Raising 21 Readers

I recently read that 35% of teachers make it a habit to read to their students. Thirty-five percent. Let that number sink in for a minute. Less than half of our teachers are reading out loud to their students daily.

Now, I am not saying that teachers are lazy. I am not saying they lack doing good in the classroom. I am not saying they are doing less than they should. In fact, every teacher I've had the pleasure to work with has been an amazing hard working professional who delivers their hearts to their students, teaching them skills to succeed as leaders.

What I AM saying is that our teachers have too much pressure on them. Our schools run on test scores, which are then observed by the state as the deciding factor for programs, funds, and support. And when teachers feel their jobs are on the line by those scores, they might start focusing "teaching to the tests" instead of teaching to the hearts. I don't have any answers on battling this, but I do recognize the hard working efforts in the teaching profession.

I am ever so grateful and feel so lucky for my daughter's first experience in the school system. Her teacher is uh-maz-ing with the patience to handle 21 kindergartner's antics and the grace to transition from patterns to phonics seamlessly. I have no idea how she does it. I can't even get my two kids out the door without having 21 setbacks in five minutes.

Shoes. Only one of the setbacks we always have while getting out the door.

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of yet again visiting her classroom and reading to the students. Every time I do this, I am impressed with these kids: their ability to sit in one spot for a few minutes, listening ears on, and each time,there is a little less heckling. 

But you know what was even more impressive? After I read a picture book to 21 five and six year olds, their teacher sat down and read MORE. She popped open a chapter book and 21 faces went from talking about Cuddle Bear to listening to Junie B. Jones, not missing a beat. Know what's even more impressive than that? They weren't zoning out, either. They were actively listening, raising hands, asking questions, and relating to the characters. Ladies and gentlemen, this is why I do what I do. I love watching those faces light up from written words, making inferences and predictions, learning from those pages so they can apply their lessons in their lives. 

And to think, in September when I first visited the classroom, I heard, "I hate books" as a sing-songy chant from some of those 21 faces. Truly, this classroom is raising readers.