was just that I didn't find him things that he was interested in. He loves Star Wars, and will look at books (with pictures) forever, but no interest in reading books. Maybe it's a phase. Either way, it's nice to hear that yours has taken some interest.. maybe one day mine will too.

Sara said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Heatherly said...

We are all about the Percy Jackson series in our house. My oldest has read them all and Jared just finished reading them for a second time and has lent them out to a friend. It is a good feeling when your kids realize that there is more to reading than just homework :)

Rebekah Williams said...

What a fabulous question. Horse hooves! He would definitely be the fastest in school (if he is not already).

Shall we set a 35 minute timer for you ever night too, my dear? Might get that Little Bee read sooner. :)

 
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