Rafe Esquith's chapter 3 from "Teach Like Your Hair's on Fire"

In Esquith’s chapter 3, Reading for Life, he paints the view of reading as true and sad as it is in reality.  Like Esquith, I think if young children develop a love for reading they will only prosper from that. Like Esquith points out, it is amazing to hear why children are reading, and I think we hear them say “because I haft to for school” far too often. Every teacher wants their student to love reading, but that is not always the case. It is sad when students do not read because they are not good readers. These situations need a different focus, as Esquith suggests, allowing them to read things that are on their reading levels. They will never become a lover of reading if they constantly struggle.  Choosing literature does make a big differnce to elementary school children, who enjoy reading. I like the fact that Esquith uses audio books in his classroom. Any form of literature helps develop learning. Adults do make a difference in children becoming readers. If a child enters school and has never experienced being read to at home, it shows.  Adult are children’s first teachers, and can influence them throughout all their lives. The library offers great opportunities for parents and children, and for introducing children to literature.