My Life as a Reader

My Life as a Reader is something I first read about at the Teaching Sagittarian blog. A similar post can be found at the Langwitches blog. The challenge is to list 100 things that shape or define you as a reader. Three classroom applications of this idea began to percolate through my brain cells as I read through the lists found at these blog posts.

Tech angle: Use a class wiki to keep all the lists for easy reference, editing, comparing, etc.

1. Students could create their list and look for patterns in their reading habits. They may discover they read very little or are very narrow in their reading selections, especially if students look for inspiration when writing. The patterns could form the basis of an essay on their how their lives are shaped by what they read.


2. Perhaps students could 'peer edit' each others lists to look for patterns and share these with the list owner.


3. I'm also wondering if sharing the lists would inspire students to read more and branch out into other genres.


4. Hold a class discussion about a particular controversial (or any) topic. Have students refer to their reading lists to see if there is any commonality between those who side one way or another about a particular aspect of that topic. I think a discussion of our differences in reading selections may help one another to better understand our differing opinions about a particular topic. This may seem to be an obvious causal relationship, but has anyone ever actually done this with a class of students? Use the wiki to summarize the discussion and add a table that summarizes the similarities and differences in reading that seem to be apparent.
5. World Language and ESL students could write their list in the language they are learning.

More classroom ideas will come to me, I'm sure. But for now, I'm going to begin my list and update this post over time. We'll see how far I get. My list will most certainly not be in any kind of chronological order. I'm excited to see what I learn about myself as a reader that I don't already know.

1. The first book I remember reading on my own and still my favorite childhood book of all time is "Go, Dog, Go".
2. The first book I remember being read to me was "Harold and the Purple Crayon". This is my second most favorite childhood book of all time. I actually own a copy of the collected stories.
3. I get books from a book store more often than from a library. I like to have books at my disposal and read them as time permits.
4. I visit a book store weekly.
5. I usually start reading three different books and finish them all within one week of each other.
6. Mystery thrillers with an espionage flare are my favorite books to read.
7. Science fiction books comes in a close second to Mystery books.
8. A friend turned me on to Romance novels. Suzanne Brockmann, oh, yeah...
9. I have become a fan of vampire novels but have not read Bram Stoker's Dracula. Why is that? "The Historian" was the last vampire novel I read. It's by Elizabeth Kostova. Get it.
10. There are currently 186 novels and 17 coffee table books in my house. I've have not read all of the novels but I have looked through all of the coffee table books!
11. I love reading books to children and making up voices to go with the characters.
12. I also like changing the story line to make children laugh when I make silly and outrageous deviations from the otherwise well known story line.
13. I like reading books on my iPhone but like holding a book even more.
14. I own a few vintage copies of novels from "The Saint" series by Leslie Charteris.
15. I love to 'read' German magazines. (I do speak a little German.)
16. I do not get a daily newspaper but will if one is given to me.
17. I do read the news from various online resources every day.
18. Reading sequels is fun for me. I like to see how character's lives change over time.
19. I spent almost three hours in an antique store several summers ago looking for books.
20. There used to be more 'how to' books in my personal library than novels. As I grow older, the opposite is now true.
21. 'How to' books helped me become a plumber, electrician, landscaper, decorator, carpenter, wood worker, engineer, linguist, masseuse, better teacher, medic, yogi, bicyclist, mechanic, bird watcher, zoologist, brick layer, gardener, and more recently, a chef.
22. It's not enough to have one book that I can use to teach myself French, German, or Spanish. I have at least four per each of those languages.
23. My iGoogle account has over 20 different RSS feeds coming in. No, I don't get to them each day, or not even each week, sometimes. Too much to read!
24. Having a personal learning network with Twitter can be a good thing. But, be careful. Again, too much to read!
25. I'll read a book or magazine (real and electronic) before Twitter and RSS feeds.
26. I always bring two books to read at the airport or on the plane.
27. Two books and magazines accompany me on driving trips.
28. I rarely read in bed unless I cannot sleep. But, I like to read in bed.
29. I don't feel comfortable reading in Panera, a coffee shop, or similar. I feel like I'm taking someone's seat, although I continually purchase food and drink to 'pay' for my time.
30. I don't get Tom Clancy novels until I'm half-way through the book. Wow, does he take time to set up the characters and story!
31. I have not seen a movie rendition of a book that can punch me like the book did. I love movies, too!
32. I do read manuals, and I do ask for directions!
33. Yes, I do cry if moved to when reading.
34. Get Sting's book, Lyrics by Sting. Read, learn, and live.
35. Speaking of living, my collection of books on Zen and related topics continues to grow.
36. My mom set the example for reading as I was growing up.
37. Reading the labels on shampoo and conditioner bottles is entertaining while in the shower.
38. I never used to read while in the bathroom. Now, yeah, I do.
39. I love reading a well-written recipe. You know, the type where there is a little paragraph describing why you are doing what the recipe calls for. Learn, learn, learn.
40. Books that weave authentic history into a fictional story, rock!
41. I've read all of the Rama series novels by Arthur C. Clarke.
42. Giving a book store gift card is usually the first gift idea to pop into my head for birthdays, holiday gift giving or for that any occasion time.