I was just thinking about how much reading we will be having in this class and it made me think about when i first started reading. Long and short of it is that i had a hard time reading as a child and grew to love reading. As i got into college all my reading classes became difficult because i was reading what most people would term "easy" books. But they were enjoyable for me to read and that was all that mattered.
Now that i have been in college for 2 years i have noticed a dramatic change in my reading comprehension and speed especially when i engage myself. I have noticed the most change while having started this class; because we are reading and writing every day. I am amazed at how much information i can retain and my reading speed from the stories we have been reading in class. The Doll house act 1 only took me about 20 ish minutes to read and i was thoroughly amazed with myself.
I was just wondering if any of you have noticed an improvement in your reading as you have grown up like me or what your experience with reading has been?
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Reading well (not just reading the words, but reading rhetorically and critically) is a skill that has to be developed. I would compare it to going to the gym. The more you go, the stronger you get, but at the same time, if you stop going for a while (as I have found out the hard way), you have to develop your muscles all over again. Reading often, and really becoming invested in the process, is important. For me, reading is like breathing. I have to do it in order to live. Not everyone is like me, of course (thank heavens), but everyone can get the benefits you describe of improved reading skills. Thanks for the post.
ReplyDeleteReading, Reading, Reading... I never have really been a big reader, although, I do admire readers! It's something I always know I should do but I always find something else to do. I know I would benefit a Iot if I would do it more often. I think it is very important. I have really enjoyed this class for that reason. It has been good for me to read short stories and have discussions in class about them to understand what the author means in more detail behind their writings. This class has been very good for me and I am happy I am in it! Thanks for your post Stacy
ReplyDeleteI agree with both of you..My sister is mostly like you Daniel. She has been reading since she was 4 years old and has read every book from her Junior High library and is currently almost done with her high school library..She is 16 and reads at the level and speed of a college sophomore!!..but i enjoy reading books where i can understand all the words being used. i don't read as often as she does, heck i am lucky to read 4 books outside of school a year let alone an entire school library in a matter of 2 years!! But everyone enjoys different things for you and my sister it's reading for me its teaching people things that i understand..
ReplyDeleteAnd to Rebecca,I think that reading is something anyone can enjoy when you find the right books. I seem to really enjoy fantasy books so i have recently been reading The Golden Compass and the Twilight series and they are awesome!! So find what you enjoy and do it..my goal this year was to read 5 books since i made my reading goal of 4 last year. Well over Christmas break i began reading the Twilight series and i shocked myself and did something i have never done in my entire life, i read all 4 Twilight books in a matter of 5 days!!That is something i planned to accomplish in a year and i did it in under a week!! and it was sooo much FUN!!
As far as the class reading, i am actually starting to gain some critical thinking skills by reading the assignments twice for full understanding and details related to the prompts. Not only has it helped me find those details i miss reading it once but it makes our class discussions more enjoyable for me to participate in. I am really enjoying this class!!
I discovered reading could be fun when I was in middle school; it took me to places I'd never been! The R.L. Stine series had just come out and my school's library was HUGE and I'd get in trouble at home for the amount of time I spent with my nose in books. However, after a couple months, these headaches came, and I eventually had to put the hobby to rest.
ReplyDeleteUntil last summer, I hadn't read, recreationally, for almost 15 years. Because the headaches would turn into these crappy migraines, I'd only read things that I absolutely needed to; for school, for example. Getting through classes with loads of reading was difficult and, on top of that, having to use my brain to think critically was almost impossible. It was major suckage; a serious no bueno!
So, about a year ago, I gave in and went to an eye doc for some tests. Come to find out, I've had this case of lazy eyed-ness all along! (Yah, it's ok; you can laugh. I know I'm a dork for even talking about it, but my having had to give up reading for "fun" would be like anyone else having to give up their mostest favoritest hobby!) It sounds silly, but it's not that rare. It's not uncommon for people to be born with underdeveloped muscles (muscles that sometimes don't grow to be as big as they should while in the womb). For me, muscles that helped my eyes focus for long periods of time were underdeveloped; the same muscles that can cause people to have a permanent lazy eye. So, after reading for 10-15 minutes, I literally couldn't hold my eyes together anymore!
The doc gave me a pair of glasses and, even though they don't solve the problem, I am now able to read for longer periods of time before the headache kicks in. Last summer, I went on a book binge; literally! I know I'm admitting to being a massive nerd, but I actually read twelve books in one week. (Disclaimer: one or two may have been a picture, pop-up, or Dr. Seuss book.)
Yay for reading!!!