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Blog #1: Entering the Reading World

It started, as far as I can remember, when I was 5 years old. I vividly remember having a navy blue bookshelf about 4-5 feet tall with my name "TAYLOR" going down vertically in a floral print. The bookshelf was larger than me, but it seemed like every shelf had books. Amongst my collection, I remember Dr.Seuss titles such as: "The Cat in the Hat", "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue", "Hop on Pop", any many more. I can firmly say Dr. Seuss was a staple in my reading foundation. My mother also took time to read to me often. I would pick about 1-2 books, and we would read together right before bedtime. I strongly believe the time we invested in building my reading skills at an early age played a strong part in my success. 

During my middle school years, I remember enjoying library visits and looking forward to the upcoming book fairs. Two of my favorite book series were "Junie B. Jones" by Barbara Park and "Beezus and Ramona" by Beverly Clearly. I currently teach 7th grade ELA, and we have an upcoming book fair at the end of this month. My students will also have their first library experience since March 2020. I plan to model reading during our JRB time, in addition to adding read alouds! Because I believe children learn from modeled behavior, it is important to set the example and explain the 'why' behind it.

I believe reading at an early age is important. My daughter, who is 3 going on 13, has a book collection of over 50 books. My family & I have been adding to her collection since she was in the womb. I read to her in the womb, in the hospital, at night during feeding time, and any other time I felt we needed to bond. She now chooses books from her shelf 4 or more at a time. Lately, I have been catching her sitting by herself attempting to read by pointing to the pictures and telling what she think is happening. She even brings me books and ask me to read to her (cutest, heartfelt thing ever)!! Sometimes as we read together, I reflect back to when me & my mom shared these moments. I pray Peyton remembers and cherishes them the same way I do! 

In conclusion, reading at an early age is important because it sets the foundation for success in various ways. It allows the mind time to wonder and think imaginatively, while opening the doors to vocabulary and comprehension enhancement. The earlier children are introduced to reading, the sooner they can build language development and early literacy skills. We should allow children to explore books, touch/turn the pages, choose what they would like to read, and give their input on what should/could happen next to help expand their thinking!

As I come to a close, I making a commitment to myself to read more because I definitely strayed away from it! I will also commitment to making reading fun in my classroom for the benefit on my students!

I also would love to hear your thoughts! Do remember reading at an early age? Is it ever too late to build a solid reading foundation? How often do you read and why?

 


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