Friday, October 15, 2010

Independent Reading Reflection

I will not lie, this class did not do much to improve my reading habit, because I have had a regular reading habit for a long time. For several years now I have set aside time right before I go to bed to read. I enjoy reading very much, and have always valued it, so I always find time to fit in a chapter or two.

Overall, I would say that my reading selections are pretty balanced. Some texts I read lightly and for fun, but other times I really think about the meaning of the story, or the connections it has to my life or world. I find myself trying to analyze different ideas and themes, and I must admit that I kind of enjoy it(it makes me feel smart). I indulge in a "candy" read every once in a while, but lately my choices have been more advanced. A mix of classics, adult novels, and even some nonfiction have found their way to me. I have also become proud of myself for keeping up with the news via online papers or the Daily Guard. As I have gotten older, I have also become more interested in current events, world news, or even just random subjects, and have found myself searching them online to read about them and create a knowledge basis for them.

I have to say that I do not really enjoy inking my thinking. I never have, so I commonly forget to write something down when I think it. I will stop reading for several minutes a time to think through something about the text, but I hardly ever think "hey I should write that down." I do see the advantage of recording thoughts though, because it allows one to go back and look at what he or she was thinking, instead of forgetting quickly.

For next quarter I would like to improve my think-inking. I would like to be able to read something, make a connection, and immediately write it down. I think it would be lovely to have a journal to revert to weeks after I have read a book and to make connections from that book to another text. I know that I will definitely work harder at that next nine weeks, and I already have several books that I want to read that I can journal: The Kite Runner, Vanishing Acts, and Nineteen Minutes, among others.

1 comment:

  1. How wonderful that you've a firmly established reading habit! I'm glad you're expanding your reading to include daily headlines. Having a broad knowledge of current events makes you a much better reader and thinker with a much broader and deeper perspective. The titles you've listed for next nine weeks are good ones, and will make for good journaling!

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