No Pain, No Gain

Topic for thought and possible free writing: What is one area in this class in which you would really like to improve yourself? How can you get there?

Something unique about a reading and writing workshop class is the time built into the daily and weekly schedule for personal reading and writing. As students enrolled in this class, you've been given the freedom to choose a book for your independent reading. This book should be brought to class every day so that if there is time (and you can count on it on Mondays and Fridays and extra time between), you can do some of your reading. Without bringing the book to class, you will not be able to use it for your book credit. I trust this is now clear, and your books will be brought every day. What a great opportunity this is.

I am also wondering how hard you are willing to work. Musicians practice daily to better their skills, athletes spend hours on skills and strength and endurance, and the list goes on. It follows that a reader must read and a writer must write in order to improve. If you could choose one area in which to grow (intellectually and academically)in this class, what would it be? How will you achieve this? How did you select a book? Did you find a book at home that you had already read? (There is something wonderful about rereading an old favorite, but how many books have you read, and would you benefit by reading something new, or did you genuinely need to reread this old favorite?) These are questions that you need to ask yourself, and I will be asking you as well. What are you willing to invest in yourself in order to grow intellectually?

So, class, this is a challenge. Please do not squander the opportunity to make some wise choices for yourself. Tomorrow in class, we will be rating each other's books and creating our own "reading territories." This means that you will once again be using your books and your brains. I will be asking you to stretch in areas that may challenge you. That's why you are here. As the coaches say, "No pain, no gain."