Reading as a classroom disruption

One of the greatest joys in my job is connecting a student with the "right" book. Twice this week, I've encountered incidents where that has happened with interesting results.

First, my student aide describes himself as a non-reader. This is a young man who struggled in his 9th and 10th grade years with attendance and grades and has turned himself around in a variety of ways. When he was checking books in last week, I told him he he might like an edgier book that I've had success getting reluctant readers to pick up. When he went to put the book away, he decided to open it and read it...then he didn't stop. Today, he came in to tell me that his biology teacher took it away and gave it to our campus security. He'd gotten in trouble for the 3rd time for reading in class. While I don't recommend students ignore class to READ, WOW...what a great feeling to know you've hooked a non reader. The book My Bloody Life by Reymundo Sanchez. Security gave him back the book after class.

The second incident took place at the gym where I struggle to work out three times a week. One of the other women works in a middle school library. She came over to share with me how she had put a book into one of her reluctant reader boys' hands. He got in trouble from his mother for staying up too late...what was he doing...READING. The book Black and White by Paul Volponi.

The readers of the world make my job easy and connecting them with books brings its own joy. But connecting a non-reader or reluctant reader to a book they won't put down that joy is indescribable.