My conversation with a student today went something like this:

Student: “I hate reading.”

Me: “Wait, I know that’s not true. You like reading texts from your friends, right?”

S: (giggle)

Me: “You like reading Facebook posts, right?”

S: “Yeah, but I don’t read them; I just look at them.”

Me: “Wait. You understand what the message means when you look at it, right?”

S: “Yeah.”

Me: “Then you must like reading!”

S: “OK, I don’t like assigned class reading.”

Me: “We’re going to change the way reading class looks to you. I promise.”

My goals for reading class this year:

1. I want my students to like reading.
2. I want my students to read during reading time.
3. I want to help my students become better readers by reading aloud, by helping them comprehend by using strategies that make sense, and by guiding them to talk and write about their reading.

Hopefully, we’re on our way!