Ashley Revisited

Ashley was not a reader when she walked into my classroom last year, and she made sure that she let me know how much she disliked, no make that hated, reading and all it entails. I love reading, after all, I’m a reading teacher. How could anyone not like to read? Reading is what makes my world go ‘round, the places I travel, the people I meet. They’re all in books. Here was a challenge for me, and Lord knows I love a good challenge!
Since reading is such a big part of my life, and life in my classroom, I wanted to share this with Ashley. I never sit at my desk alone; I’m always surrounded by friends. I made sure Ashley, and everyone else, saw those friends. John Grisham’s The Fifth Horseman was lying on top of Patricia Cornwell’s Blowfly while Mitch Albom’s Five People You Meet in Heaven peeked out from under Hazel, Fiver, Bigwig, and the other talking rabbits inhabiting Watership Down. From her corner on the front cover, Anne Frank seemed to wink at Ebeneezer Scrooge who hadn’t yet converted from his clanking chains and money-grubbing ways. So many of my nearest and dearest were close at hand.
Every Friday is RICH Letter Day in my class (Reading is a Coolossal Habit), and the kids respond to their books in the form of a letter to me. Ashley’s response was always, ‘I just started my book so I’m not really ready to write.’ This went on for weeks, but I wasn’t about to give up.
Daily I would ask Ashley what she was reading and comment about it.
“Oh, Ashley, I read Maniac Magee over the summer and really liked it.” Or “I haven’t read Speak yet. May I borrow it when you’re finished?”
Throughout all of this, I kept my ‘friends’ on my desk for all, most especially Ashley, to see. Finally, she asked me what book I was reading. I showed her my latest James Patterson, and she wanted to know a bit about mysteries. Now I realize Patterson is not really meant for a seventh grader, so I was very glad she found The Westing Game on the shelf and started reading it.
On Friday she had a lot to write about.

Dear Ms. Huster,
I’m reading The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin, and I have a few questions about some of the characters. Why is Turtle so mean to everyone? Does Crowe really dress all in black and have a hooked nose? Why doesn’t Turtle’s mother seem to like her much?
Happy reading,
Ashley

Are we making some progress here?
Ashley took several weeks to get through The Westing Game, but she picked up another mystery after that. Her letters were getting quite interesting and long. She made comments and asked questions about characters, plot, setting, and even the author’s writing style.
Once the second mystery was finished, Ashley again asked me what I was reading, and I told her I was rereading The Diary of Anne Frank. She picked out a biography to read.

Dear Ms. Huster,
I am reading a biography of Sam Houston. It’s also for Texas History. Is it okay that I'm reading the same book for both classes?
Keep on reading,
Ashley

I think she’s got it!
Ashley continued to read by first asking me what I was reading and then finding something in that genre. She always went back to the mystery, though, as that became her favorite. I don’t really blame her; it’s mine as well.
Last week my husband and I went to see Live Free or Die Hard and, as usual, I ran into a parent. That’s what happens when you live and teach in the same town.
The lady sitting next to me gazed into my face and said, “You’re a teacher at CMS, right?”
Thoughts zigzagged through my brain. Do I have a giant scarlet T stamped on my forehead, or is it that bleary-eyed teacher look I can’t get rid of? I just wanted to spend a nice, quiet evening with my hubby. Okay, Die Hard won’t exactly be quiet. Skip and I just wanted alone time with dinner and a little wine. I had a full glass of wine in my hands, and I was transporting it slowly to my lips. Drat, why am I drinking wine now? Why am I at a movie theater? Why did I leave the house?
“Yes, I’m Pat Huster and you are?”
“I’m Ashley Sexton’s mom. I just wanted you to know that you changed her life.”
Again, those thoughts tumbled around up there. I don’t have a scarlet T on my forehead and maybe that bleary-eyed look is on vacation, but how did I change Ashley’s life? What could I have possibly done that was life altering? She seemed to be the same sweet girl when she left my class as she was when she entered.
“You see, Ms. Huster, before walking into your classroom, Ashley hated to read. It was only something she did if she really had to. You showed her how great books can be and all that can be gained from them. Ms. Duncan, her English teacher this past year, even commented on it. Do you still keep a pile of books on your desk? Ashley told me about that. She spends all of her birthday money on new books. You really changed my daughter’s life.”

I have to admit that a few stray tears slid down my cheek while sitting there in the movie theater. Good thing it was dark.