I love to read. Not a single day goes by without my spending time reading.
Current reading habits begin my day with reading part of a professional development (education) book while I eat a bowl of cereal or drink a cup of coffee. Included in the morning typically is reading an article or two from a current events magazine. Throughout the day, I read many, many articles (education). After work, I listen to an audiobook while I exercise, and I read a book (fiction) – in an eReader format if on loan from the library – before going to sleep at the end of the day.
My good friend and I recorded a podcast for a number of years, and one of our segments was Seen, Read, Heard, and we would share titles. Since then I have kept track of an app on my phone of titles I have read and possibly titles I want to read. It has been fun to go back and look at all of them, as well as grab a title for my next book.
Exchanging titles at my eye check-up even has become an annual “event!” As a former English teacher, I not only love to read, but I love to talk about what I have read and dive into the ideas read. What is interesting in fact, through the years, while I still enjoy reading fiction, these stories (I am just finishing rereading the Harry Potter novels!) are fun while I read them, but the plots do not stay with me very long. The non-fiction (informational texts) books’ ideas and information are retained, and I love sharing those ideas with others and how they make me reflect, think, and grow.
In Adam Grant’s latest book Hidden Potential: The Science in Achieving Greater Things, he writes that his kids did not think he liked to read. Because he read in bed every night (or at work), they never saw him reading. He was floored. How could this be? Their house was full of books! When he realized this was what they thought, he jumped into action: As a family they read the Harry Potter series outloud, they shared titles that they then all would read, and they talked about books. They made reading a prominent part of their lives. When we talk about books, we have engaging conversations that connect one another!
I Love to Read Month has just concluded, but it is never too late to read, to carve out time in our busy lives to escape, to think, to learn, and to grow through a good book. The Scholastic Book Fair has returned to Spectrum Middle School (shout-out to Ms. Edgington for her leadership!). Please stop by as a family and purchase a book or two for yourself or your child…or even a teacher’s classroom library. Read and talk about books. Maybe offer a recommendation. Surround yourself and others with books!
Noteworthy
- Monday, March 3 - Spring Sports Meeting: 6:30 pm at the high school
- Tuesday, March 4 - Parent-Teacher Conferences: 3-4:30/5-6:30 at the middle school gymnasiums
- Tuesday, March 11 - Parent-Teacher Conferences: 3-4:30/5-6:30 at the middle school gymnasiums
- Friday, March 14 - Sunday, March 16 - The Sound of Music at the high school