It's all about the Benjamins baby!!!

My fists are up, and I’m ready to win a good fight. Meet my opponent Lovin’ Literacy! I’ve been challenged by those three little words, the ones every English teacher dreads yet fully expects: “I don’t read!” And I think to myself, “Oh, it’s on now!...You will read, and you will LOVE it!” And I don’t fight unless I know I can win! (Okay, obviously I don’t literally fight at all. It’s not lady-like. It’s stupid, and it’s tacky. But that’s a whole ‘nother blog entry, one from which many students could benefit…save it for next time…)

I would say that this year and its students proved to be no different than all those to come before, but that would not be true. I’ve actually been quite surprised to see that the numbers have been increasing in the last couple years in terms of students who genuinely enjoy reading. However, in the midst of those positive numbers, there lurk the ever present non-readers.

Non-readers come in all shapes, sizes, and IQs…and in the eleventh grade, they come out of the wood works! Why? Because the eleventh grade is the prime place for freedom in ways that don’t always include a flashy cover and an enticing storyline. Eleventh grade is one of the first years when students are old enough to be distracted by jobs, dating, and most importantly…the oh so coveted permit!

The Profile(s) of a Non-Reader:
1. You’ve got your athletes and your outdoorsmen who are naturally active and for whom the thought of sitting down somewhere reading is simply impossible because they’d much prefer to be outside (Example: This used to be my husband, the hunter/fisher/golfer/boater, but alas I won him over as well).
2. You’ve got your worker bees who claim they have no time to read since they get in at 11 from their after school shift, and it’s all they can do to master a little homework before they fall asleep, pencil in hand! Now this excuse would have flown with me before but not anymore. They now have time to read in class during the ten minutes I provide daily and during the new time our school provides after their news show finishes.
3. You’ve got your girls who are way too into the real life drama of their own life to invest time in a fictional story.
4. You’ve got the students whose reading comprehension, lexile scores are low, and they cannot understand a lot of what they read…
5. And on the opposite end, I’m also confronted with the brainstar students whose IQs are so high that they are worn out from studying and burnt out on books, and the last thing they want to do is crack open a book.

BLAH BLAH BLAH…I’ve heard it all! All this really means to me is NO ONE HAS EVER GIVEN YOU THE RIGHT BOOK FOR YOU! Once you find a book about something you are interested, I guarantee you’ll love it. Think back to first grade (I know this from my own experience as well as from the tales my elementary school teacher best friends tell). Students love reading in first through third grade. They’re mesmerized by story time on the carpet. They gather close to their teacher, whom they still love because she hung the moon, and they stare, starry eyed, up at the colorful illustrations. They are so proud of themselves when they finish a book “all by themselves.” And so the fairytale continues (so it seems to a high school teacher) until BAM!!...the higher grades start hitting them with required reading, computer testing, less and less student choice, a lack of novels in which they are interested, etc etc etc…And the love for reading that once burned bright has been stifled and blow clean out!

And then they enter my classroom. And they become my personal project. We did book review passes during which they were exposed to 100+ titles. They gave book talks on their summer reading books to expose their classmates to the books they chose. The librarians gave book parties with title descriptions and book displays. After being exposed to numerous suggestions, they made a list of the titles they thought sounded most interesting. The students took surveys in which I asked them all about their interests outside of school and most importantly --- most telling --- what movies they like. All of this led me to gander, guess, and suggest what titles might suit which students best.

THE VERDICT’S IN…most students found out that they actually really enjoy reading…who knew?? They just needed to have the right book and enough time to get through chapter one. Now instead of hearing the dreaded, “I hate to read!” I hear music to my ears… “Mrs. Moody, can we pllllleeeeeeeeaaaassseee have a little more time? Uhhh, I’m at such a good spot.” I secretly love when I have to say, “Put that book away. I’m talking,” or “you’ll get some time later. I promise. Just put it away for now.” I can hear the angels singing.

Now that this love for reading (for almost everyone…I’m no miracle worker. Although sometimes you have to be to encourage 17-year-olds) has taken off, I have decided to implement book clubs. The students are old enough to have real, adult discussions about books that interest them, on topics that concern them, with people who understand them. What better way to encourage active reading, critcal thinking and reading for pleasure than to initiate book clubs? And so we have….

