Comments on: Reading – for the fun of it… http://theclassroom.ca/2007/08/reading-for-the-fun-of-it/ Thoughts and Resources for Teachers Sun, 08 Aug 2010 19:56:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Lisa http://theclassroom.ca/2007/08/reading-for-the-fun-of-it/comment-page-1/#comment-1026 Lisa Sun, 16 Sep 2007 23:56:08 +0000 http://theclassroom.ca/2007/08/09/reading-for-the-fun-of-it/#comment-1026 Oh, I also wanted to say, if you ever have a chance to experience David Bouchard's books, or better yet see him in person, he is absolutely amazing! His passion for reading is unmatched and as he reads his books they come so alive, it's like a drum pounding into your soul! Poetic and beautiful, they are a must for your library. Oh, I also wanted to say, if you ever have a chance to experience David Bouchard’s books, or better yet see him in person, he is absolutely amazing! His passion for reading is unmatched and as he reads his books they come so alive, it’s like a drum pounding into your soul! Poetic and beautiful, they are a must for your library.

]]> By: Lisa http://theclassroom.ca/2007/08/reading-for-the-fun-of-it/comment-page-1/#comment-1025 Lisa Sun, 16 Sep 2007 23:53:47 +0000 http://theclassroom.ca/2007/08/09/reading-for-the-fun-of-it/#comment-1025 I agree with Christine about the time factor during the school year in which we get to read for fun. It just seems non-existent. I only managed to get through 2 1/2 books this summer, but they were well worth the read. Tuesdays with Morrie was given to me by a friend and it was such an inspirational read, while Inkheart, also recommended by a friend was a terrific story. I can't wait to get into the next one. I also agree with Shane that it is so important to be able to talk about books with our kids, it's what brings them alive and feeds the passion. I was nuts about book reports in school and couldn't wait to do the next one because it was then that I could capture some of the excitement I found in books. Still, I love reading for pleasure and am particularly fond of the classics. It's just finding the time, because once I'm captured in a story, there's no stopping me for hours! I agree with Christine about the time factor during the school year in which we get to read for fun. It just seems non-existent. I only managed to get through 2 1/2 books this summer, but they were well worth the read. Tuesdays with Morrie was given to me by a friend and it was such an inspirational read, while Inkheart, also recommended by a friend was a terrific story. I can’t wait to get into the next one. I also agree with Shane that it is so important to be able to talk about books with our kids, it’s what brings them alive and feeds the passion. I was nuts about book reports in school and couldn’t wait to do the next one because it was then that I could capture some of the excitement I found in books. Still, I love reading for pleasure and am particularly fond of the classics. It’s just finding the time, because once I’m captured in a story, there’s no stopping me for hours!

]]> By: Christine http://theclassroom.ca/2007/08/reading-for-the-fun-of-it/comment-page-1/#comment-1021 Christine Sat, 08 Sep 2007 21:04:26 +0000 http://theclassroom.ca/2007/08/09/reading-for-the-fun-of-it/#comment-1021 Why don't some teachers read for pleasure? TIME! I am an avid reader. I've loved reading since I was a small child, a love which was instilled in me by my mom who was always reading to us (at home, in the car, camping, etc.). I love most genres and as a teacher, I'm always on the lookout for a great read to recommend to my students. Sadly, though, my time to read for pleasure, just for me, is quite small. Self-made? Yes. I find there are just too many other things that need to be done once school has started. Long gone are my weekends of curling up with a good book. Now, I curl up with planning, or marking. By the time all of that is out of the way, I have the "required" reads for school. Following that, I'm done. Drained. Perhaps in a few years when I've settled more into this profession, this will change. I truly hope so. I know some of that stat is accurate in that I know a number of teachers who don't like to read. They hate reading to their class (how awful!), but at least they do it because they know they should. Other than that, they're not readers. It's hard for someone like me to imagine. Why don’t some teachers read for pleasure? TIME! I am an avid reader. I’ve loved reading since I was a small child, a love which was instilled in me by my mom who was always reading to us (at home, in the car, camping, etc.). I love most genres and as a teacher, I’m always on the lookout for a great read to recommend to my students. Sadly, though, my time to read for pleasure, just for me, is quite small. Self-made? Yes. I find there are just too many other things that need to be done once school has started. Long gone are my weekends of curling up with a good book. Now, I curl up with planning, or marking. By the time all of that is out of the way, I have the “required” reads for school. Following that, I’m done. Drained. Perhaps in a few years when I’ve settled more into this profession, this will change. I truly hope so.

