I love my job. Despite the fact that daily something horrible is said about teachers–some do deserve the negative press–I love what I do, and I take it seriously. I’m a teacher. That role is so important. In my hands, I hold the fate of so many variables. I can entice kids to love reading, or I can ruin it for them. I can spark creativity or I can squelch it. Thank heavens I had bad experiences in school; thank heavens I struggled in school. Because of these things, I know what it’s like to feel like the dumb kid. Today we wrote about some experiences in school. One writing reminded me of the time I read The Diary of Anne Frank. I think I was in fifth or sixth grade. I wrote a book report. The teacher wrote on the paper that “I thought the dad died and Anne survived.” In that moment, my entire understanding of the book went out the window. I questioned my ability to read. Anne didn’t survive. Anyone who read the book, knew any history knows that Anne died in the concentration camps and her dad is the one who found her journal. The teacher, though, in her red marks squelched my already fragile reading skills, pleasure, etc.
It’s odd that I’m a teacher of reading now. After all, these experiences changed me. At home, we weren’t allowed to read. My dad was an avid reader, and my mom had extreme disdain for his nose stuck in a book all the time, so she didn’t want us reading at home. She’d say things like, “if you have time to read a book, you need to be outside” or “If you sit around reading, you’ll get fat” or “there’s more value in being a tomboy than a bookworm”. Of course, I could have been both. I was a tomboy–still would rather climb a tree or dig in the dirt than any household duty, and I read, now, too. I don’t see how the two are mutual exclusive.
Write about your reading and writing experiences. If you had to create a literary autobiography what would it say? Consider the first time you remember reading? Do you remember your mom or dad reading to you? Do you read today? What’s the last book you read?
I love my job. I love encouraging writers and readers. I can’t wait to do booktalks and give my students a glimps into all the other worlds, characters, emotions that exist out there. My book shelves are stacked with all kinds of books and they are just ready and waiting for school to start, to get themselves into the hands of a reluctant reader who will get hooked, find their spot on the floor on a pile of pillows and pull them into a world where they can be a tomboy and a reader.
By the way, don’t you just love the smell of new school supplies!
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Oh yeah, and the paste–where is paste now? Sniffin paste was like my favorite subject in 3rd grade! Glad you’re enthusiastic, friend. Its why you’re such a marvelous school teacher, hands down!
btw–where do you think J gets his nervousness about driving? hmmmm…….judging from your comment, you’re sooo not off the hook girlie! (kidding) I’m not too nervous about Cody, moreso about Niki. Trust me. The girl will go 80 in a 40 to chase down a friend. Just like I did! xoxo
Kelly,
There is so much to say in response to your post!
I feel so sad for you as a child being discouraged in reading. I was neither encouraged nor discouraged to read at all growing up. I did not want to read, if I had my parents would have been fine with that, but they were passive towards my activities, they believed that the school would educate me and tell me what to do. I never finished a book, I read the Cliff Notes to pass my exams. Now I see the awful void that has created in my education (I have a MA in Psychology, but feel I know so little). I am home educating my kids and learning so much in the process. I have a well educated, reader husband and I love that about him. He inspires my kids to be readers too, our house is literally stuffed with books, Amazon.com sends us something every day. I see now that there is so much to read about and learn from books.
I mainly read art and craft books now, sadly I have little time to read literature. I do read poetry, it is short and easy to read in bits.
There is more to be said, but the kids QT is almost up!
Thanks for visiting my blog too. I like what I am reading here I will be back
Kelly,
I bet you are a wonderful teacher. You write so well.
There is so much to say in response to your post!
You are right about what is said about teachers, many folks knock them, that is sad. Even though we have choosen to home educate our kids we still have a great respect for good teachers, selfless ones who attempt to instill the love of learning in children who have parents who don’t/won’t/can’t. I applaud you for that. My mother in law was a teacher and a good one, she has some great wisdom to share with us about education. The mind of a child is so wonderful and needs to be filled up with good things.
I feel so sad for you as a child being discouraged in reading. I was neither encouraged nor discouraged to read at all growing up. I did not want to read, if I had my parents would have been fine with that, but they were passive towards my activities, they believed that the school would educate me and tell me what to do. But I went to a competitive school where good grades were most important. I learned in school how to look good and pass exams. I never finished a book, I read the Cliff Notes to pass my exams. Now I see the awful void that has created in my education (I have a MA in Psychology, but feel I know so little). I have a well educated, reader husband and I love that about him. He inspires my kids to be readers too, our house is literally stuffed with books, Amazon.com sends us something every day. I see now that there is so much to read about and learn from books.
I mainly read art and craft books now myself, sadly I have little time to read literature. I do read poetry, it is short and easy to read in bits.
There is more to be said, but the kids QT is almost up!
Thanks for visiting my blog too. I like what I am reading here I will be back
kelly, I was distracted when I first commented, hit send and then realized I wanted to say more, so please discard my first comment, my second one is fuller
and this one, I would have emailed you, but didn’t have it
kids are here…..
Kelly, I still stand by my comment, where the heck is all the paste????????? THAT is the deeper question here.
And no, you cannot borrow the professor. But if you have some paste, I might be persuaded to trade him for a case of that. Heck, two jars and he’s all yours!
Love you, hope you’re not absolutely baking in that hot schoolroom of yours. xoxoxo