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Expanding your social comprehension when you’re socially distancing!
March 16, 2020
Friends! I feel as though I am in some odd science fiction plot… and I’m not a fan of science fiction (although, I just bought Dry by Neal and Jarrod Shusterman to try out!). Therefore, in order to help the world out a bit in any way I can, I am practicing social distancing.
( How can I do that as a teacher you might ask? Well, as of right now, I am on an earlier “April break” with a possible turn to virtual learning.)
But I digress.
So because my husband and I are choosing to pull away from socializing right now (raise your hand if this is hard for you! I’m a social introvert [I like small groups…]), I decided to write a post about a cool thing you could be doing if you are also deciding to spend more time indoors with yourself or loved ones.
You can READ!
I know, how is that anything new? But just hear me out.
Right before we went on our new spring break, I introduced my students to my trimester 3 book requirement. Usually we do a class novel, but this trimester is all about choice.
However, I did give direction in terms of choice, and that is where my fantastic, super intelligent, and amazing soul sister, Melanie Roy, comes onto the scene.
This year has been all about increasing social awareness of the world around us, and I have been engaging students in discussions about being agents of change. We have been reading All American Boys, discussing racism and white privilege, and chatting about speaking up during times of difficulty.
Therefore, when it came to this upcoming last trimester, it was time for the students to be more independent with these ideas and choose a text that allows them to explore a topic to increase social comprehension. Right before we left on Friday, I introduced the students to the texts that Mrs. Roy (and a tiny bit me) put together under 8 larger social awareness topics.
The topics are:
- Race/ ethnicity
- Ability
- Class
- Environmental sustainability
- Gender/ sexuality
- Bullying
- Religion
- Immigration
I thought that maybe, since you (parent or student) are home for a bit of time, it might be nice to read about some current issues in the form of a YA text, whether it be traditional or graphic novel or nonfiction writing.
Here is the link to the list that Mrs. Roy made for me.
Because I am currently teaching 7th grade, these texts are mostly for 12 and above, although some may reach as low as 8 years old as some texts for middle grades are for ages 8-12.
I just finished a book today, actually, that is on that list under ability. It’s titled The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle by Leslie Connor. Its discussion of loyalty and care for those around us really gave me goose bumps as the relevancy to our current times was evident. These books could be really empowering right now for our readers as they navigate this trying period.
So, if you are deciding to stay away from the general public, I encourage you to read and maybe check out a book or two from the list above. I really think it will expand your thinking of the world even if contact to it is limited right now!
Happy reading!
Ps. STAY HEALTHY!
Making it accessible
December 10, 2019
I had a student who recently asked when I would publish another blog post.
“I publish once a week! I had one on Tuesday,” I exclaimed.
But the student proved me wrong. “No, Mrs. Carroll. A blog post.”
He was right. I haven’t posted one in awhile. It’s easy to say that life has gotten in the way, but I really think, too, that I lost some passion that I had at the beginning of this project. I got into the swing of work and reading for the blog and reading for my two book clubs. Oh, and reading for graduate school.
My passion kind of took a back seat for a bit.
However, I had a research proposal due for my graduate class, and I decided to make the drop in motivation to read at the secondary levels my topic. This led me to do hours of research on the topic for the literature review component of the proposal. What I found actually heightened my passion again.
So what does the research say?
Basically, boiled down, kids like to read what they want to read; self-selection is key.
Furthermore, they need to know that reading is important and valued by the adults that surround them.
They also need access to text— if they aren’t getting to the library on a regular basis like they were in elementary schools, then their classrooms need to be rich book environments.
I’ve been on a mission in my classroom. I rearranged my books by genre and made space for them on the windowsill in my classroom with titles of the genres on little cards.
I brought in all my YA fiction and nonfiction that I had at home, and I scoured my family’s home for the YA from my youth.
I have spent copious amounts of money recently buying more fiction to try and find novels to teach in my room this year that may be more relevant and engaging for the students. Guess where those books will end up?
