Flipping the Script

I use up the majority of space on this blog to reflect on what's happening in my classroom, with my students, or in my own learning. Today I want to shift my focus to my own kids, because a corner was turned this weekend, and in that moment I knew there would be no going back.

My own kids are 5 years old. They will be 6 in July. They are currently in Kindergarten, loving every minute, thriving in their own classroom. A HUGE reason for this is their fantastic teacher! Their class is large - 25 kids - with no other adult in the room. My kids have bounded off the bus every day this year, and on Sunday nights are excited to go back to school. I can't overstate how much of a blessing this is, and how happy it makes me feel. If you're a parent, you totally understand. If you're a teacher, that's your goal for all students.

Anyways, back to that corner being turned. Here's what happened: last night, for one of the first times - not officially, but certainly the greatest volume - our kids read 2-3 bedtime stories TO us. My wife and I would read a story to them, and in turn they would read a story to us. Not one of their leveled readers sent home from school by their wonderful teacher mentioned earlier. No, these were books they picked off the shelf on their own and powered through on their own! After my son finished reading his second book to me, my wife - who's a 1st grade teacher - looked at me and said "that's a mid-2nd grade book." And that's when it hit me: not only do my kids love reading (YES!), but they will forever be reading to me as much as I will to them. My wife and I have read bedtime stories with them every night since they were about 4 months old, and I look forward to countless future story times reading together.

That's all for now...it's a great winter day in MN - grab a good book, get comfortable, and read!