As was shared in last week's newsletter, schools are closed on Monday for Presidents' Day. As I thought about this holiday, I was reminded of this quote by Harry S. Truman: "Not all readers become leaders, but all leaders must be readers." This quote stuck with me for two reasons. First, as a school, we want all of our students to "LEARN, LEAD, and LOVE." Second, we know that research suggests that reading may be on the decline for both children and adults. Why? Many believe digital devices are the primary culprit. It's also clear that most of us are living busy lives with little time to read for pleasure.
Although it's certainly important that families carve out time to read at home, as an educational leader, I feel compelled to address a challenge that isn't coming from digital devices or busy home lives. Once students learn to read, to stick with it and cultivate a love for reading, they also need opportunities to choose books and read for enjoyment. I'm convinced this may have happened more when I was a student in school. Why? Over the course of my 30-year career, I've watched wonderful teachers get bogged down by a growing number of standards coupled with increased assessment and accountability. Teachers simply can't do it all. Most parents also recognize the increased expectations. With only so many hours in the day, teachers are often forced to choose between teaching another standard or giving students the time needed to read self-selected books.
Although challenging, we'll always seek a solution. If we all agree that making time for children to read self-selected books is important, like everything else, we're going to need to work together. While teachers seek open reading times at school, parents will need to do the same at home. In a few weeks, we'll celebrate Read Across America Week. This will an opportunity to come together as a school family and remind our students that being a life-long reader is the key to future success.
About us
Email: jburton@mcssk12.org
Website: https://www.mcssk12.org/newhopeelementaryschool
Location: 5300 Main Drive, New Hope, AL, USA
Phone: 256-851-3260
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/newhopeelementaryschool
Twitter: @NHESPK6