On my windowsill.
I’m also working on a self-selected book project for my class for trimester 3, so I can continue to increase reading in my kiddos.
So the moral of the story: access is necessary! I want my students to see books in my classroom. It’s easy to ignore the activity if you don’t surround yourself with it. I feel as though if I make it simple to gain good books then the students will read and will find themselves going to the library more, too.
I can’t continue to spend my money on books (although Savers proved really nice for a haul a couple of weekends ago!), so I’ve also asked for books and gift cards for Christmas for my classroom! Can’t wait to share what I get over the holidays!
Anyway, to my student who asked, here is a new blog post for you! For those of you who were wondering where I’ve been, I’m back and the passion is reignited!
Hope you are all well!
Happy holidays!
Permission to put away
October 15, 2019
It’s been awhile since I’ve done a blog post… I apologize for my absence! Turns out that juggling a blog is a lot harder when you are teaching again, but that’s cool. I’m working to handle it!
So to make up for my apparent disappearance these last couple of months, here is a true confession: I don’t like to give up on books, and I really didn’t until recently.
That sounds worse than it really is. I promise.
I used to pick up a book and always finish it. I can’t really think of a book that I didn’t truly read (except college– I definitely spark noted “Heart of Darkness”… shh… but that’s a short story… so does that count?). However, that changed this past year.
I am in a book club, two actually, and it was my turn to pick. So I chose Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver; but I couldn’t finish it.. Now, I know Kingsolver has some really hardcore fans, and I wouldn’t want to offend them. It just wasn’t for me, and quite possibly, it might not have been for me at that time. I am open to my future with Kingsolver.
But, truthfully, I struggled to be okay with putting the book down and walking away. I think I feel badly that I started something and won’t be finishing it, or, honestly, in this case with this particular book, I felt like I was stupid for not getting it. Why were people raving about this book, but I was having to force myself to pay attention to the pages?
Nevertheless, I realized I could leave it and not finish. When that epiphany graced my mind, I instantly felt relief. I love to read before bed, and I wasn’t looking forward to that ritual when I had to push myself through a text. Now I could find something else to read that piqued my interest.
I hear, quite a bit, that students say they don’t like reading because they can’t find something they want to read. And ya know, I get it. When you are in the midst of trudging through something you don’t enjoy, it’s really hard. I like reading, and when I was in Kingsolver’s world, I felt lost and disheartened by the amount of zoning I was doing… and thus rereading..
I think that’s why I always start a conversation with a kiddo around what they have read because it allows me to try and connect new texts with ones that interested them in the past.
Anyway, I digress; the point of this post is to share that I have walked away from a book… or two… or possibly a few more. I try to shake the shame of not finishing because it’s only me that’s putting it upon myself. No one has to know, or even if they do, what would they possibly say? People read flaps and put the book back on the shelf right away. It’s fine to realize that you don’t enjoy a book.
But the key is not to stop there. Just because I didn’t like a particular book doesn’t mean that I stop reading. That’s what I want to keep teaching my kiddos— if you don’t like what you have control over, particularly in regards to reading, change it. Make sure that what you are engaging with is worth the time– sometimes that takes effort and is okay, and other times it is clear that the text is not for you.
And that’s okay if you need to put it down and walk away. No one will judge you; I certainly won’t. I’m working on not feeling like I’m wrong if someone likes a book, and I don’t. Reading is actually quite personal, and it’s really between you and the book.
That’s a pretty corny ending, but I’m going to leave it there. Here’s to writing a post and giving it to the world to read even if it is choppy! 🙂
Reading Recommendations
September 20, 2019
Ladies and gentlemen, I think I can safely say I have some KICK BUTT readers in my classroom this year. I. Am. So. Excited.
I am so excited that I just wrote fragments.
I took the kiddos to the library last week, and, again, shoutout to Melanie Roy who is my soul sister in almost every respect, as she nerded out with me about YA fiction and nonfiction and taught the students to utilize the technology to find books that they want to read.
