V. Thompson Blog Post #2-Share Your Reading Life-Thompson

   
                           I really enjoyed reading this chapter because it reminded me of the importance of sharing my love of reading with my students.  So often I am focused on "the student's reading" and getting them from point A to point B that I forget to " model or share my reading life." 
                         One thing I have found to be forever true is that our kids love to hear about our lives outside of school. So it only makes sense to bring the books we are reading at home for them to see and hear about.  It is important to let them know that just like we have a classroom library I also have a home library of books for my reading enjoyment and that many of these books have come as a result of recommendations from my friends. Thus students can see that we have "Book Talks" with our friends as well, where we share and encourage them to read different books.
                        The big "take away" from this chapter was that if students don't read for pleasure they are not likely to make reading a lifelong goal or habit.  As important as STAR levels and standardized tests are, shouldn't our ultimate goal be to make them lifelong lovers of reading?  Finding the genre or the author that brings each child pleasure is extremely important. Giving them choice matters.