Challenge/Banned Book Club

By:

How can reading in a natural setting enhance your entire reading experience?  Be sure to consider aspects of light, temperature, comfort, relaxation, etc.  Does reading in nature lend itself to a more fulfilling reading experience?  Consider aspects of the ability to "get lost" in the reading, sharper mental imagery, the strong desire to continue reading even though the time period is over, etc. 

 

Monica Kean

 

"Reading outside is better than reading inside. Its more relaxing and more comfortable. The sunlight is better at giving light to read than the light inside the school or in a room. When I was reading outside I felt like nothing could distract me from reading. I felt like I could actually read a book for once in peace. The temperature felt warm and comforting. After reading outside I didn't want to stop reading. I would totally want to read outside all the time on Fridays."

-Zach Saenz

 

Samantha Parks

 

"I really enjoyed reading outside, but I wish there were more places to sit. For a good while I was relaxing and reading with the nice breeze which really helped me concentrate but that was until all of these random bugs started to climb on me and my butt hurt from sitting on the pavement. If I didn't move around so much trying to avoid insects then I guess I would have wanted to stay there and read some more. It was a nice day, on the bright side."

-Fatima Puri

 

"Reading outside made the imagery and story seem real because in the natural setting it came alive. The temperature was perfect and the natural light wasn't as harsh on my eyes which created a relaxed setting. I was able to get lost in the book without the distractions in school and when the period was over I was disappointed that I didn't get to continue."             

 -Monica Bradford

 

"Reading outside offers students an opportunity to connect with nature while reading at the same time ! The atmosphere was perfect, beautiful, sunny and extremely pleasant ! I loved it ! Taking the time to relax and enjoy the cool, brisk air is exactly what we as a study body need to relieve stress!"

-Emily Canales

 

"Reading in a natural setting, especially in nature itself, enhances my entire reading experience because of how the weather always seems to have a connection with the majority of the written stories. Although the weather was a little windy, the temperature setting made me feel free and put myself inside the story. I loved the experience I had for it's impossible to forget. The sound of the wind blended with the trees and singing birds made the day pass very quickly. Thus it made me ignore time and nature's surroundings. Reading in a cold, dark environment disconcentrates my ability to understand what I'm reading because of the lonlyness that exists, for all you can hear is just the air conditionier going on and off with no pattern of life. In contrast, taking the opportunity to be in nature, makes me forget that time exists and a connection to my story develops as time keeps on passing."

-Bernice Arevalo

 

"Reading in a natural setting very much enhanced my reading experience. I found that, reading outside, under the warm sun and actually breathing fresh air increased my ability to be comfortable and truly "get lost" in my book. Its much different than reading on an uncomfortable school desk, with gum dripping in salivation over my legs, under artificial lighting , and the sound of eerie silence. Being able to actually see green and breathe fresh oxygen during my school day allowed me to relax and enable my mind to be completely submerged in my book. This should be a tradition on fridays from now on."

-Adrian Rios

 

"Being able to read outside is the crisp air and the fresh sunlight helped me stay alert and focused while reading instead of dozing off and not focusing on the words on the page. Reading outside was peaceful with the birds chirping and the wind blowing by. I was very relaxed and hope that our class will be able to ejoy the privelage of reading outside again sometime soon."

-Kendal Tooley

 

"Reading outside made the imagery and story seem real because in the natural setting it came alive. The temperature was perfect and the natural light wasn't as harsh on my eyes which created a relaxed setting. I was able to get lost in the book without the distractions in school and when the period was over I was disappointed that I didn't get to continue."

-Monica Bradford

 "I prefer reading outside because it is more relaxing and you can get more comfortable outside than you can in a desk inside a class room. You can lay out or you can sit on a ledge and enjoy reading rather than sitting inside the freezing cold school building. I like reading "in nature" more because it gives me a better sense of images posed in the book which enhances my reading experience. It is a change in scenery from the everday classroom and aloows you to relax and enjoy the outdoors while reading your book as well."

-Megan Burford

 

"Reading outside enhanced my reading experience because it made me feel more peaceful and I could concentrate better on reading my book. The natural light was easier on the eyes and made reading my book for a long period of time more calming. The light wind also made my reading experience more enjoyable and before I knew it, it was time to go and I did not want to stop reading."

-Melissa Salinas

 

"Reading outside made me feel more comfortable and relaxed than reading in a stuffy room. Since it was morning the lighting felt just right and the crisp air and cool wind made me feel happy and content and even more connected with my book. I felt as if I was able to understand my book a lot better when I read outside and I trully became more wrapped up in the story. I trully enjoyed this experience."

-Marelyn Benejams

 

"I enjoyed reading outside because the weather was very nice. I was able to concentrate more easily, focus more on the book, and understand what I was reading better. Despite the cars driving past and the occasional insect, there were no big distractions unlike in a classroom when there's talking. The natural light was less harsh and less annoying than the fluorescent lights in classrooms. The softball bleachers were just as uncomfortable as a desk. When the class period ended, I wanted to read more and when I got home, I wanted to take a chair outside and go read under a tree."

-Whitney Orji

 

"I found reading outside to be more relaxing and the cool breeze was better than the stuffy air inside the school. I was also alot more relaxed and calmed with the sound of birds, I felt that reading outside was more fulfilling because I focussed alot more than I would normally have. I wanted to just continue reading but unfortunately the period was over. I think from now on I will read outside because it was such a relaxing atmoshpere and this experiment was a fun class contribution."

-Tayllor Floyd