So here is a recap of things that happened last week that make my inner reading nerd heart burst with joy: I was asked for recommendations from my kiddos for books while in the library, and I was privileged to learn more about what they enjoy. Turns out that they want to read a lot of the material that I’m interested in!
I discovered that Meg Cabot’s Princess Diary books are in our library, and I felt instantly reconnected to my middle school years. I even got a young lady to check it out and give it a chance. I’m making it a sub mission to revitalize that series. It’s amazing; I’m serious.
I was given book recommendations from several students, but I got two copies of books from students to borrow— Paper Things, which I’ve heard excellent things about and One for the Murphys by my fave Fish in the Tree author, Lynda Mullaly Hunt. I’m so excited for these treasures (and for the verse novels coming from another one of my dear students).
One of my kiddos donated a BUNCH of books to my classroom library for her fellow peers to enjoy. HOW GREAT IS THAT? Building a culture of sharing books is a dream, and I feel like some major steps were taken this week!
I brought myriads (my kids know this is one of my favorite words) of my own YA novels to put on the shelf behind my desk (YA on the Shelf is happening literally). I need to take a picture and post it, but I digress. Students immediately took a look at the titles and asked to borrow. YASSS!
Needless to say, I am really feeling empowered by this— to keep this going and to continuously encourage reading by modeling my own obsession with books. Friends, this was a hard week in many ways, but these little snippets of joy and hope made it beautiful, too.
I hope you feel some of the inspiration I feel just from reading those memories from the week. 🙂
Balancing the (Reading) Rhythm
September 8, 2019
Woah, sorry my people, I have definitely been gone for a bit.
Real deal for a minute? I went back to work as a school teacher, met my new students (love ’em), but I’ve been figuring out a new building, new schedule, new time change. I’ve also become a new teacher mentor for a fellow colleague, and, if that wasn’t all enough, I am starting a graduate class on Tuesday. I suddenly came to the realization that I am in need of balance– work, gym, friendships, marriage, and this little side project that I love oh so dearly. Still real deal? It’s hard.
Something that has changed significantly is the amount of reading I have been doing. I still read every day, but I am not consuming as much as I used to in terms of content for this site. Don’t worry, though; I have a HUGE back log for the future. But it makes me sad to not be enveloping myself in YA text ALL. THE. TIME.
I had this nice little routine during the summer. I would get up religiously at 7 am and sit in my new apartment kitchen and read. It calmed me and made me ready to take on the day. I haven’t been doing that, and the funny thing is that I have the time to do morning reading with the school time change. I just haven’t.
I’ve let work consume my days because I wanted to get settled and to also feel ready every day. But in doing that, I’ve lost time for myself, reading time, that makes me feel ready to take on the day. I need that back.
I think I need it even more than I did in the summer now that I have this graduate class where I have to read a textbook. Remember that post about slow readers? Remember how I said that nonfiction is where I slow down? Welp, just finished my first chapter, and I had to annotate the pages to focus and connect. It took me awhile. I need time for fun reading, for returning to what brings me joy.
Reading brings me such happiness, and I’ve gotten out of the rhythm of being able to enjoy it. Nighttime isn’t enough because I’m sleepy, and I feel the tiredness slowly creeping into my eyes and closing them. So I need to bring back the mornings for me…
Anyway, I wanted to explain my absence on the site and the instagram (if you follow there!). But, I have to say, the site makeover makes me giddy (and thankful for my husband who was behind it all!), and the new librarian at my school is just as obsessed with YA and instilling a love of reading in our kiddos, so that’s positive as well!
Just letting you know what’s up and how I struggle, too, to make time for reading. I’m working on getting back into the groove and being intentional with my time for me.
Here’s to working on that!
