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Pull another reality

2021.01.04

I remember when I learned to read the Dick and Jane books back in the 1960s. The illustrations showed never-changing white skies and two kids who always happily got along and played politely with each other. Neither child was ever sad, and the parents were always cheerful and attentive. Many stories included eating ice-cream cones and riding shiny red bicycles. I found the short stories enjoyable and I felt like I was achieving something because my mom praised me after reading each one out loud. As I got a little older, I found that the stories were more interesting than my real life. Before I met my best friend in 5th grade, I spent most of my time reading alone, escaping the dreariness of my neighborhood and the dull kids around. Reading was a form of companionship for me. 

 

Then in the upper grades of elementary school, I got "too good" at reading. The teachers told my mother that I shouldn't take the books home from school because I was getting ahead of my classmates. My mother was told to encourage me to abandon books and play more outside, even during the icy winters in Wisconsin. 


The turning point came in sixth grade when Mr. Dean, our handsome Language Arts teacher, took 12 students out for a special class to increase our reading rather than decrease it. He challenged us to read as many books as possible, keep detailed vocabulary lists and share with the class what we were reading. And, he taught us how to read and write poetry and published our poems in a newsletter. He stretched us. He made us competitive, voracious readers. He praised us when we used our new words in conversation. And because we were reading so many books, we became aware of how many worlds of adventure were available on the printed page. This teacher had us entering different worlds joyfully, and he was excited for us, as though he was sending each of us off on a trip when we had time to read silently in class. 


My advice to students is to read to escape your reality. Read in a foreign language to escape Japan further. It is important to alternate reading and nonreading throughout the day, to maintain the architecture of the mind. When you read, you pull another reality around you like a blanket. While you're *not* reading, you inhabit "actual" reality. Too much reading weakens your relationship to the world; too little saps your imagination. You need both to inhabit reality and to flee from it.

 

Photo Credit: Mental Health America (MHA) @pexels.com

 

 

Blog Quiz

 

Q1. Do you think the Dick and Jane books accurately reflected the author’s life in Wisconsin?

a. Yes, life in America was always happy. Her friends were interesting and rode shiny red bicycles. 

b. No, for the author reading was often a means of escape.  


Q2. Why do you think the author liked her 6th grade teacher? 

a. He was handsome.

b. He was inspirational and pushed them to excel at reading. 

c. He often took them on trips.  

  

Q3. How did her 6th grade teacher improve their reading skills? 

a. He made them read out loud in class.

b. He entered them into competitions. 

c. He taught them to read widely and often, keep vocabulary lists, and even write and publish poetry 

 

Scroll down  for the answers to the quiz.










Quiz Answers

Q1. b

Q2. b

Q3. c



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