Gail Boushey
How is your “to be read” pile? Do you have a goal for what you’ll read this year? How about next year? How about in your lifetime? As sobering as it sounds, we don’t have forever to read every book printed, nor do we want to read all of them. But what if we started with the end in mind and prioritized the list? Which books would move to the top? Would we feel more compelled to abandon books that we don’t enjoy?
Over at Literacy Hub, Emily Temple compiled research to estimate the number of books we will probably read over our lifetime. Take a moment to view the data in list or chart form and check out the number next to your age and reading habits.
I was surprised by the number next to my age. It put into perspective the fact that reading is a gift of time and titles. I feel a sense of urgency to be a voracious reader, to make and keep a list of books that I think I will love, that will stretch me, that will soothe my soul, and that will help me be a better person and teacher.
We won’t be with our students for their whole lives. But we’ll be with them for a few months, so we need to make sure the books we read, recommend, and have in the classroom library are well worth their time. That way they will be not only capable, but inspired to read for a lifetime.
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