Thus far the students have practiced using short stories. Yes, with this age group, you have to practice being on-topic, saying meaningful things, reading with purpose, etc. They have chosen their groups, and the groups have chosen their novels. The only problem, a huge problem, is that the library doesn’t necessarily have enough copies of all the books that they’d like in just the right amounts for the groups. I tell ya…I get the motivation level up, the engine’s roarin’, and then we’ve got a flat tire on lap one!! Soooo, like any good teacher, I look to whatever resources still exist in our floundering economy! I put in for a grant…

See the letter below:
Dear IHSEF Foundation,

I lead a student centered class in that the students are given a lot of choice in our activities (as long as they are meeting the standards). This year the students and I are excited to bring the adult world of book clubs into the teenage classroom. They have discussed genres, participated in book passes to scout titles, written book reviews for their classmates to read, listened to the librarians’ book talks, and they have begun their independent reading. This week they went ahead and chose partners for their book clubs. Unfortunately, partnering had to be limited to two or three people per group because we all knew that the chances were slim that our library would have three available copies of any title. The students were so excited about their groups, their chosen titles, and the prospect of this project that they agreed to go to the county library or to a book store to check out or buy their choice of book. I have gone over the project with Mrs. Head and Mrs. Tisdale, and although they are so excited about book clubs, they fear that they will never be able to meet the demands of the titles simply because so many books are checked out.

Statistics have proven that independent reading / reading for pleasure increases success on reading comprehension in standardized testing and increases the students’ love for reading in general. The addition of book clubs encourages the students to be independent thinkers, to question their reading, to analyze the story, to become leaders amongst their peers in a classroom setting, to work with others, and to not only think critically but speak eloquently about what they are reading.

I have 140 students this year (with the numbers changing daily). That number of students could be divided into 35 groups of four. I am requesting 35 different young adult literature and classic titles to provide my students with a meaningful literary experience to enhance their year in English III as well as their lifelong love of reading. The English department has agreed to buy one set of books, 4 books, which totals approximately $36 (for the going rate of a paperback copy - $8.99). Therefore, I am asking you for $1,200 to fund the remainder of the purchase. I realize that this is a large request, so any funding that you could contribute would be greatly appreciated! My students are excited about reading, and it would break this English teacher’s heart to let them down! This excitement about reading is a rare occurrence but hopefully a growing trend amongst seventeen-year-old students. Please consider the needs of the eleventh grade Advanced and Grade Level students of Irmo High School. If we receive the money, we would love to publish a public thank you to the IHSEF and continually update you all and the community as to how our new and exciting project goes.

Thank you so much for your consideration,
Aston Moody and the English III students of IHS


And so fellow blog readers, book lovers, student supporters, please keep our class in your thoughts and prayers that this money comes through. There is only so much a teacher can do on her lowly salary and a $275 classroom stipend. If you have any thoughts or suggestions on other grant money or donors who are out there, please please let me know. As for right now, I shall count my many blessings to the tune of 132 students, books in hands, wide awake, eagerly turning pages, begging for "just a few more minutes"….

I don’t know exactly what phenomenon has taken place over the summer, but I’m not questioning it. I’ll just “go with it.” For some reason, this year my students are more friendly, more polite, more conscientious, more interested, and more respectful than ever before. Thus far I have only had real issues with one student…and one out of 150 “ain’t” bad. (Even an English teacher knows that sometimes you can use slang for emphasis if not just for fun! Grandma would be appalled!) It is extremely encouraging to enter a classroom each period and look at students who are ready and willing to learn. I’m certainly not bashing all of the wonderful darlings who have come before these; I’m just saying there is a noticeable difference!!

Maybe it is because I started the year just a little more strict than usual. I have quickly found that (former teacher) Grandma was right when she said, “You can always get nicer, but it’s mighty hard to crack down after everyone’s run-a-muck!” So true grams! I keep telling everyone that I’m loving this year’s students, and their response has been, “Yeah but it’s only week three…just wait…” But I don’t know – you doubting public! These students have not let me down yet, and certainly hope they don’t start anytime soon.