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Breaking the Rules & Growing Readers by Rebekah O’Dell
For six consecutive Sundays, we broke the rules, operating in the strictest of secrecy.
When the 9 o’clock bedtime hour struck, my brother and I went upstairs to our respective bedrooms per usual. I ran to my room, quickly turned off the light, and huddled by the door, listening for my brother’s door to shut, straining my eyes to see his light go off. I waited for my mom to come get me and silently signal the all clear.
After all, Pride and Prejudice isn’t for younger brothers.
I padded down the hall to my parents’ bedroom — dark except for the blue glow of the television. My dad scooted toward the edge, making room for me in the center, smushed between parents and pillows in the queen-sized bed. The screen lit up in a soft rose hue, lilting theme music commenced, and I was utterly transfixed.
This was a world I had never encountered before — ladies playing harpsichord in pretty dresses, afternoon tea, smart and witty heroines, well-spoken men. And even a 7th grader can fall in love with Colin Firth. It was everything I had ever wanted in a story, and my parents gave it to me as a gift.
Those January Sunday nights were my literary coming-of-age.
After the mini-series concluded, I voraciously read everything Jane Austen had to offer. Then, the Brontes. Then Alcott. Then – everything. Every grown-up book I could get my hands on. While I had always been a very strong reader, I was now a reader on fire — gobbling books in giant bites as quickly as possible. The Pride & Prejudice mini-series had flipped some kind of switch in me — moving me from proficient to passionate.
My parents knew me. Really, deeply knew me both as a person and as a reader. So they connected their knowledge of their daughter with literature. They somehow knew that 12-year-old Rebekah would adore Jane Austen, so they broke the rules and let me stay up far past bedtime. They knew Austen’s writing was just a little bit beyond what I was ready for — so they broke the rules again and scaffolded with the movie before the book and then chatted with me about the differences between the film and the book while I later read. And they knew I could keep a secret from my brother for nearly 20 years.
My parents did the same job I try to do in my classroom every day — connecting the right kid with the right book to create passionate, lifelong readers. Even if it means breaking the rules. Sometimes it means recommending the book after the movie has been viewed. Sometimes it means making room for fan fiction during independent reading. Sometimes it means encouraging a book well below grade level. Sometimes it means allowing a student to read all fifteen books in a series that you know isn’t well-written.
Breaking our long-held rules can explode the reading possibilities for all of our students. Our strongest readers find new, diverse areas of reading interest. Our reluctant readers find entry points, open windows into a world of words. All of our readers develop richer reading lives. By breaking the rules, our young readers, too, can be transfixed by books.
Rebekah O’Dell teaches high school English in Richmond, Virginia. She blogs at movingwriters.org. You can connect with her on Twitter @Rebekahodell1.
What a nice family tradition. It never hurts to watch a movie before reading the book. If anything, it probably helped you understand the book better. Austen can be a challenging read. I love Pride and Prejudice. I’ve probably read it three times. I like the movies too. Who wouldn’t love Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy.
I love the thought of sneaking down the hall in the dark to enjoy Pride & Prejudice. What a wonderful gift to give to your children. Thanks for the story and the reminder that breaking the rules is what we might need to do to build that connection for students. I do it all the time.
Thanks, Joanne! Here’s to lots of rules-breaking!
Thank you for being one of those people who is willing to break the rules just a little bit! Too often, people believe that you have to stick to the same books, the same way of teaching for all children. But that isn’t reality! We all learn differently, some books are the most amazing (I too, am an Austen girl! 🙂 ) and some books are just impossible to get through! Thank you for being a person who understands.
Whatever it takes to get that lifelong love of reading instilled. And what a way to go…Colin Firth! I found I had to listen to Austen before I fell in love with the books. Indeed, what a great gift your parents gave you. You are very lucky. I was lucky in a different way…music. Mama let me stay up late so I could see a new singer, on the Jack Parr show, Barbra Striesand. Yes, this predates Johnny Carson. I was about 10. I am so grateful. Thank you, Mama.
My favorite part about being a children’s bookseller is connecting a kid with a book. The look in their eyes when you tell them about a book that sparks their interest is priceless.
Reblogged this on Reader Reviews & News and commented:
This article is well written and an easy read. It is insightful to understand that I am not the only one who developed reading habits in a similar way.
Thanks for this post! Such a lovely reminder of when I shared that same mini-series with my daughter and watched her fall in love with Jane Austen, too. Stories build so many connections–at school and home! 🙂
Thank you for sharing this heartwarming memory! I fell in love with Mr. Darcy as a senior in high school, and still do a little more every time I reread Pride and Prejudice. As a teacher, I am constantly trying to build excitement around books in my classroom, but I am also very conscious of matching my students to just right texts. Your post reminded me that my students are not their reading levels, they are people with interests and they need to be explored. I want my students to love reading and that means books that are too easy or too hard are okay with the right support.