Written Inspiration
August 29, 2019
Guys, I’m going to be honest with you. Keeping up with this website is work when you go back to work after summer vacation. I have to carve out time now instead of that leisurely pace I went at during the months off. I’m not complaining for all those non-teachers out there. I promise you that I’m not. I’m just realizing that this is a task… but it’s fine!
I just spent over an hour perusing the website Teaching Tolerance. Woah. Talk about some crazy amazing resources. Why am I sharing this? What does this have to do with reading?
The latest novel that I finished, Love, Hate, & Other Filters, inspired this.
The review will be published to the blog, I promise, and it’s definitely worth reading for a myriad of reasons. But one HUGE take away is that I am so far removed from the trials of minorities… and if I am, I bet others are too… maybe my students?
We are going to read the novel Walkabout as our first unit text, and the novel centers around three main characters– Mary, Peter, and the bush boy, who is native to Australia, where the book is set. Without giving much away, Mary really struggles with the acceptance of the bush boy as she comes from a pretty divided southern state during the ’40s or ’50s.
I think this book can be a struggle because readers begin to wonder how this is relevant to their lives. I get it. How can you relate to wandering through the Australian outback after a plane crash and then having to rely on the help of an Aboriginal boy on his walkabout.
However, what I wish to point out to my youngsters is that Mary’s internal struggle to accept is one that we are still dealing with today. Take, for example, the novel that I referred to above. The main character, Maya, is a Muslim Indian who was born in America. Because of an incident in the novel, she becomes a target of bullies and intense fear. Right there we have a lack of acceptance, and this book is set in present day.
I also read and reviewed Monday’s Not Coming, which was written to bring awareness to the missing minority children that mostly go unnoticed. These texts are fueling my desire to bring awareness to my students about the world in which we live in. It’s far from perfect, and we can do so much if we just treat others with kindness and respect… and so much more that I can’t even really put to words.
Oy vey.
I guess the takeaway from this is that books can inspire the heck out of me, and the ones that do, man, those are worth reading….
Wish me luck on incorporating teaching tolerance during times of prejudice! My head is still spinning from reading the material on that website.
Palate Cleanser 2.0
August 23, 2019
Raise your hand if you get drained by drama? Let me see those arms raised tall and proud! People, I feel you.
Now, I get drawn into a dramatic moment. Don’t get me wrong. I like my Law and Order: SVU (Mariska Hargitay is a FIERCE female—can I get an amen?!), and I’ve read The Fault in Our Stars. (Side note: If you love John Green, you HAVE to check out Turtles All the Way Down. I actually think it’s his best book.) I get into the drama of it just like we all do.
But I also feel run down after awhile of immersing myself in that kind of emotional turmoil. For example, I had read two novels back to back that were both wonderful but also tumultuous. I was about to pick up another YA novel that dealt with a serious issue, but I felt myself pulling back. I could sense the emotional exhaustion creeping into my body.
So I put that book back on the shelf, and I grabbed Fish in a Tree.
I know I’ve already written a review about this book (see link above), but I can’t say enough about what this book represents– triumph, positivity, hard work, big hearts. These are all themes that WE, humanity, need in our life.
For most of my reads, the protagonist is dealing with something heavy, the weight of which I feel at times. Fish in a Tree, however, has a student, Ally, dealing with dyslexia and friendship troubles. Yes, those are heavy in their own way, but it opened my eyes to the struggles and fights that are more “ordinary” or those that may be flying under my radar, even as a teacher (which might be hard for me to admit).
It was refreshing to read something so true and vulnerable and yet palatable.
Hunt instilled humor in the best places. When Ally had a tough day at school, one that may result in some anger in the reader, she made sure to liven it up a bit. I laughed out loud with Ally’s quick responses to her mother:
“‘So,’ she begins. ‘When are we going to really talk about today?’
‘On my ninety-fifth birthday'” (Hunt 27).
Come on! Picture a little 6th grader using that retort with her mother. I giggled. Because, it’s true, kids say the GREATEST things sometimes.
