A School of Readers
November 2, 2017 -
Reading aloud is, according to the landmark 1985 report “Becoming a Nation of Readers,” “the single most important activity for building the knowledge required for eventual success in reading.”1
Great Hearts is known for the great literature that students read throughout the course of their years as students. At the K-6 level, classroom teachers spend a portion of their day, everyday, reading aloud great literature. It is a priority and something that is intentionally done. We don’t do it solely because we believe it contributes to eventual success in reading; we do it because we, as teachers, love to read great literature. We love the smell of books and the beautiful illustrations and the underlying themes that can be picked out. It is a passion that we want to pass down to our students as we strive for a school full of students who get excited about reading.
When I was a new mother I thought of many things that I wanted my children to explore and learn. But, more than anything, I wanted them to love reading as much as I did as a child and later as an adult. I was not an educator, nor was I really concerned too much about my child’s education at the time. In fact, I quite often share with people that if you had told me that I would be a stay at home mom who homeschools her four children, and then a grade school teacher turned Headmaster, I would be doing what I am doing today 25 years ago, I would have told you to keep smoking whatever you are smoking. I never saw myself as a teacher. But, motherhood takes you down some crazy paths and I think my journey in education began with the choices I made as a young mother.
I started reading to my first-born when she was in utero (because that is what the books said to do). Then, starting the day I brought her home from the hospital, I read out loud to her whatever I was reading at the time. My only reason for doing it was because I wanted her to “know my voice.” Her dad thought I was crazy. I probably was.
As time went on, the nightly ritual of reading three, four, five or more books before bed ensued. At times it would be the same books, night after night after night. If you skipped a word, she would correct you. During the day, I would hear her playing mom, reading to her animals and retelling stories that she had memorized by heart. She would mimic the characters in the book, saying what they would say. Her favorite for quite a while was “Tee-I-double-Guh-ER!” Later, when I began staying at home full-time, I would read longer books during the day and we would go to the library and she would pick books out based on the front cover. She would insist that I read to the “baby in my tummy” when I was pregnant with our second. At times, I thought I had created a “reading monster”. All she wanted to do was have me read to her. Eventually, she wanted to learn how to read, at an age that I thought was way too young to begin . . . . another story for another time.
If we had to choose what kind of monsters to develop at ANP, I suppose “reading monsters” would be okay. We wouldn’t apologize to you if your student came home and asked you if they could include our history text (Story of the World) on their Christmas list because it is their favorite book. We wouldn’t apologize to you if your 2nd grader came home and drilled you on the names of the characters who travelled with Bilbo Baggins on the many adventures in The Hobbit. (Both true stories.) We would rejoice in the realization that they have found the passion for reading that we have as their teachers and continue to encourage them to read about the places and adventures that only books can take you. We want you to come along as we nurture a school of readers.
On Friday, we will be dressed like our favorite literary characters (included in the ANP curriculum), reading out loud and sharing our passion with your students. We want to develop a school of readers and ask that you join us in raising $50k to establish the North Phoenix Library. Please join us by doing the following:
- Sponsor your child during the Read-A-Thon (sponsor sheet was sent home last Tuesday).
- Encourage them to seek additional sponsorship from family and friends.
- Visit the future home of the North Phoenix Library and purchase books for your child’s classroom library on November 3rd.
- Schedule a time with your child’s teacher to come and read out loud to your child’s class during our Read-A-Thon from 8 am – 11:30 am on November 3rd.
- Visit our website for all the information related to the Read-A-Thon and North Phoenix Library Fundraiser and follow the link to donate online at https://archwaynorthphoenix.greatheartsamerica.org/news-events/read-a-thon/
- Consider partnering with another family or two to participate in a commemorative gift for the library. Please reach out to Ms. Rachel LeBeau at rlebeau@greatheartsaz.org