I’ve been really stuck on what to write about lately, but I realize that I need to write like I need to read and listen to music to survive. It makes me feel alive, and it allows me a moment of reflection or even escape. Forget about food, water, and shelter; my basic survival is music, books, writing, and okay, I guess some water. I could use the books to build a shelter, and I could dance to music to keep warm, and I could write enough words to fill soul (and I could always eat my books to fill my stomach. It would be good roughage.) Of course, my book house would have to be built on the Lake Superior shore somewhere between Marquette and Grand Marais.
Now that that’s out of the way....
Yesterday, I got a note home from Lydia’s amazing teacher (1st grade.) “After reading with Lydia today, I moved her up 4 reading levels.” Seriously?! I hugged her and kissed her, and I told her how very proud I was of her. She was very proud of herself for her huge accomplishment which made me gush even more. This little girl I have here, my little blonde spit-fire, is a learning sponge.
Adults need to hang out with first graders, they are some of the coolest people in the world. They’re inquisitive, energetic, perseverant, and caring. They don’t primarily notice what a fellow student is wearing or the color of skin. Half-way through the year, most have learned how to get along well with each other, and conflicts are easily resolved. They are empathetic when another student feels sad or hurt. They are mostly patient waiting their turn. When authority speaks, they listen, and sometimes they don’t agree. And they are free, innocent, and respectful enough to say so. They are excellent citizens.
Reading is so very important. It’s not cliche to say we learn from our past mistakes, because it is completely true. We learn history from reading it. We learn how to form spoken vocabulary and words from reading. We can learn to comprehend space, feeling, and time from reading. Entire new worlds are open to us as readers. We are free to fill in between the words with our own vision and picture. First graders, when taught well, can be really good readers. Their minds are open to new ideas, facts, and imagination.
While I’m not a fully sold fan of the “No Child Left Behind” act, I do believe in the following goal.
— The No Child Left Behind Act implements President Bush's unequivocal commitment to ensuring that every child can read by the third grade. To accomplish this goal, the new Reading First initiative will significantly increase the Federal investment in scientifically based reading instruction programs in the early grades. One major benefit of this approach will be reduced identification of children for special education services due to a lack of appropriate reading instruction in their early years. (No Child Left Behind Fact Sheet.)
As much as I agree with this, I would, however, like to take the burden off of the teachers and place it on the parents.
Those may be fighting words. Part two to follow next week. :)
