My Reading Habits

My reading history is varied, to say the least. As I discussed in class, the first book that really inspired me and my reading was Ernest Thompson Seton's "Biography of a Grizzly." I was a P5 student at the time and for the next few years read animal stories almost exclusively.

As I matured, attended college, got married and entered the teaching profession, my reading habits changed. Before choosing my major at university I read literature, sociology and psychology. Reading the classics followed at college.

As I began my teaching career at the elementary level, I was interested in stimulating students to write and fostering creativity. When I moved to junior high school, I read hundreds of adolescent novels. After finally advancing to high school and teaching English, it allowed me to return to the classics.

I introduced the new journalism to my English classes. Capote and Wolfe both took factual events like the murder in Kansas of the Clutter family (In Cold Blood)and the space program in the United States (The Right Stuff) and wrote about them in fictional, novel format. New journalism is still taught in my school division.

My reading today is more eclectic than ever. I read in no particular order: sports books (depending on whether I am into golf, tennis, cycling, etc); novels made into movies; best sellers; mystery; travel; humor and ultimately anything that grabs my attention.

My motto: If you are reading for pleasure and you aren't enjoying the book, put it away. There's just too much good literature and too many great reading choices to struggle with something that isn't satisfying.

Want to see a few of the books I've read? Check out my electronic bookshelf at weread.com site.

http://weread.com/profile/Rodger/3AE114D7-C205-48E7-BCEA-0447E74B2A9A?refuid=3AE114D7-C205-48E7-BCEA-0447E74B2A9A&src=&auri=

Want to find out your learning style? Please go to http://tinyurl.com/32ge4g

Readers for Life

Dear Sec 1 Parents:

As some parents were not able to attend the Parents’ Symposium on January 16th and may not be aware, we are implementing our Readers for Life program with all the Sec 1 students at Hwa Chong Institution.

If you were at the presentation, then you already know that parents are the most important factor in determining whether their children are readers. The school would like to work with you to ensure the success of our reading program and the ultimate benefits gained from this lifetime pursuit.

As a parent, your role would be simple. We would look for your support in the area of discussing your reading habits as an adolescent, how your reading has changed over the years, favorite genres, authors or books you would like to share with your son. There will be a formal interview in which your son will be tasked with speaking to a parent and determining which book they read as an adolescent that either influenced them in life or perhaps still resonates with them today. If you really feel strongly about a certain title and would like to address the class, consider this an open invitation.

The other way you can show support is by taking a genuine interest in what your son is reading. As teachers we will provide modeling, books, various other reading materials, and motivation. All we ask is that you keep reading in the forefront at the home as well. This can also be accomplished by visiting your son’s blog in which he will link to weread.com. Take the time to browse his electronic bookshelf and engage him in his reading choices.

And finally, we are planning a mid-year book sale. Book ownership is a hallmark of this program and we would like the opportunity to renew and refresh reading materials. If you would like to donate books, expertise or a helping hand in the library, we would love your participation and I know it would mean a great deal to the students as well.

Thank you for participating in our Readers for Life program. Individually we can impact your sons’ reading; together, we hold the key to developing lifetime readers.

Yours truly,
Rodger Spelmer, Language Consultant
We are trying to establish parental involvement by listing some areas parents might want to volunteer in. If you would please check off an area of interest, it would be most helpful in our delegating of assistance.

1) The book sale______

2) A book talk or presentation______

3) Assisting with a book club______

4) Donating books to the book sale­­­______

5) I support the Readers for Life program but can’t make a commitment at this time_____


Signed:_________________________________________________________


Student name and number:______________________________________( )