The View from Here

Boxes

I still don’t know where we are going, but we are packing, packing, packing. There are boxes in the dining room, boxes in the office, boxes in the hall. In the process we are also cleaning closets, throwing out useless stuff, and stacking up books to donate to the library. I realize that I have far too much stuff, especially for someone who lived in a motor home not too many years ago. Where did all these things come from? We’re savers and collectors by nature. I’m always tucking something away “in case I need it” or just because it is interesting. Maybe moving is just the motivation I need to get rid of a few things.

Our son is also moving. He’s returning from Arizona and plans to live in Texas- again. Why anyone would want to live in Texas is beyond my comprehension, but we’ll save that for another blog.

Many people have asked if I will give up my Caddo blog if I move to another town. The answer is no, no, no. My blog title says “my home town”, not “my residence”. I’ll continue to write about the happenings and history of Caddo even if I have to move to Durant.

I’ve found out this week that the thought of moving frightens people. I guess the idea of being homeless, even for a short time, is the ultimate terror for a lot of people. And moving, even voluntarily, represents change, that other word that frightens people. I’ve moved so many times and been in so many situations, including being homeless, that I guess I figure I’ll survive. And I trust in the Lord to provide a place for us, even if it’s at the last minute. Teaches us patience.

I’ve also found out that we have some very helpful friends. Many people are helping us locate a house and others have offered to help us move. I told you this is a great place to live!!

Happy Birthday

We're busy packing, cleaning, packing, cleaning, but I want to stop to wish our son-in-law Rob a Happy, Happy Birthday. Your card is in the mail! Honest! Would I be late with your birthday card?? Okay, but not as late as last year. :)

Dr. Seuss and friends

      Tomorrow is Dr. Seuss’s birthday and we’re celebrating with lots of activities at school. I’m going to dress up and my class is going to have “funny feet” in honor of  “The Foot Book”. Dr. Seuss is one of those enduring authors who transcend generations. I remember reading “The Cat in the Hat” to my children, and I’m sure they’ve read it to their children. There are parts of many of his books that each of us could recite from memory. My class giggles at the same words and phrases that delighted last year’s class. There is a magic to his characters that captivates readers.

I’ve been thinking a lot about reading this week. At this time of the year many of my students can read quite well for their age. They are struggling with phonics rules and the tricky way our language borrows from other languages that “break the rules”. Try explaining to a six year old why “live” can rhyme with either “hive” or “give”. However, it isn’t their ability to read that excites me, it’s their enthusiasm for it. This is the age when we can instill a love of reading that may last a lifetime.

It’s that “may” that bothers me. Studies show that many children are struggling with reading by the fourth grade. They don’t like it, don’t want to do it, and don’t do it well. I remember devouring books in the fourth grade. I was one of those kids who read anywhere and everywhere- in a tree, back seat of the car, under the covers with a flashlight. Books were wonderful companions and an escape from the cares of the world. Still are.  So why are they a chore for today’s children?

I believe there are a couple of good reasons. First of all I don’t think many parents are reading for pleasure. My husband is sitting in the living room right now, finishing a novel, even though he worked fifteen hours today. Many people of our generation take the time to read. With all of the activities, television shows, computer games, work, and family obligations that occupy the younger generation of parents, many of them simply don’t read. I’ve talked with some of my parents and they feel they are lucky to have the time to read to their children for ten minutes each night. However, children emulate their parents. If reading becomes something only done for school it loses its value.

Second, I think education is to blame. In recent years we have spent too much time teaching children to read. We haven’t spent nearly enough time making it enjoyable. That’s why I’m excited about tomorrow. I hope that we can have more celebrations of authors and books and make reading exciting for children. I don’t just want my students to know how to read- I want them to take pleasure in it. So, Happy Birthday to Dr. Seuss. Go read a book!