Tuesday, August 30, 2011
RoAR Post 1- Why I am a Reader
The truth to why I reads sparks from my childhood. My parents for some odd reason thought it was a good idea to read to there children. I was the first and so I got lots of reading attention in the old brown rocking chair. My mom and dad would sit and read books to me by Dr. Seuss, Patricia Polacco, Tomie dePaola, and others. As I got a little older they read Johnny Tremain, The Mouse and the Motorcycle, and The Trumpet Swan to me. And as I learned to read I myself delved into The Boxcar Children, Encyclopedia Brown, and later the Redwall series. I loved books and would stay up until one in the morning reading to my hearts content. As I got older my love of reading was replaced by other activities- soccer, piano, guitar, girls, and computer related activities. But I still loved to read here and there. As the years have passed and I have become more busy, it's been increasingly hard to find time to read as I would like to. However, the reason I remain a reader is because books really are fascinating. They are filled with knowledge and wisdom and they can tickle our senses. Even though I am a busy person, I consider it important to be well read. I have observed that the most successful people in our society are readers- they are well read and well educated because they do read. I believe in that type of education. I believe that there is a lack of appreciation for reading and that should the next generations not learn to read, we will be headed for a world of trouble. So I continue to read so that one day I can help my students fall in love with books and see their value.
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What wonderful parents you have! We did the same with our children and a few years ago as I was cleaning out some children's books, my five ended up in a mock fight over the titles, each claiming them as their own special books!
ReplyDeleteYou are right about reading--and although many do not read novels as much as I as an English teacher would like to see, there are many ways of reading including becoming informed through the internet. It is all about learning about the world. Knowledge is power -- even in the kingdom of God. We have to take the charge in D&C seriously as members of the Church:
78 Teach ye diligently and my agrace shall attend you, that you may be instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are expedient for you to understand;
79 Of things both in heaven and in the earth, and under the earth; things which have been, things which are, things which must shortly come to pass; things which are at home, things which are abroad; the wars and the perplexities of the nations, and the judgments which are on the land; and a knowledge also of countries and of kingdoms—
80 That ye may be prepared in all things when I shall send you again to magnify the calling whereunto I have called you, and the mission with which I have commissioned you.
I love to learn and have set aside 20 minutes of time every day to read and study outside my discipline, regardless of how busy I am. My example was Joseph Smith, who accomplished amazing things even with his incredibly unsettled life.
I look forward to reading your future entries.