Diane Chen

Autographing
May 10, 2008

"Hey! Ms. Chen! You're like a rockstar!"   Yep! to the students of my elementary school autograph day is like "being dismissed from school and not having to go home." For thirty minutes half the school takes over the hallways while teachers stand at their doors and autograph yearbooks. Then they swap and the other half races out. Since so many students can't afford the yearbooks, our company sends autograph pages for teachers to distribute so they can still participate. 

So, how do I make this a teachable moment? This year everyone who wanted my autograph also received my message

KEEP READING! 
Ms Chen

Not only did I sign, but I attempted to actually talk to every person and tell them that this was an order, a promise, a plea, and a life-long yearning. Most of them re-committed to life-long literacy. All promised to look for me to visit their nearest public library this summer. Many raved about their favorite books.

Those with bad family situations took my cell phone number so their parents could call me for transportation to the public library this summer. These students know they need to keep reading all summer long to prevent their brains from shriveling up like raisins after all their hard work pumping up their minds all school year. 

I will spend the next 8 days in the new computer lab continuing to teach them how to access the school website, the Tennessee Electronic Library, our Grolier online, and Nettrekker, plus link to the public library. This week we had many lessons on searching and realizing the power of the richest most powerful card they will ever posses: their public library card. 

Everyone has the need for AWE in their lives. I hope my students remember how important reading is whenever they see my name. (I'm also glad most of them have never paid any attention to the lyrics of Rockstar. I may have to go re-write those just for school libraries. Watch out, Chad, Ryan, Mike & Daniel!)

Posted by Diane Chen on May 10, 2008 | Comments (0)