Realistic ReadersWhile I believe that every child is a reader, I do not believe that every child will be fascinated with reading all the time. All students have the ability to read and enjoy reading, but like any other hobby, interest varies from student to student. Students in my class will be encouraged in their reading, given choices, and will learn how books can take you to another world, but my students will not be forced to read. This article will illustrate my philosophy of reading through the theories I identify with, how I want to implement the reading and writing program, and the methods I will use to motivate and support my students to read to become literate.Learning TheoriesI firmly believe that you cannot know an experience until you have felt it yourself. The same can be said for reading. You can describe the magic of reading to a child, but they may never see it and be frustrated that they haven't discovered it. The joy of reading should come from an individual being captivated by the book, not from someone else telling them how great reading the book is. This is why I think personal choice is absolutely necessary when choosing a book. Recommendations can certainly guide readers in the right direction, but if the student lacks interest in the book from the start, they will struggle to find the time to read and finish it. That being said, I think my philosophy of reading would fall somewhere between a constructivist and sociolinguistic theory. Constructivism theorists believe that learning is an ongoing collective application of knowledge where past knowledge and practical experience meet. This theory also believes that students are naturally curious. If students are naturally curious, their curiosity...... middle of paper...... meeting my 5th grade teacher because he really influenced me as a reader. My 5th grade was probably the first year I happily read books. He just made it fun. Conclusion Reading goals should be realistic. Students will not engage if the reading is not authentic. I want to encourage my students to read and give them the tools they need to succeed while allowing them to choose what they read. I also want to implement different reading assessments that are creative rather than just textbook answers. Real reading experiences will help my students find their own passion for reading. These experiences may come from allowing students to choose their own books, involving parents, giving specific feedback, or other assessment methods. I think the more options I give my readers, the more realistic my chances of communicating with them are..