Shopping at Walmart

I have been planning a lesson for my field study planned around the book "Where the Wild Things Are". Yes, I did plan this because of the fact that the movie is coming out. While in my travels today I stopped at Walmart. I decided to take a look to see if the book was there.

My first stop was over to the "book" section. I saw a majority of magazines and new releases...no children's books. After talking to a manager I made my way to the toy section.

I was very dissappointed at what I saw. Yes, there were the standard Berenstain Bear books and Lil Critter. Also there were the guided reading books on a spindle, but I almost cried when I looked down the asile.

The children's books were everywhere. Granted it was in a toy section but still, it didn't look very inviting or encouraging to children. What was worse for me was the fact that I had someone look at me and say "I'm not surprised...children are more interested in video games and tv/movies." A friend of our family didn't even know who The Hungry Caterpillar was.

This got me thinking...when do we stop encouraging our children to read? I have children in my life that come running to me with a book the second I walk in the door. When do parents stop reading to their children and start letting the electronic babysitter's take over?

And for myself as a teacher, I look back at the books I read in school. I always felt forced to do it. The only class I remember reading what I wanted was in Maguire's sophmore reading class. I loved it. What I loved and what needs to be brought back is the desire to read. Somewhere between 4th grade and middle school reading became forced and undesired for me. I don't want to be the teacher that does that to my students.

Your Baby Can Read?

I have seen the commercials for the longest time...at 9 months your baby will read. Your child will be able to read books like Charolett's Web by the age of 5. I actually even have a friend that purchased the program for her son. As I watched the infomercial (insomnia hit my house) I noticed that the start was nothing more than flashing a card to the child. They are not saying anything verbally but showing the skill visually. A card being held up reading nose then the child showing nose.

It's supposed to be this "innovative" techinique. Kids hear..then see then put it all together. My question is this. Ok so they can repeat what they are seeing/hearing. But are they "getting" what they are reading. In my reading class with Dan Rothermel at UNE we are talking about reading being more than just words on a page. Cool great a 5 year old can read a chapter book. But are they really understanding what it is saying?

Also...what about the "old" days (c'mon I'm not even 30 yet) when parent's or whoever was with the child would read to him/her? I walk in the door at my brother's house to my niece grabbing one of her books and coming over to me. My friend's daughter (who's grandma is a librarian) would rather I read to her because she interacts with me. To me that is the strongest way teach children to learn to read is to read to them.