Peer post 01

 Why Reading Should Be a Daily Habit for Teachers. 

This was a post written by Piyumi Rajapaksaha, my college friend. She is working as an English teacher. 

Reading is not only a hobby, but it is also an important  tool for teachers. Reading is a transformative habit that shapes knowledge, skills and values. As educators and teachers, we shape the minds of future generations, and to fulfill that task effectively, we must always be learning and growing on our own. For our self-improvement and to explore knowledge, reading is important. 

We can become an expert in that field by reading subject matter related to it. We can be sure about our subject matter, clarify the questions and find solutions to the problems. As a teacher, we have to be updated about the daily events, current situations in the country, and notices related to the school setting. In addition to communicating with the administration and parents, reading is important to gain information related to them. As a teacher of English, reading helps to develop my language knowledge and become an expert in my subject. Sometimes parents and school children ask from me about the school opening days, closing days, different scholarships. For those purposes, in order to communicate accurate information reading letters, notices, messages help me a lot. In addition to that, I read different circulars, publications, articles which are related to my professional development. Changes are continually taking place in the world of education: new methods, psychological theories, and the use of new technology in the classroom, new perspectives in education, so to gain information about these things, reading is an essential thing. Reading helps teachers to stay focused, touched and bring fresh ideas into the classroom. Reading develops a teacher's language and vocabulary, whether novels, articles, books related to education, research or newspapers. The more one reads, the larger his /her vocabulary grows, resulting in thorough communication. For me, reading different story books and grammar books helps me to improve my vocabulary as well as knowledge related to the English language. In order to communicate fluently, ideas must come, and we can collect many ideas through reading. My friend and I discussed the importance of reading as teachers and thought of writing this article.

This would directly benefit teaching as clear explanations of concepts, better instructions, and richer classroom discussions. Reading also builds in empathy and understanding. There are many articles which create sympathy and empathy in our minds. A teacher is a person who pretends to help them where necessary. A teacher learns about other cultures and experiences and transmits those cultural values to the children, thus enhancing build a proper relationship with the children and valuing cultural diversity. Teachers who read become powerful role models, inspiring students to develop their own reading skills and encourage them to read different genres. Teachers set a positive example for students. Teachers inspire them to cultivate their own reading habits, opening doors to imagination and knowledge. A teacher is a resource person who recommends books for students and makes students familiar with different genres. In my own experience, it helps to reduce stress and builds relaxation in our minds. A good piece of reading is similar to meditation and it enhances our creativity skills. We can imagine things after reading. It improves concentration and strengthens cognitive functions such as memory, which help to stay sharp. It helps teachers to identify complex ideas and guide students. It helps them to spark and come out with new ideas as education and teaching is a renewable profession. Reading guides teachers to learn different teaching strategies, classroom management techniques and different teaching methods. Ex: The direct method, Audio lingual method. It helps for professional growth and deeper subject knowledge. With the help of extensive knowledge, teachers can always stand in a crowd and make the first impression. So they feel motivated and willing to teach them to their students. Books on pedagogy and teaching strategies offer innovative ways to connect with students and make learning fun. It helps the teachers to think critically by analyzing arguments, evaluating evidence, presenting balanced view points, problem-solving etc. So, the more you read, the more you learn. It helps for personal well-being. Increased knowledge and skills naturally builds self confidence. Books offer support and reduce feelings of isolation, acting as a great companion. Overall, reading helps to sharpen subject matter expertise, expand vocabulary, reduce stress, spark new ideas, and help teachers connect with diverse students' experiences, making them more informed, creative, and inspiring educators. 

Do you read articles, novels?