Then there were moments of truth that blew me away:
“I guess maybe ‘I’m having trouble’ is not the same as ‘I can’t'” (Hunt 197).
MY PEOPLE! How great is that? That is a realization that we are constantly trying to teach ourselves… stop saying “I can’t” and reach out when you need help. Oy. I had chills when I read that line. Here’s a character battling an inner conflict that has caused an external one, but she is working at it and growing, growing deeply.
This book makes me want to shout out loud, dance around a room with joy, and then shove it in EVERYONE’S face!! It rejuvenated me and made me ready to dive into something that was maybe a bit more heavy.
(I also LOVE to nerd out about books in front of my students and my family and random strangers in bookstores because I think it can be infectious… and hopefully not annoying.)
I got my copy at Twenty Stories, which is located 107 Ives St. Providence, RI. It’s one of my favorite places in the city as it just BURSTS with literature of all types, and it instantly instills a calmness and a need to read when you enter it.
Anyway, to my readers, whoever you are, I feel like this post is a little bit all over the place; nevertheless, I wrote it, and I hope it just pours forth my joy of YA and Fish in a Tree. Go read this freaking amazing book and cheer for Ally. Keisha. Albert. All the Fantasticos.
Reading slowly is not for the faint of heart (neither is squatting…just FYI)
August 15, 2019
I had a really interesting discussion with my trainer today (he also happens to be a dear friend, brother really…) about reading and training. I’ve been training for about 2.5 years now, not for anything in particular; I train to be healthy and to gain healthy habits.
I am 6 feet tall. I’m not really built to squat low, push weight over my head, or bench it for that matter. Why? Think about it. I have a long way down and a long way up. I once even had a shorter, muscular man at the gym look at me, while I was at the bottom of my squat, and say, “Wow, I don’t envy that journey up.” Yep, thanks.
So it took a couple of years for squats and me, in particular, to become friends. I don’t even know if I would say we are on the friend level yet because I haven’t done a back squat in a couple of months (new training cycle), but I have seen progress. I’ve witnessed growth in my stance, in my posture, in my ability to crease my hips. It’s all come from working with my trainer (shoutout to John Amore/ Ronin Strength) and from learning from set backs.
It’s also taken time. Slow time.
Enter our connection to reading.
I have students tell me all the time that they don’t like reading. Excuses range from “It’s boring” to “I can’t pay attention to words for that long.” I’ve also heard, “I’m a slow reader, and it takes too long.”
Those are real feelings. If you’ve felt them, hey, I feel you. A great deal of those statements could be applied to my squatting over the years. I did find it boring, I didn’t like paying attention for 10 reps at a weight I didn’t like, and I certainly was slow at them. I started to look around at people around me and noticed that they were KILLING the squat game.
When that happened, my trainer told me to stop comparing myself to other people.
So, to my kiddos reading this (or to the parents or followers in general), here’s what I got for the first two reasons why you aren’t reading:
“It’s boring”: Yep, sometimes it is. You probably need to find a new book. Check out the reviews I have going so far. If you are reading a book that is required for school, you probably have to read it, so find ways to engage your mind. Use sticky notes, write chapter summaries to keep your attention. Maybe try and relate in some way.
“I can’t pay attention to words for that long”: Yeah, you can. I have suffered from this before. It usually happens when I am away from reading for too long and have been on a Netflix binge or an Instagram-every-night kind of thing. You just have to retrain your brain to pay attention. And if you notice that you read a page and zoned out, don’t keep going. REREAD! Gah, this happens to me all the time. But don’t just go ahead… You’ll miss something.
Now, to my slower readers, this post is really for you. First, you are the real MVPs because you are reading even though it may take you longer. You might compare yourself to others. Don’t. Who cares if someone reads faster than you? Guess what? I am a slow nonfiction reader. I really am. Unless it is narrative nonfiction with a storyline or following a person’s life, I really have trouble paying attention. I zone; I zone hard.
