Credibility

Ms. Leom wants her students to enjoy fourth grade. She wants each student to grow as a reader.

One way she tries to inspire students is to share her own reading journey.

Today, she shared the new books she is reading. 

Ms. Leom joined a book club. She wanted to read books beyond her usual genres and choices. Everyone in her book club is a reader. When her group meets, they talk about the book for that meeting and everyone makes connections to other books and shares other titles they are reading. These were three books that she has heard about, in book club and among other friends. 

Ms. Leom doesn't have the opportunity to read in school. She is active, helping students develop their reading skills. Ms. Leom was clear to point out that these are ADULT books and not a good fit for fourth graders. She has plenty of book talks and suggestions she shares daily about good-fit books for fourth graders. She wanted to share some of the books she is reading at home for the first part of November. When Ms. Leom asks students to read at home, it isn't to punish students or make them "do work" just to "do work". She finds reading enjoyable. She thinks reading books at home is important and helps students grow.

When Ms. Leom asks students to keep a weekly reading log, she has a reading log also. Her book doesn't include sentences to summarize her book, but it does list every book she has read since January 2008, with the copyright and author. She has a list in the back of her reading journal of her favorite and really good authors too. She has read 76 books already this year and often has more than one book she is reading at a time. Before her reading journal, she recorded the books she read on yearly calendars. She has calendars going back over a decade before the start of her reading journal.

Her reading journal was a gift from a former student.

Does that make her a book nerd? Probably. Does she mind? Nope. Who better to teach and share a love of reading with fourth graders?!

Ms. Leom is also quick to point out that she doesn't just sit around and read. She has trained for and completed one marathon, eight half marathons, two triathlons, and over two dozen other races since 2010. She works full time. She is the mom of three children. Being active and involved is also important. It is all about the balance.

Let the love of reading continue!