Let them read

By Elsa
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True story: when I was about 7, my mum was worried about my voracity to read anything and everything I'd put my hands on. So she went to talk to my teacher, to get some advice - was that good, was that dangerous, should she filter the books, limit the reading time? - He told her to just let me read. Anything I wanted. Anytime. Books, cartoons, newspaper, even the cereal box! He told her that if I'd encounter something that I'd find too difficult, I'd probably be annoyed or frustrated and stop reading that particular book to go get something else to read (by then it was obvious to them both that I'd not be disgusted with reading, no matter what). And if I did not stop (my stubbornness was already obvious) then I'd acquire vocabulary I might not immediately understand but by reading it in context I'd end up understanding at some point. And I'd be learning how to spell (not my forte then...).
I owe him, and all teachers after him, a debt of gratitude: I was never censured in my readings and it contributed greatly to make me the person I am today.