On Friday at the end of our day I was giving my 3rd grade class one of my pep talks about the need to read books that are a good fit. "Good fit" means not too easy and not too hard. I also was trying to get the point across that the more you read, the better you will read. Sometimes we need to read for practice even when we don't feel like it when we are training to be proficient and advanced readers.
Being who and what I am, a running illustration was needed to drive the point home. My story was completely true and went something like this.
Yesterday morning (Thursday) I had stayed up late doing school stuff and just couldn't drag myself out of bed to run 12 miles with hills before I came to school. After school I was REALLY tired. I had tons of other stuff I needed to get done and not very much time before the sun started to go down, so I stopped what I was doing at school. I raced home and laced up my running shoes. I really didn't want to go for a run. The first few miles my legs felt like lead. I really wanted to stop when the hills started, but I didn't because I knew they would make me stronger. I didn't go as fast as Mrs. Alzina runs, but I didn't run too slow either. It was a just right pace for me on that day. I was practicing. About halfway through the run I relaxed and felt better. I actually started to enjoy myself.
I ran the 12 miles with hills yesterday because in just 6 weeks I am going to go to New York and run 26.2 miles without stopping. This is when the hands went up to ask.... "You mean you won't even walk once?" To which I answered, "If I am hurt I might have to stop. If all is well, I will maybe slow down at the water stops to grab and go with a cup of water.. but the plan is an 8 minute pace for 26.2 miles. I will run without stopping for about 3:30 hours." This blew them away.... So kids, I have to practice. I might not always practice fast. I might not always want to practice. When the marathon is over I will rest, but then I will start practicing again so that I stay strong because I will probably want to run another marathon someday.
Right now you are all in training to be proficient and advanced readers in 3rd grade. You have to practice and you have to practice every day with a book that you can read and understand. You will have become a scholar when nobody has to tell you what to read or when to read. You will just read. Sometimes we will do more challenging things together in class that will be hard and you will really have to think, but it will make you stronger. It will make the time you read by yourselves easier.
So..... after my little speech we were out at free play for the last 15 minutes of the day. Anthony ran up to me and said, " It doesn't matter how fast you do something. It only matters that you practice." And then he smiled and ran away. I think he gets it! :)
No comments:
Post a Comment