Battling Reading Slumps :) By: Jennifer Mitchell

For me reading slumps are very real. When I find a book I like I usually can’t put it down, but when I finish it I struggle at times to get the same energy finding a new book.  When I was growing up I don’t think my teachers ever gave students “permission” to abandon books, so that meant once you picked it you struggled through until the end.  So at times as an adult I revert back to that habit, and that slows my reading down.  As a teacher, I try to impress upon my students that there are so many book choices that you should only stick with a book if it is something you are excited to pick up.

Even though reading at school wasn’t always riveting, I was lucky enough to have a mom that took me to the library frequently and relatives that would give me books as presents, and that truly was a gift!  One of my favorite book series growing up was Anne of Green Gables, and that was gifted to me on one of my birthdays.  I spent the summer with my head stuck in the books living in Avonlea. That was not a series I would have probably ever tried had it not been given to me . As a teacher, I really try to read a variety of books for read- aloud so that hopefully one of the genres I pick excites a kid enough to want to read more on their own

As an adult when I am in a slump I try to use my circle of friends who read frequently for suggestions.  I also like to use Goodreads when I am trying to find new things too.  I have found, to change things up, that I like to read children’s books in the summer so that I can bring new books to light for my students in the fall.  I am also lucky enough to still get books as gifts, my daughter has started giving me books for occasions, and I love being gifted books that I might not have researched and picked out on my own.  Finally, you can never underestimate the power of taking a stroll through your local library, I always come out with more books than I can possibly read.  There is just something about picking up books and reading about them that gets me excited to read!

My latest summer read :)

Jennifer Mitchell 2nd/ 3rd grade lopping teacher in the Kansas City area :)