As an educator, there is nothing more important than teaching a child how to read – how to read for understanding, how to read for practical application, how to read to evaluate critically, and how to read for pleasure. I want Ryne to be able to read for all four of these purposes. I really want Ryne to want to read for pleasure. It is understood that reading correlates positively with intelligence. I recently saw that the Educational Testing Service reports that 90 percent of a school’s proficiency can be explained by five factors; two of which, are number of pages read for homework and quantity and quality of reading material in the home. Therefore, if you want to be smart, read.
Amy and I try to read to Ryne as much as we can (as much as his restlessness will allow). We will continue to read to him, as well as doing other things to make him literate. I want to give Ryne a small reading list of books (for when he is older) that I strongly recommend that he reads. (They are listed, from top to bottom, in the order in which I have enjoyed them – top being the favorite.)
Season of Life: A Football Star, A Boy, a Journey to Manhood
By Jeffrey Marx
Joe Ehrmann was a larger-than-life party guy and star defensive lineman until the death of his younger brother changed his life. This is the story of Ehrmann's inspirational career--and his effect on Marx's life. Most amazing are the stories of the high school team Ehrmann coaches--a football team on which life lessons are more important than tackling fundamentals. A sports story, yes, but much more, too.
Quiet Strength: The Principles, Priorities, and Practices of a Winning Life
By Tony Dungy
How is it possible for a coach—especially a football coach—to win the respect of his players and lead them to the Super Bowl without the screaming histrionics, the profanities, and the demand that the sport come before anything else? How is it possible for anyone to be successful without compromising faith and family? In this inspiring and reflective memoir, Coach Dungy tells the story of a life lived for God and family—and challenges us all to redefine our ideas of what it means to succeed.
It’s Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life
By Lance Armstrong
People around the world have found inspiration in the story of Lance Armstrong--a world-class athlete nearly struck down by cancer, only to recover and win the Tour de France. His actions will melt the most hard-bitten souls: a cancer foundation and benefit bike ride, his astonishing commitment to training that got him past countless hurdles, loyalty to the people and corporations that never gave up on him. It's Not About the Bike is the perfect title for this book about life, death, illness, family, setbacks, and triumphs, but not especially about the bike.
Never Die Easy
By Walter Payton
This isn’t a traditional autobiography at all. It's an oral history disguised as autobiography that reveals Payton, the most exquisite running back in NFL history, as a man of great skill, decency, passion, and charity: a man beloved.
Have a Little Faith: A True Story
By Mitch Albom
This is a remarkable, true story of contrast, of two men of God; one an aging rabbi, and the other, an African American pastor working in a ghetto. In the end, the message is clear: Faith ties us closely together and can give us the chance to accomplish things we never dreamed possible. The book carries an inspirational message for anyone, regardless of religious affiliation, or lack thereof. Albom helps show the true definition of `Church.' It is not the building, it is the people and their faith. We come away with a better understanding of how life can be so meaningful, if we'll only give it a chance.
Bad as I Wanna Be
By Dennis Rodman
The first adult book that I remember reading...probably when I was in middle school, and I loved it (because I was in love with the Chicago Bulls and Dennis Rodman more than any of the other Bulls.
Everything I do is about confidence. After years of struggling with my identity . . . I've become totally confident about being who I am." There is only one basketball player in history who could make that statement--Dennis Rodman. Readers will be surprised to find that Rodman has a fascinating coming-of-age story to tell: the saga of a skinny street kid who grew nine inches in the year after high school, who blossomed as a basketball player because of his willingness to do the game's grunt work, and who reached stardom only to contemplate suicide and, later, vow to face the world and the game strictly on his own terms. We may tire of his repetitious rants, we may reject his wild nonconformity, but finally, only the most inflexible of readers will fail to admire Rodman's unabashed honesty and irrepressible energy.
(The synopsis of these books were taken from Amazon)
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