(student comes in after school to return a book)
Currently, I am teaching my first year in middle school.
Eighth grade.
This is my 14th year teaching. But this is the first time where my mouth has hung open in absolute astonishment. You see, I taught elementary for so long, you take things for granted.
Like, for instance, the LOVE of just learning that comes so easily with younger students. You don't have to work so hard to "hook" them. Don't get me wrong, I've taught elementary so long, I'm not downplaying the struggling readers or the reluctant readers.
But middle school is different.
I don't think I properly understood how important middle school is. When you literally, NOT figuratively, have MOST, if not all your classes, openly and honestly, DESPISE, if not call it torture, reading, you tend to take a few steps back.
Wait, what?
First, for the record, the students are AHHHHHHMAZING! I feel as though I have found my niche. But it wasn't always that way. The first couple of weeks, I felt like this wasn't for me. I'm going to be honest. I have never seen so much apathy before in kids. Don't get me wrong, these kids are good kids. Brutally honest.
"Miss, I don't like reading. Please don't make me read."
"Miss, I haven't read a novel since the fourth grade."
"Miss, are we ACTUALLY going to read? Like a novel? Can we just do worksheets?"
At first, with over 100 students, I thought this was it. I had made a mistake. Like, I literally felt sick for awhile. Why? Because I get my enthusiasm from my students. I LOVE teaching because I love the excitement THEY feel. Introduce a new book, kids LOVE it! Read Aloud? Yes, please! Students are excited, the younger they are, they don't have the social confines of being cool yet.
Yet.
So, when they got depressed that I was introducing a novel, they literally groaned, and I doubted whether I could do this. It wasn't the book. It wasn't even me. It was almost a learned behavior. "We don't read" is protocol. And this is where we, and I say WE, as teachers get it so wrong.
If you want kids to read, you MUST give them opportunities to read. IN CLASS. In elementary, it's SO INCREDIBLY easy. You have them for longer periods of time. In middle school? You have 55 minutes. So you MUST prioritize. You must give them great, inspiring, amazing books to foster thought, ideas and compassion. You give them the best. Not the left overs. You build that classroom library as if your life depended on it.
Because, people, middle school libraries are almost like cemeteries for books. At least compared to elementary schools. It's not inviting. In fact, my librarian told me these kids don't read. In front of them. She told them, "If you don't like to read, I have these short stories right here! They are great for non-readers".
I'm pretty sure my mouth hung open when she said that. But at least she was honest.
So when backed into a corner, I do what I do best. I share MY love of reading. We started Wonder. I've spent so much money on books, and book shelves, it's insane. But it's worth it. Why? Because today, they were brutally honest again.
"Miss, this is the first book since fourth grade I actually finished a whole novel. Do you have the next book?"
"Miss, do you have more books like Prisoner B-3087? You do?! Can I take this home to finish it so I can start on Monday?"
"Miss, do you mind if I take one of your books home? Can I check it out?"
We write. We respond. My bellringers are out the door. I'm using thier novels as the bell ringer/warm up of the day. We look for different things in novels. Character traits, summaries, text evidence, inferences, everything. I did a quick survey.
Out of 100 students, 12 are reading books from the school library. 2 are reading personal books from thier homes. The rest? From my classroom library.
This was our "display area" for the first six weeks.
Now, we don't have a big display on the top of our shelf anymore.
And our novel? Students are loving this story of Auggies! Especially since this year, I've included videos!
Students want amazing new, colorful, visually appealing, books. I am SO THANKFUL that publishers are publishing classics with newer and modern covers. I am thankful that so many books have incredible covers. Why? Because that old saying, "Don't judge a book by its cover" is EXACTLY why a student either picks something up or doesn't. They live in a world with technology and instantly getting what they need. Technology isn't always what they need. It's a tool to be used but it doesn't dictate everything. Yes, I may sound old-fashioned, but a real book gives students a sense of accomplishment. Literally having a book, is a visual reminder that they are accomplishing something. It's not in an app. It's not in a chat. Everyone can see that you are reading, and when you are done, something happens intrinsically. We talked about it all the time in elementary. Well, you have NOTHING but intrinsic motivation up in the middle school.
Bottom line, I've learned that middle school students ARE just like elementary students. But you have to put some thought, time and even MORE love into it. In the end, its worth it. Students are crazy ready to share what they are reading. Middle schoolers are SO sensitive and LOVE when you think of them or a book they may enjoy. I don't think we give middle school teachers enough credit. This is so incredibly challenging, and I have nothing but respect for middle school teachers. But building a love of reading in middle school is worth it. I can honestly say I have NEVER felt so happy teaching students reading in my entire teaching career. I LOVE these kids and I LOVE what I do! (I just wish I had more money for books! Thank you Scholastic Bonus Points & Half Price books! LOL!)
A teacher just has to be willing to share the love of reading and be a true architect. Its just we are building a love of reading.
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