But that doesn’t mean I don’t read nonfiction. I had to for a graduate class I took last year. I knew right away that, while I was interested in the topic, there was no way I could just read and absorb the information the way some students in my class could. So, I took a pen, and I summarized in the margins. I then took those notes and typed them up so I reread the information again.
And you know what? It took a LONG time.
Do I think others just read and remembered? Sure. But that’s not me. I can’t do that. I am a slow nonfiction reader just like I am a slower learner when it comes to squatting. But I still have to squat in order to move my body and gain the muscle I need to be healthy, and I still need to read nonfiction to gain vital information and move forward in my learning.
You can’t avoid reading when you are a slower reader. Not reading just makes it worse. Comparing yourself to those around you also makes it worse. Trying to read fast and skip ahead when you’ve zoned out or misread a sentence definitely makes it worse.
The main point is that you don’t have to be a reader. You don’t need to place that identity upon yourself. You, my friends, my perusers of this blog, just need to read. It helps attention, understanding, and (maybe for a lengthier blog post at a later day) WRITING! Reading has so many benefits. Just like squatting, right? I just hate to see those reasons written above, especially those of us who may read slower, ditch books for the faster-paced hobbies.
This past year, a few English teachers and myself read Jim Trelease’s book The Read-Aloud Handbook. I took away so many nuggets from that text. He talks about how important it is to see people read, especially our parents or adults in our life, as it builds that skill into a habit displayed for us. Trelease also discusses the importance of reading out loud, having the skill modeled for us–like fluency or checking for comprehension. Check it out if you want to read some brilliance about reading (ha) or gain insight about how to help you or your child read more and better.
(Side note: It’s a nonfiction book. Did I read it slowly? Yep. When I misread or found myself zoning out, I went and reread the page. I also wrote journal entries to help me remember the information. Was it fun? Sometimes. Was it hard? It wasn’t as easy as reading something I liked. But it helped me be a better educator.)
Some of this feels like a ramble. I mixed squatting and reading together A LOT, and if you could follow that, super proud of you! Basically, whatever your reasons are for not reading, brush them aside and pick up a book that looks interesting. And if you are a slow reader (hands raised high in the sky and be proud), that’s okay. No one said this was a race.
Ps. I wrote this on Tuesday… I squatted on Wednesday. I was super defeated, but I’m going to do it again. Don’t let defeat keep you from something that is so good for your soul… (still trying to decide if squats are good for the soul, but I know reading is!)
Palate Cleanser
August 8, 2019
So why YA literature? Why would I choose to create an entire website dedicated to young adult novels? I’ve read myriads of excellent fiction and nonfiction geared for adults; some of my favorite reads that I recommend to people fall under those categories. However, some of the best conversations I have in a day are with teens.
I’m surrounded by them for 10 months out of the year as a middle school English teacher. Some of you probably think I’m a saint for doing that while others may think I’m crazy. You don’t know what you all are missing… I feel pretty lucky to be able to talk and learn with these kiddos, especially about books.
I’ve obviously kept up with YA lit because it’s relevant to my life, although not in the way it once was. I am no longer the age of the main characters or really the age of the target audience. Nevertheless, if I want to encourage my youngsters to read, I need to know what to recommend. I want my recommendations and reviews to be authentic, so I can’t just peruse a website and find a list of books that have been read by others. I want to know and be able to relay my excitement to my kids.
Recently I was in a local bookstore with one of my best friends (she always laughs when she turns around, and I am deep in conversation with someone about a book), and I happened to be in the YA section gathering materials to read for the site (and just because I freaking love YA books). I turned to see a girl carrying Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen McManus, and I just blurted out, “I read that! It’s good! I liked the other one— One of Us is Lying better. But that one is good, too!”
I think I caught her by surprise because who just starts talking about books AT you in a store, but alas, that’s me. We ended up talking about other books, and I walked around the section with her, recommending titles and pulling them off the shelves for her to read. The next thing I knew, her grandmother was pulling the younger sister towards me, asking what I could recommend for her.
