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The Tree of Knowledge: The Rewards of Teaching Reading

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March is reading month and since we are a reading blog, I thought it would be appropriate to do this post about the joys of teaching others to love reading as much as I do. Since I teach high school English, I don’t really consider myself a reading teacher. In theory, reading is taught in elementary school. Unfortunately, along the way, the idea of reading for sheer enjoyment is lost. And that is where I come in.

I would be lying if I said this hasn’t been a rough school year. My school is going through some challenges and I am finding myself helping with things outside the classroom as well. In the classroom, I sometimes get frustrated because a lesson I have done for years suddenly isn’t working. Our culture is changing and I am having to change right along with it. The bottom line, I feel a little lost. Then I looked through my journal for the year and I came across this story and it reminded why I do what I do.

“The first couple of weeks of school have passed and my classroom is off and running. I didn’t realize how much I missed my kiddos until I saw them again! And, as always, there were some new faces which means new minds to influence. I love this time of year. The kids are still cynical. They refuse to believe that a teacher could help them.

As an English teacher, it isn’t unusual to have new students join my class with an attitude. “I hate reading. You’ll never get me to read a book.” I simply stare at them and smile. And then it happens, another student will answer for me. “Don’t say you won’t read. Mrs. Heacox will get you to read.” My heart melts. And no matter how frustrated I get, the encouragement I hear from my kids keep me going and give me the affirmation I need to keep fighting for them.”

Teaching a student to love reading, isn’t the kind of job that you see results in one day. In fact, you don’t always see results in every student. You have to learn to take the little victories. The comments like the student above said, are the little things that keep me going. As much as I want all of my students to love reading, I can’t beat myself up if they don’t. My advice to others out there who struggle like me, help those you can, but understand that it is okay if you don’t get to everyone. You still are a good teacher and even if you only help one students, you are doing your part to change the literacy rates in the world.

As for the student above? He has indeed read a few book.

~Happy Reading (and teaching!!)

Sara


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