What I Know to be True About Reading

At the beginning of every school year, I spend a lot of time with my students getting to know them as readers. It's important for me to understand their reading preferences, strengths, and goals, but it is important for them to do some reflection about themselves as readers.

One of the activities I have students complete is a list called 'What I Know To Be True About Reading.' This idea comes from Aimee Bucker's book, Notebook Connections: Strategies for the Reader's Notebook.

I start by sharing my list of truths about myself as a reader. Here are a few examples:

• I need to have a special place to curl up and read.
• I LOVE to read during thunderstorms.
• When I've finished a great book, I feel like I've lost a good friend.
• I believe that favorite books are meant to be read over and over again.
• Even though I know I shouldn't, I get really anxious during exciting parts in my book and skip over words to read more quickly and see what happens.

Then, I give students time to brainstorm their own personal truths. The ideas they come up with are always insightful and revealing. Here are some highlights from this year's reading truths:

• I love when my dad reads to me.
• I like to always have more books to read.
• I like books that challenge me. 
• I hate when I'm at the end and there's so much more to know.

Some kids share about the environment they like to have for reading:

• I like to read in privacy.
• I like to sit somewhere special when I read. 
• I need peace and quiet when I'm reading.

Others, about how it makes them feel:

• Reading calms me down. 
• I like reading when I'm sad. 
• When I read I feel calm but happy.

A few mention what they do after they've finished reading books:

• When I watch a movie related to my book it's never as good.
• I like telling my mom about good books.
• I like to share books that I have read to my mom and dad and my sister and brothers.
• When I finish a great book, I read it one more time.
• I like to write surveys about the book I've read.

Strengths and goals for improvement even come up!

• I read slow when I'm saying it out loud. I read fast when I say it in my brain.
• I like to have connections with the book.

Some make you chuckle:   

• I would read out loud but not when I'm reading a weird book. 

...and some are brutally honest:

• I think reading is boring on a nice day.
• Sorry, but I hate non-fiction books.

These reading truths can be a great way to begin your family's or classroom's reading promise. Learning about the children you are reading with is a great way to build a better connection with them and help to make your reading promise a fun and meaningful challenge. Try it out with your reader(s) today. Who knows what they might say. It just may surprise you...

Please share with us any of your reading truths or truths from your fellow reading promise readers. We'd love to hear!