Chapter 1


Chapter 1 addresses the value of reading and what teachers need to do to keep students interested in reading. Believing that as a teacher not only can you teach students to read but also to learn to love reading. A teacher should examine their belief system, values and attitudes toward children and education to ensure that the “weeding of the educational garden”, does not take place. Educators that are mature and experienced enough to that know students do not have the same intellectual ability, interest levels or learn the same way Teachers should offer students varieties or broad choices of literature as opposed to reading out of the text book and having students complete worksheets encourages learners to take chances and explore literature; essentially empowering the students to make their own choices.


The teacher must acknowledge that all students are capable of learning by the positive and supportive interaction with them. Those students that are not as strong at reading as others in the class can placed in reading groups with stronger readers so the lower reading level students may learn through peer interaction. Additionally, students should learn that reading, writing, listening, speaking, viewing and visually representing are all part of the literary experience. Readers may eventually understand that all media is based upon written material, for example, movie scripts, plays and songs. Teachers that integrate language arts in to their curriculum teach topics that are more relevant and meaningful.


Chapter one also stresses the importance of developing a collection of books and creating a reading environment that helps pull students toward or generates such a desire to read that the student begins to look forward to reading events. Exploring the cultures of their students, expanding their intellectual diversity by learning to investigate and understand people different then themselves. Helping students to become lifelong learners; learning for the sake of learning, helping students understand that being able to read and comprehend literature for academic and recreational purposes will affect all aspects of their lives.