I know some of that stat is accurate in that I know a number of teachers who don’t like to read. They hate reading to their class (how awful!), but at least they do it because they know they should. Other than that, they’re not readers. It’s hard for someone like me to imagine.

]]> By: Danny Maas http://theclassroom.ca/2007/08/reading-for-the-fun-of-it/comment-page-1/#comment-1009 Danny Maas Sat, 11 Aug 2007 21:48:48 +0000 http://theclassroom.ca/2007/08/09/reading-for-the-fun-of-it/#comment-1009 After watching Harry Potter 5 in IMAX 3D (read it first) I reread Half-blood Prince and then read Deathly Hallows this summer. Wow! Summertime, as a teacher, is my time to read books for pleasure (other than blogs and online stuff). Being a Div 2 teacher a few years ago, I read a number of grade 4 novels and loved them. Afternoon of the Elves and Van Gogh Cafe are my two favorites I've read in the past few years. I also love Anne Rice's Vampire series (started reading those ages ago after watching Interview With a Vampire) and also her Mayfair Witches series (first book awesome but 1000 pages which is tough for a slow reader like me). More recently, I've really gotten into books written by Chuck Palahniuk, author of the movie Fight Club. Wow - what a twisted individual. I think part of the reason I like many of these bizarre books is because as a teacher we need to be such good role models and act 'normally' most of the time. Choosing a book with insane, bizarre characters or scenarios allows me to lose myself in a book even more I find. If you're new to Chuck Palahniuk, please do yourself a favor and read 'Survivor'. Not to spoil the book, but it starts off with a guy working a suicide hotline who encourages people to kill themselves. Enough said. Great post! Reading the books your students read is obviously a great thing to do, but being able to choose something for YOURSELF is important too. After watching Harry Potter 5 in IMAX 3D (read it first) I reread Half-blood Prince and then read Deathly Hallows this summer. Wow!

Summertime, as a teacher, is my time to read books for pleasure (other than blogs and online stuff). Being a Div 2 teacher a few years ago, I read a number of grade 4 novels and loved them. Afternoon of the Elves and Van Gogh Cafe are my two favorites I’ve read in the past few years.

I also love Anne Rice’s Vampire series (started reading those ages ago after watching Interview With a Vampire) and also her Mayfair Witches series (first book awesome but 1000 pages which is tough for a slow reader like me).

More recently, I’ve really gotten into books written by Chuck Palahniuk, author of the movie Fight Club. Wow – what a twisted individual. I think part of the reason I like many of these bizarre books is because as a teacher we need to be such good role models and act ‘normally’ most of the time. Choosing a book with insane, bizarre characters or scenarios allows me to lose myself in a book even more I find. If you’re new to Chuck Palahniuk, please do yourself a favor and read ‘Survivor’. Not to spoil the book, but it starts off with a guy working a suicide hotline who encourages people to kill themselves. Enough said.

Great post! Reading the books your students read is obviously a great thing to do, but being able to choose something for YOURSELF is important too.

]]> By: Nancy http://theclassroom.ca/2007/08/reading-for-the-fun-of-it/comment-page-1/#comment-1002 Nancy Sat, 11 Aug 2007 02:51:20 +0000 http://theclassroom.ca/2007/08/09/reading-for-the-fun-of-it/#comment-1002 I go back to school in two days and I've read 19 books this summer, ah the joys of having grown children. Last summer I read 32!! I love to read and loved HP too. I go back to school in two days and I’ve read 19 books this summer, ah the joys of having grown children. Last summer I read 32!! I love to read and loved HP too.

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