Regardless of the subject that you may specialize in, if you are a teacher, you are a READING teacher.
Let that sink in. Research shows that if students are not read to early on, they will struggle in school and that is compounded in high school when a student doesn't want to admit that they struggle with literacy because it's assumed that they can read and read well. According to the National Education Association: "...only 53 percent of children ages three to five were read to daily by a family member (1999). Children in families with incomes below the poverty line are less likely to be read to aloud everyday than are children in families with incomes at or above poverty." "The Educational Testing Services reported that students who do more reading at home are better readers and have higher math scores; however, students read less for fun as they get older." Did you know that students who do not or cannot read well deal with other negative impacts ranging from "dropping out of high school...[to] increased criminal activity & incarceration to poorer health outcomes" (Education Commission of the States). So why is it important that we understand that we are ALL reading teachers? Each teacher can have a dramatic impact on student literacy and achievement by encouraging a culture of reading regardless of what content area he or she teachers in. The infographic below (courtesy of Library Girl) is a great starting point for teachers to use to develop their own reading lives and support students. Giving students access to reading materials of any kind (books, magazines, newspapers, digital formats, etc.) can make a huge difference, especially if the student does not have access at home. While access is important, I honestly believe the most important thing you can do is share what you are reading with your students and do it with passion! They want you to engage them in conversation that goes beyond the normal school talk so what a great way to do so!
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Author: Jenn Gibson
Teacher. Librarian. Technology Guru. Barista. Archives
May 2019
Categories |