I am the Tiger Woods of books
Today the kids were in for a special treat. After all the business of checking and assigning homework was completed, every class got to read from the book of their choice for the entire time. My job was to go around and record what each student was reading as well as what page they were on so we can monitor their weekly progress. After going around and seeing the awesome diversity in book choice I could come to no other conclusion than this: I love books.
A lot of the boys were reading sports-related books, while many girls were engrossed in teenage girl-related novels (kind of like chick flicks, but the book form). A solid number were reading one of Harry Potter’s latest adventures, while still others chose books that I found fascinating, curious and downright unexpected.
Three girls were reading full-length books in which the entire narrative was written in the style of an Instant Message conversation.
One girl was reading The Notebook for the second time. Her reason? She knows more vocabulary now and feels she would get more out of it. That’s the level of intensity I’m working with.
One boy was reading a huge book about the Cold War. When I asked him why he chose that monstrosity of a book, he told me his father told him to read it. When we say you are supposed to read a Choice Book, we mean the student is supposed to choose, not the parent.
One boy was reading a book all about butts. We did say it was the student’s choice, right? I guess we got what we asked for.
There was one student who was new to the eighth grade, which is tough because everybody already knows each other. The book he chose? Bar Code Tattoo. It was all I could do to hold back the urge to scream “Yipppeeeee!!!” (a satisfactory, extended “Yessssssssss” with added touchdown dance-like gesticulations sufficed). I told him to let me know what he thinks of it when he’s done.
What other medium can offer such variety for students to love, hate, agree with, challenge, remember, and find their voices? I genuinely think books are awesome and as a result, I am slowly turning something that was previously bemoaned into a status symbol. Just like Tiger Woods did with golf, or Emeril did with cooking. I make reading cool.
The first week of student teaching has come and gone without incident. Now, as I recharge my batteries and get ready for a new week, I will close my eyes and remember this perfect moment of student potential and zeal.
After all, I need something to keep me going after our blessed honeymoon comes to a close.
A lot of the boys were reading sports-related books, while many girls were engrossed in teenage girl-related novels (kind of like chick flicks, but the book form). A solid number were reading one of Harry Potter’s latest adventures, while still others chose books that I found fascinating, curious and downright unexpected.
Three girls were reading full-length books in which the entire narrative was written in the style of an Instant Message conversation.
One girl was reading The Notebook for the second time. Her reason? She knows more vocabulary now and feels she would get more out of it. That’s the level of intensity I’m working with.
One boy was reading a huge book about the Cold War. When I asked him why he chose that monstrosity of a book, he told me his father told him to read it. When we say you are supposed to read a Choice Book, we mean the student is supposed to choose, not the parent.
One boy was reading a book all about butts. We did say it was the student’s choice, right? I guess we got what we asked for.
There was one student who was new to the eighth grade, which is tough because everybody already knows each other. The book he chose? Bar Code Tattoo. It was all I could do to hold back the urge to scream “Yipppeeeee!!!” (a satisfactory, extended “Yessssssssss” with added touchdown dance-like gesticulations sufficed). I told him to let me know what he thinks of it when he’s done.
What other medium can offer such variety for students to love, hate, agree with, challenge, remember, and find their voices? I genuinely think books are awesome and as a result, I am slowly turning something that was previously bemoaned into a status symbol. Just like Tiger Woods did with golf, or Emeril did with cooking. I make reading cool.
The first week of student teaching has come and gone without incident. Now, as I recharge my batteries and get ready for a new week, I will close my eyes and remember this perfect moment of student potential and zeal.
After all, I need something to keep me going after our blessed honeymoon comes to a close.
posted by A Neophyte English Teacher at
2:34 PM
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