Becoming a Reader

My great-nephew Ben is a reader. He loves books and stories. The picture I used above is from 2 years ago when he had just finished first grade. Mo Willems had become a favorite author and I had just given him several new Elephant and Piggie stories. 

Today, he sent me a picture of his favorite lines and illustration from The Wild Robot by Peter Brown. He wanted to share them with me because he knew that we have something important in common - we are both readers.

It occurred to me as I was reading his text that I don’t remember learning how to read. 

I don’t remember memorizing sight words or practice sessions with flash cards. 

I know I probably did reading worksheets in school, but I don’t remember doing them.

I grew up in the age of round-robin reading, Dick and Jane books, and bluebird, redbird, brown bird reading groups. But that’s not what I remember.

I remember singing alphabet songs, reciting nursery rhymes, and gathering for story time at the foot of my teacher’s rocking chair.

I remember sitting on my mommy’s lap while she read us a book. I remember sitting by her side as she encouraged me to sound out a word in Mr. Brown Can Moo.

I remember seeing my mom, dad, grandfather, and grandmother reading books and newspapers. 

I remember sitting at the dining room table as my grandfather read my brother and me the Sunday Funnies.

I remember playing the billboard game on every single road trip. My brother, sister and I would compete to find words starting with a-z on road signs and billboards. Whoever reached the end of the alphabet first would win. 

I remember going to the library and searching for Babar and Harold and the Purple Crayon books. I remember how excited I was at 5 years old when I got my very own library card with my name on it.

I remember discovering new series and being encouraged to read every biography in the children’s section. 

I remember reading books to my little sister, sharing my favorite stories and authors with her.

As a child in poverty, I remember how excited I was to gather a stack of books to trade for credit at the used bookstore. Checking out with a stack of new books. Riding in the backseat of the car to the park trying to decide which one to read first. Losing myself in a story while nestled in the trunk of a sprawling banyan tree.

I remember reading the Little House books because my mom loved them as a child, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory because the librarian thought I might like it, The Hobbit because my brother was reading it, and Charlotte’s Web because my teacher read it out loud to our class.

I remember receiving books as Christmas presents and Birthday presents. I couldn't wait until all the excitement was over so I could dive into a new world.


No, I don’t remember learning how to read.

I just have wonderful memories of becoming a reader. 

My great-nephew sent me these pictures from The Wild Robot
by Peter Brown. He said it's a sad book, but it makes him happy.

I suspect Ben is the same way. He doesn't remember or care how he learned to read. He became a reader in a family of readers. He's a reader who truly enjoys reading and loves sharing that joy with others. He is a reader because he loves stories. He's a reader because he sees examples of readers in his own life. He's a reader because after Mo Willems, he found more favorite authors and more favorite books and more favorite series. He's a reader because he has learned not only how to read well, but to find joy and comfort in books. He has become a reader. 

I think one of my most important jobs as a teacher is to help more kids to be like Ben - to help them become readers, too. I try to help students become readers by modeling my own love of reading, by sharing my excitement when I find a new author or story that I love, by recommending books I think they will love, by reading aloud each and every day.

What about you? How do you ensure your students are becoming readers?