I think one of the hardest things to do is to teach youths to care about reading, especially in today’s world where kids are in a mad rush to get all the latest gadgets and games. For some, reading comes naturally, yet others struggle with a serious dislike of the practice. The challenge then lies in teaching appreciation for written words and how powerful they could be in your life. That is why today I’m thrilled to have Hattie from DeRaps Reads on When I’m Not Reading to tell us a bit of how she takes on such challenges.
Every day of my life, I am reading. I am lucky enough to have a job where I get to enjoy great literature and young adult reads on a daily basis. As a high school English teacher, I feel compelled to read lots of books for my classroom and to stay current on events and news related to the themes in the books I teach. So, when I am not reading, I am listening or viewing materials that may be of use in my classroom.
Some may read this post and feel sorry for me. What a boring life I must have, reading or looking for materials related to what we’re reading in my classes every day! Not so. Put your minds and hearts at ease. I have an incurable love for what I teach and for being a teacher.
My greatest pleasure, besides being with my friends and family, is to learn. I am a super nerd and cannot think of a better way to spend an afternoon other than listening to an educational podcast on National Public Radio or watching a documentary. I delight in words and language and information. Everywhere that I drive, I am listening to news. Or an audiobook. I do love music, but delight in programs like This American Life.
Rather than make my life’s passion dull, I think that I am inspired to throw out entire lessons based on information I learn on the way in to work. Just the other day, I heard that World AIDS Day was approaching; my lesson plans for the day went on the back shelf, and I went shopping for red ribbon and safety pins. For the rest of that day, we read reports about AIDS in Africa and blogged about our findings. My students made awareness ribbons and passed them out to their friends.
Sounds kinda dorky, right? I know! But, it’s me. I am fine with my students shaking their heads at my stories of weekends spent reading and writing. I can’t help it. This is who I am I and I’m fine with it. Hope I didn’t bore you to death!
Hattie, I’m such a nerd, too! My iPod has no music on it, only podcasts and audiobooks. And that is why I work at a university. I’m addicted to taking classes, and I hope to be a student as long as I live.
I love that you shake up your lesson plans around new stuff that you learn. I think your students appreciate that you are not afraid to change things up to educate them on what is going on in the world around them. Thanks so much for sharing!
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Glad I'm not alone in the book-loving world! I've taught preschool through 12th grade, (PK-5th as a classroom teacher, 6-12th as a guidance teacher), and I am rarely without a book in my hands. My Ipod touch is filled with books (but someone did tell it it plays music, too?
), and my droid is loaded with reading material in case I don't have enough time to pull my sony 505 out of my purse. One of my great fears is being without reading material….
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Wow, great post. Hattie, you give the greatest gift of all, you teach. Teaching is not easy. My mom is too an English teacher and tells me all about it. I think that it is wonderful that you are enthusiastic about your job. My most inspiration comes from my teachers who believed in me and helped me whenever I needed.
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I love Hattie's blog, so it was so fun to read this post by her! I think Hattie's inspiration and passion is an awesome gift to her students
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The two greatest roles in my life have been achieved: reader and writer. I cherish them both and wouldn't trade them for anything in the world. They're not just jobs to me, they are who I am, what I was born to be, what I was ultimately meant to do in life. They were a calling. Sounds like that's what teaching is for you.
http://sandrasbookclub.blogspot.com
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LOVE the earrings! First thing I noticed in the pic. Oh and being a nerd is great I love to read and learn things (although writing isn't my thing as a dyslexic~ thank goodness for spellcheck!). Btw, learning is interesting and not boring at all!
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I don't think that life sounds boring at all! What fun to get to research books and share them with students so they may learn to be as interested in reading as we all are. For so many reading is a chore, or difficult, or something they have to do and they can't wait to be in the real world where they don't have to do it any more if they don't want to, so we need fabulous teachers to make them see how much fun books can be:) Wonderful post!
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@Melissa: I chose this pic because the earrings show (I think) exactly how much of a dork I am! I wore them for a book talk on Halloween-y books for my students. I got them on etsy (which is becoming a costly addiction).
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I am a book-loving nerd as well, so I count myself in fabulous company with all of you! Wonderful post and by the way — love your earrings in your picture!!
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