The Reading Teacher

Matthew began kindergarten with such a desire to read. And suddenly one day last fall, he was reading! I don't mean beginning to read. HE WAS READING ANYTHING HE WANTED!!! I don't know who was more excited, Matthew or me.

Last Tuesday, Matthew entered the room with a huge smile on his face. He said, "I can read good and I can help other people read too. I think Dr. Richardson will want to hire me to be a reading teacher. That way I could help alot of people learn to read."

So, I sent a message to Dr. Richardson telling him I had someone in our class he needed to interview. Dr. Richardson scheduled an appointment with Matthew for later that day.

Here are some questions from the interview.

Dr. Richardson: Why do you want to be a reading teacher?
Matthew: Because I am a very good reader. I can even read part of a chapter book.

Dr. Richardson: Have you ever taught anyone how to read?
Matthew: I have helped my friends in class.

Dr. Richardson: Do you think you could manage a class full of kids?
Matthew: Yes!

Dr. Richardson: Although I'd like to hire you right now, I'm not allowed to because of your age. Will you continue to be our
reading helper and help your friends learn to read?
Matthew Yes I will.


The next day, our Reading Specialist, Anna Mary Walthall, came by our class to visit Matthew. She and Matthew went out in the hall to talk.


This is a part of the conversation.

Miss Walthal: When did you become a reader?
Matthew: On April 1st or October 13th, I started reading and I didn't dream of anything else. I started sounding out
words and ummmmm, that's how I got into reading.

Miss Walthal: How did you learn to read?
Matthew: At night I read books to get better at reading and the more I get better at reading the more I get reading the
correct words and the correct lines.

Miss Walthal: Today I'm going to talk with parents that will have Kindergarteners next year, how can they help their
children learn to read?
Mathtew: If they keep going to the library to get some chapter books and picture books and if the books are too easy
return them, but if they are too hard, you can read them to them.

Miss Walthal: Why is it important for parents to read to their children every night?
Matthew: The more they listen to their mother read, the more they can read better.

Miss Walthal: Matthew, what tips would you give to next years's kindergarteners about how to read?
Matthew: Keep on reading easy books. If you know how to do it, teach each other. Help them sound out. The more
they do it, the more they get good at it.

We can all learn some lessons from Matthew.
Don't give up.
Keep practicing.
Do your best.
Listen to you parents.
Help others