Instantly I was in the zone. I asked what she liked and was able to gear her towards The Hazel Wood based on her description of liking fantasy and fairytales and a little bit of darkness. Her mother wandered by, and we all talked for a bit; she even exclaimed, “You should have a blog!” Ha.
This is just one example of the countless conversations I’ve had in bookstores and one that continues to showcase why young adult literature is so special to me.
But the reason this post is titled “Palette Cleanser” is because YA fiction is a way I reset.
Recently I had someone ask what I do when I get stuck—like when I can’t find something I want to read or I just have sort of fallen out of love with it. I told her: I go back to my roots. Maybe I pick up a Sarah Dessen novel, like The Truth About Forever, or I go to the bookstore and head right for the YA section. Here’s the thing about YA: it is substantial but not overwhelming. YA authors are constantly churning out important texts about vital subjects worth reading, worth immersing our kids in because we can ALWAYS learn something from a YA book.
Think about it: the characters are teens or kids. They are growing and learning just by pure virtue of the phase of life they are in. I always find myself rooting for the main character and relating based on my past experiences. I usually find that YA characters have more personality, and I can easily imagine the worlds because the description is quick yet still rich.
Usually after I finish a YA book, I feel ready to tackle whatever–fiction or nonfiction, adult or young adult. Those books remind me why I first loved reading, and they are easy to follow and to appreciate. It’s like that sorbet they give you in between courses. It’s refreshing and makes you ready for more…
So I guess that’s why YA. It cleanses.
The Wandering Mind
July 31, 2019
Here’s a vulnerable share: I have anxiety and OCD. For some, that might be a confession you can relate to, while others may not know what this means. In short, my mind tends to perseverate on a thought or worry until it can be all consuming. It started when I was six.
So how does this relate to reading?
When I fell deeply and passionately in love with reading and books, I also discovered a new tool for combating my mind. When it began to wander, most often at night time when I was less occupied, I discovered that picking up a book, one that captured my anxious brain and took it to another world, was soothing.
I remember one particular evening; I was in 5th grade (same as my previous post!), and I crept out to the living area to tell my mother that I was anxious, couldn’t sleep, afraid I was sick (a common worry for those of us with OCD). She suggested that I read.
I stayed up for a couple of hours reading The Wanderer by Sharon Creech. If you haven’t read it, I strongly suggest you take a look at this wonderful treasure of a novel by clicking the link above. (I also remember adoring Chasing Redbird and Ruby Holler).
I had to fill in a reading log at the time for my teacher, and I believe I read over 100 pages that evening, and it brought my total up to 500 pages for that week. I remember looking at that number and thinking that at least I was productive with my anxious time.
Over the years, reading has become a comfort in times of distress, especially if I have a book that immediately captures my attention, pulling me away from the grasp of whatever was trying to control the energy of my brain. After I read for a bit, I find that it is enough to reset.
While I realize that reading is soothing for me, I also am well aware, especially as a teacher, that a book can actually create anxiety for some. Eyes can be rolled when one is told to read instead of playing on their Chromebook or minds can wander when reading something that isn’t stimulating. I’ve had many students who have told me that they just can’t focus when they read.
To be honest, when I have found myself binge watching a Netflix show or scrolling through my Instagram feed instead of reading for myriads of nights in a row, I have trouble concentrating when reading. My mind drifts, and I realize that I read a page, or even pages, without actually comprehending what is going on. I’m very forward with my students and tell them that I suffer from the case of the wandering mind just like them. However, it’s important to exercise that part of my brain, just like one would work a bit harder to come back from time away from a sport, and I do that by forcing my mind back to the page, to the word, to the story.
After awhile, the mind clicks back in, and it no longer wanders. I know this is sometimes hard for my hesitant readers to understand, but it is my hope that the books I read and review on this site help their wandering minds… to lead them to a place where reading can become soothing or at least enjoyable for them.
Thanks for reading.