I opened my email this morning and this was my first message:
Hi Angela,
I wanted to let you know that you taught me to look at books in a different way and from a child’s perspective. I’ve always been an avid reader but never really stopped to think about all of the different aspects of a book. You made me see that I need to change my thinking and the way I teach. What I may have considered a "duh moment" that every student should just be able to figure out on their own is now something that needs to be taught.
I went to Borders today and as always spent way too much money but left knowing that I chose quality books that will help me teach specific skills and strategies. I went with a purpose and after 5 hours, left feeling quite pleased with myself!!! I purchased a child’s book about seasons and was overwhelmed with the information in it. I learned so much more from it than I would have a few days ago because you taught me what to look for in a book. Here’s the great part…. I couldn’t read a word of it because it was written in Russian but I learned that sunflowers are an important crop and what products are made from them, children enjoy roasted chestnuts sold by street vendors, Halloween is celebrated with jack-o-lanterns and blah,blah,blah!!! The list goes on but the point is that I learned so much about the similarities and differences between Russian and U.S crops, sports, food, holidays, activities and weather from hand drawn pictures in a book written in Russian. If I had seen that in the bargain bin a week ago, I wouldn’t have even opened it. And yes…I went on-line when I got home to confirm that what I thought I was learning from the pictures was in fact correct.
Wow, I’m a born again reader!!!!
Thank you,
Kyle
One of the things you live for as a teacher is the moment the light bulb goes off for a student. Whether I am teaching 5 year olds or "bigger than 5 year olds", these learning moments are ones I cherish. Thanks for letting me share!
