Allison Behne
July 18, 2014
Issue #313
A few weeks ago my family drove from Iowa to Washington to visit family and friends. About six hours into our 28-hour drive, my daughter shouted, “It can’t end like that!” After explaining to her that she can’t startle us like that while we are driving, we listened to her tell us about the book she had just finished and how she just “couldn’t make it” until she was home to get the next book in the series from the library.
At the time, I chuckled and assured her she would be just fine. However, as time passed, I thought about her enthusiasm and how happy I was that she was so involved in the book she was reading. I have been in her shoes and know what it is like to want to read more. As soon as we had Internet access, I let her download the next book to her Kindle and I had one happy little girl.
As my vacation continued, I became aware of leisure reading taking place all around me. At dinner one night, my cousins and I shared recommendations of recent books we had read. At bedtime, our children were less than thrilled to put their books down before their stories were finished. While walking downtown, I saw a gentleman sitting outside on a bench reading a book. In the hotel lobby I watched as people read the newspaper or magazines while waiting for their family members. Leisure reading truly takes place everywhere!
As a teacher who wants her students to be excited about reading, I continue to reflect on the effect that leisure reading has on emergent, transitional, and developed readers. There is a lot to be said for allowing choice and encouraging pleasurable reading for our students.
Joan recently shared an article with me that confirms this thinking. I encourage you to add it to your summer leisure-reading list.
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