If You Want to Inspire Young Learners...

Posted by Michelle Dempsey, Book Specialist on Jul 13th 2016

As a former teacher, I often struggled with finding new and unique ways to engage my students. I would stay up late at night, brainstorming with friends, and going overboard to plan some out-of-the-box lesson plan ideas. I’d get myself all excited to present said plans to my class, and then feel disappointed if the fireworks didn’t follow.

Self-reflection is critical as an educator, and with the years I spent reflecting on each lesson taught, in each grade, through my 9 years as an educator, I learned one thing –

If you ever want to inspire a group of students, just read to them!

Really, it’s as simple as that. With all of the new pressures teachers face, it seems we have lost sight of the basics. The National Common Core Standards, the pressure to perform, the superhero teachers who post their amazing ideas on Pinterest and make you feel inadequate, can all wreak havoc on a teacher’s self-esteem. But good news, I’m here to be the light at the end of a dark and often overworked and underpaid tunnel.

Recently, I had the opportunity to volunteer my time to read books to students at a school in my neighborhood. Keep in mind that it is summer. And there is not a single student or teacher in the world who really wants to be attending school in the hot summer months when the rest of the western world is at the beach. But there was something different about this crowd. It was as if they had been waiting for me to read to them their whole lives.

“Are you the lady who is going to read the book about animals?”

Why yes, cute little 2nd grader with no front teeth, I sure am. And with a renewed sense of teacher energy, I pulled my pretty basic non-fiction book about animals in the jungle out of my purse and instantly, the magic came back to me.

“Who is ready to take a trip through the jungles of South Africa?” I asked the group of students sitting at my feet.

“Oh my gosh! Are we getting on an airplane?!” one girl exclaimed with eyes that lit up so bright.

“We’re going to take a trip in our minds, to visualize how all of the animals in the jungle spend their time, and learn about what they like to eat.”

With that simple call to the creative, I had a group of eager learners that couldn’t wait to peruse through a new book, even though I was certain these were animals they had read about time and time again. They treated each new page as if it were a stop on a literary safari, exclaiming with glee each time I flashed a look at the vivid imagery.

I spent that hour feeling as happy as I had remembered. Not just because I was giving back, but because in our mixed-up world of technology, social media, too-hot-for-tv celebrities, and video games, the beauty of the simple pleasures in this world still apply for our children.

It may just be ‘reading’ to you, but to our students, reading is as exciting as ever.

As you begin planning for this upcoming school year, focus on the books you love most, and share these with your students as often as possible. Your love will reflect on your learners, and you’ll be able to give a room full of eager listeners an ear full of excitement.

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