While tutoring at the Easley Center, I was introduced to and given the opportunity to work with many wonderful children. One of the girls I regularly helped at the beginning we will call Jessica.
While working with Jessica, I could not help but be reminded of similar events that took place when I was in elementary school. Jessica was telling me about the book fair that had happened that day at school and showing me all the interesting trinkets she bought, including an invisible ink pen. The last thing that she was the most excited about was a novel that had caught her eye. She proceeded to sit me down after we finished her homework and read some of it to me. I could see how excited Jessica was to know that this was her book and that she could sit down to read it whenever she wanted.
I had an experience similar to Jessica’s when I was in the third grade. In elementary school, our teachers would set aside around 30 minutes to an hour every few days in order for us to read. We could sit anywhere in the room, whether it be on the floor or in a bean bag chair, and spend the allotted time reading a book of our choice. This was one of my favorite parts of the school day when I was younger and I wish it were still a part of my school days today. I believe that encouraging children to find books that they are genuinely interested in reading is key when it comes to improving literacy. If children are not interested and engaged in what they are reading or learning, they are not going to put forth their best effort to remember what they have been taught. Of course the time will come where they have to take a class they do not always enjoy, but by keeping them engaged I believe they will at least walk away with a better understanding and appreciation for that subject.
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