It all began in room 6, Mrs. Farmer’s first grade class. I, Bethany Acker, was learning to read and was going to be the best reader around. Unfortunately that aspiration quickly fell short, reading was too hard. I believe there were many a nights I cried to my mom after not being able to read assigned books. Also I gave many dirty looks when I heard “popcorn, Bethany.” My first grade self was not getting along with books too well. Luckily, I had helpful teachers, a persistent mom, and Beverly Cleary; by third grade I could read with the best of them.
Now I love to read! However, due to school, I’ve become primarily a “summer reader.” I love to spend summer days on the beach with a great book. This summer I spent a couple days in the sand with Katniss, Gale, and Peeta and I completely enjoyed myself. Lately I have been drawn books that are “coming to theaters near you.” I am a firm believer that a book is always better than its movie so when I see a trailer for a movie based on a book I feel the need to read the book. For example, I refused to see The Help until I read Kathryn Stockett’s same titled book (which was excellent and I would definitely recommend it). Also the little girl in me still has me drawn to books with a good ol' love story. This summer I read a 1969 Bestseller, Herman Raucher’s There Should Have Been Castles, and could not put it down. In end, I just like books that I am still thinking about when I put it down, the book that you read instead of the million other things you should be doing, the book that you wish never ended.
When it comes to classic literature and teaching it in the classroom I think prefer American lit. I enjoy reading Poe, Fitzgerald, Hemingway, and Faulkner (when I am up for the challenge) but at the end of the day I like what I can relate to. Not only is it more enjoyable to read a book you can connect with, but it also makes it more memorable. In the classroom I want to try to make the books we read as relatable to the students as I can. I want to try to incorporate current students’ interests into the books we’re reading, to let them know that a book that may have been written way before they were born can still be significant to their lives. I just want students to enjoy reading and I think they can do that best through relating to what they are reading.
