I have been asked on occasion what inspires me to write? Besides the fact that I love writing, it would be that I want to see not only children reading, but all ages. There are many benefits of reading as I have mentioned numerous times before.
While online I saw this article about the 10 benefits of reading and wanted to share it with you. I hope you read it and think about this.
https://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/10-benefits-reading-why-you-should-read-everyday.html
When I was in first grade I became a lover of reading. My first grade teacher was the one who instilled in me this love. I was extremely shy and embarrassed easily. She knew this and worked toward helping me overcome my shyness. One day she asked me to come in front of the class and read a page or two of a story. I turned red and my eyes began to water. I didn’t think I could make my feet move to get up from my seat. But with her encouragement and the class who clapped along with the teacher to motivate me to the front of the room, I did get up.
Once I stood there, a child of six shaking in my little Mary Jane shoes, I began to read. The class disappeared and I only saw the words in front of me. I read and read and finally stopped when my teacher tapped me on the shoulder at the end of the story. Not a peep was heard from the class as I went back to my seat. Then a lot of clapping was heard in my head that brought me out of a stupor.
My teacher told me to stand up and take a bow for the wonderful job I had done reading to the class. It was as if someone or something had taken over my body when I read that I had lost my shyness. I became a lover of reading but still kept the shyness for many years to come.
I am still shy today when I am in a group of people I do not know. It takes me a little while to get myself acclimated unless I need to talk about my books. Then I become animated and excited to share my work. Sometimes it is difficult to get me to shut up, or so my husband tells me. Maybe that is why my family never asks me what I am currently working on! Ha!
Did you have a teacher who inspired you? I would love to hear your stories. I can feature them here if you like.
Teachers are dedicated to helping children, well most of them are. I did have some teachers in high school that would take naps while the class had a good time talking and socializing until the bell rang. That was a sad time. Because of my shyness I would open a book and sit there and read until the class ended. I didn’t dare misbehave. I wasn’t brought up that way. I feel I lost a year of learning with that teacher. Unfortunately, she continued to teach or nap for many years afterward.
My daughter is a fifth grade teacher who is a dedicated, kind, caring and a wonderful teacher to her children. She encourages them to read and learn. I am proud of her. I hope that my example of being an avid reader and reading to her daily growing up led her in this direction.
This post is dedicated to my first grade teacher, rest her soul, and to all the wonderful teachers out there who do all they can to cultivate a love of learning and reading in their students. Thank you, teachers! You are our heroes! Also, a special blessing to all those teachers and children who have lost their lives in school tragedies. May God bless their families!
Please read to your children daily, if you can, to instill in them a love of reading. I know how difficult it is to do this sometimes. I worked in between and after I had my two children. Some days I worked late and was so exhausted that I almost wanted to go to bed at the same time as they did. I somehow managed to read a page or two to them and then would go to bed myself after a quick supper.
Life does get in the way of our best intentions. Taking that small moment to read to my children got me out of my tiredness and feeling better. All I had to do was seen their smiles and happy faces when I read to them. It made the world a better place and my cares melted away. That is how I feel today when I read a book. I hope reading with perk up your spirits this way too. Take care and happy reading! Remember below – Reading Gives You Wings to Fly! Soar with Jemsbooks all year through!
Thank you so much for stopping by to read this post. Feel free to come back any time. You are always welcome.
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READING GIVES YOU WINGS TO FLY! SOAR WITH JEMSBOOKS ALL YEAR THROUGH! HAPPY READING!
Janice Spina aka J.E. Spina
Award-Winning Author
Jemsbooks for All Ages!
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Beautiful, Janice. My siblings and I give all the credit for our love for reading to our Dad. He read to us constantly from when we were in diapers. I even reminded him not too long ago that I remember he used to bring his Ayn Rand books to the dinner table and read chapters to us in between bites. (I had to be 12 or so). He is still a voracious reader at 86 years of age.
How wonderful, Annette! He is a special father, for sure. He made you special too! 🤗 😘
A good teacher can make all the difference. I will forever be grateful to my Grade 3 teacher who inspired me to write my stories down and to see the world. I looked her up and was able to thank her about 12 years ago. Sadly she has now passed away but I will never forget her.
Yes, I agree. How sweet you got to thank her. I wish I could have thanked mine but it was so many years later. She was gone for a long time by then. 🤗