I've read a new book recently. After much peer pressure from my colleagues, Mrs. Forsman and Mrs. Caldwell, I've read "The Book Whisperer." The main concept behind the beliefs of "The Book Whisperer" is that students get lots of independent reading time. In the end, making better readers is what we want. Practice makes perfect, and more reading should make a better reader. Also important, is the idea that we change the view of our students concerning reading. Reading should be a lifelong endeavor. It should not be something at school that you do from 9:00 to 10:00 each day. We want them to read all the time, everywhere. To do this we must teach, show, and model that it is important. Make sure there is time for independent reading, allow free choice of literature, allow students to quit reading a book that is not interesting or too difficult to read, even if it is "in their level." This book keeps reminding the teacher to let students choose literature just as we do. Support them in their choices and let them make their own conclusions. Show them you value books by reading and sharing what you read, good or bad. What do you think? If you are a student in my class this year, tell us how it feels reading this way. We've been doing it for a week now. How do you like it?