Monday, April 23, 2012

Slice of Life - Reading Funk


 Slice of Life is sponsored every Tuesday by Stacey and Ruth from Two Writing Teachers

I love reading. The fact that I am a reader is so closely associated with who I am that many people ask me what I’ve read lately before asking how I’m doing. You know, the normal, “How are you doing?” question that you automatically respond with, “Fine. How are you?” I usually get that AFTER being asked, “Read anything good lately?” Which is great, most of the time. Except when you are in a funk. And I am owning up here, I am absolutely in a reading funk.

You would think this would depress me, cause me to search for answers, to panic, and more. But I embrace this crazy funkalicious mood I’m in. The reason for that is simple – like most things in life I see a teaching moment buried here. See, as much as I adore reading I think my students believe I read more than I actually do. I think they probably think I go home, read, stop – make dinner, read at the dinner table, clear the table, read another book, lay down with the boys, read, go to bed, read. That is their description of my life. And while I read a lot, it isn’t quite that much. So for me to share with them that I’m in a reading funk? Powerful stuff my friends.

My plan this week is to share with them my problem and talk together about why I think I’m feeling this way and how I plan on getting out of it. My goal is that maybe some of them will see themselves in me. But also, I want them to see that I recognize that right now I’m not in the mood to read and that I plan on working to change it. I think that is a lesson they need too.

So what are my thoughts about why I’m in this funk? Many things:
·      Too many books I want to read so that I feel paralyzed by the choices.
·      Books I HAVE to read but really don’t want to right now. (I’m looking at you my #nerdbery friends.)
·      The end of the year with due dates for grad school, projects for school, and a plethora of items on the “to do” list that are making me panic.
·      The fact that I’ve read some of the best books of my life in the past few months and nothing seems like it can measure up in comparison.

Finally – and what I think my students need to see – how do I plan on getting out of this?
·      Try and get some items on that “to do” list done so I can relax a bit.
·      Read some “easy” books (picture books, graphic novels) so that I feel like I’m making my way through some of my stacks.
·      Give myself permission to abandon books that I’m not enjoying. (I do this for my students but have a hard time doing that for myself.)
·      Set aside a set amount of time each day to read to get back in the routine.

How about you? What causes you to fall into a reading funk and how do you get out of it? I’m hoping this book will pull me out – I’ve been reading it for a few days and enjoy it but need to devote more time into diving into the pages. Hopefully tonight will be the start of a better reading week.