Category: About Reading & Writing
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Why Should We Read Fantasy?
First posted on The Crazy Corner blog, here it is in its original form. Not every child will go on to invent something like the iPhone, but they all will make their own way through life, and fantasy can teach them the skills to make the right choices. Bruno Bettelheim, in his 1975 book…
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A Love of Reading
I’ve just returned from the Asilomar Reading Conference, put on by the Santa Clara County Reading Council. I’ve always wanted to attend this conference because it’s for teachers, it’s all about books, and it’s held in one of the most beautiful locations in California. Asilomar was built in 1913 by Julia Morgan in Pacific Grove,…
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Like TV With Words
Recently I had the opportunity to interview a variety of students for our school yearbook. The questions ranged from favorite subject to future goals. One young girl responded eagerly when I asked what her favorite subject was. “Reading,” she told me. “It’s like watching TV except you have to read the words.” This is a…
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Thinking About Reading
Teachers prattle on about reading comprehension strategies; about vocabulary and monitoring your understanding and rereading and summarizing. I read to enjoy books. When I read, the words scamper across my brain, leaving illustrations behind. I picture the worlds I read about, I envision myself there, and I wonder what it would be like to live…