A good reader is someone to me, is someone who has an intrinsically motivated drive to want to learn or achieve something. Being intrinsically motivated makes a person want to do what it takes to read something. If they lack the background knowledge, then you can find something else to read to help fill in the gaps before pursuing your original read. Strategies are incorporated in a good reader, but will not be used unless the individual has some determination to use them. I believe I am an exceptional reader. Some nights while I stay up late to do homework, I'll have up to 4 different math books at my grasp to help me reference and to refresh my background knowledge. If I come to a theorem or a definition that I don't understand, I look up key words in other books to help me understand what is being said in my current book and to help me tie what I've already studied to what I am currently studying. All of this happens because I have a thirst for knowledge in my field of study. I want to know why and how number theory has evolved and I want to understand a subject that so many people are "scared of."
The best way I can teach children to become better readers and writers is to demonstrate my enthusiasm for what I do. I know that when I was in high school, the teachers I enjoyed and learned a lot from, were the ones that were passionate about their subject. Seeing the inner drive of other people made me want to make something more out of my life and has really inspired me to want to contribute work to my field of study. I will show my own class that they can also achieve being a good reader if they have determination.
Alton I think you are definitely on to somethhing... I remember the teachers who had passion for their subjects as well. It comes across as important if it is important to them. I know Coach Wrasse,other than his being seriously attractive, his passion for Texas History caused me to remember everything tat was taught in that class. If he had been ,humdrum about the subject matter I don't think I would have gotten an in his class!
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