The Popcorn Reader

Nancy glanced over at the clock. Ugh. Still thirty minutes of school left. Nancy knew what this meant: popcorn reading. Nancy knew it all too well. Mrs. Gray always asked the class to do popcorn reading when there was a little extra time at the end of the school day. Although Nancy was in third grade, she still didn't feel confident in her reading skills. She reluctantly began to take her book out of her desk.

Nancy hated popcorn reading. The class was to follow along in their books while listening to another student read. The classmates had to help if the reader stumbled on a word. When the reader decided to stop, another classmate was called on to take over. Usually the best readers would get chosen first. Nancy still tried hard not to make eye contact during popcorn reading. She did not want to get picked and most of all she did not want to be embarrassed for reading a word wrong.

Nancy began to turn to the page where the class had left off last time. She had to look ahead to make sure she knew how to read the words. She skimmed through the paragraphs on the page to make sure that she knew how to pronounce the words if she was called. She had a difficult time following along during popcorn reading. She preferred to look out the window at the beautiful fall leaves.

Not knowing when she would be picked was most terrifying. When Nancy did get picked her whole face got red and serious. She got sweaty palms and felt so nervous. She got a pit in her stomach. Was she going to be able to read? Was she going to make a fool of herself in front of the whole class?

That was popcorn reading for Nancy.

Let me tell you that she eventually grew out of that. I know because I am Nancy in that story. In fact, here I am in my actual 3^rd grade classroom! (Don't I fit the description?)

Funny that I was so terrified to read as a child and for the past five years have taught students from 4 to 8 years old how to read. I know firsthand how difficult reading can be because I experienced it myself. This background has helped me simplify my teaching to those struggling readers.

I wanted to focus this blog on something that I felt I could help others with. After numerous hours of tutoring, teaching after school, teaching summer school, and teaching regular school, I feel I have something to share with the cyber world. I am taking 365 days (1 year) to help parents, teachers, nannies, aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc. discover different ways to help your child learn how to read. Each day I will post a different idea. Some ideas will be simple, others more complex. By the end of the year you will have 365 ideas for helping your child become a reader.

I was once that struggling 'popcorn reader', now I help others learn how to read. I hope this blog will achieve its goal to make those 'popcorn readers' feel confident and fluent. My first idea will be posted on Monday, October 1, 2012. Spread the word and don't miss out!