Scouting for Good Reads

by Saralyn Richard

 

One of my most memorable activities from childhood was being a part of the Girl Scouts. My Girl Scout troop was phenomenal. Our leaders, Mrs. Taylor and Mrs. Martin, made sure every meeting was a learning experience and a social experience worth our time and effort. We went on several trips, including one to the Alamo in San Antonio, the State Capitol in Austin, and to a dude ranch in New Braunfels. Many of the girls in our troop are still among my close friends today.

The scout program encouraged each girl to select an area to “specialize” in, with the goal of earning a badge in that field. I earned many badges in my time, but my favorite was—no surprise here—the reading badge. The reading badge didn’t require me to go out into scorching hot, mosquito-infested campgrounds. I didn’t have to prove proficiency at knot-tying (although I recall doing something like that anyway), sharp-tool-wielding, or fire-starting. All I had to do was chill with a book in the comfort of my house, which was my favorite activity anyway.

The reading badge turned out not to be that easily obtained, however. If memory serves me correctly, I had to read a hundred books, most of them required. Lots of these books were Newbery Award winners. Many of them were classics. Most were long. Some of the titles I remember were Hittie:  Her First Hundred Years, Desiree, King of the Wind, Johnny Tremain, Adam of the Road, Caddie Woodlawn, Little Women, Black Beauty, Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, Pippi Longstocking, Robinson Crusoe. I remember sitting in the elementary school library, reading every chance I could.

Even though I was an avid reading before I decided to work on the badge, I benefitted in numerous ways from reading so many excellent books. My vocabulary increased, as did my understanding of diverse cultures and themes. Most of all, my love of reading grew exponentially. The more I read, the more I craved clever story lines, exquisite descriptions, fascinating characters.

I’m sure the reading badge contributed to my choosing to major in English and to teach high school English. More than likely, it inspired me to try my hand at writing, too.

I decided to see what the requirements are for the reading badge today, and here’s what I found out. Girl Scouts has modernized its “curriculum.” The options for badges, awards, and pins include more practical topics, like saving the environment, becoming financially literate, becoming a space science researcher, and leading in the digital world. See here for a complete list. A scout can earn a reading diva patch (see here), but so little is required that one could earn that in a week’s time.

At the risk of sounding like an anachronism, I’m sad that the opportunities afforded by the rigorous reading badge no longer exist for young girls. At the same time, I’m extremely grateful that I earned mine when I could.

Were you a big reader when you were younger? What were some of your most memorable books read?

 

Saralyn Richard’s award-winning humor- and romance-tinged mysteries and children's book pull back the curtain on people in settings as diverse as elite country manor houses and disadvantaged urban high schools. Saralyn’s most recent release is Bad Blood Sisters. A member of International Thriller Writers and Mystery Writers of America, Saralyn teaches creative writing and literature at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, and continues to write mysteries. Her favorite thing about being an author is interacting with readers like you. Visit Saralyn here, on her Amazon page here, or on Facebook here.

 

 

Why Books are Better for Your Brain

By Saralyn Richard

 

Since the beginning of television, debates have been held over the benefits of reading over TV watching or vice versa. Some of the tried-and-true arguments include:

·         Reading allows you to form pictures in your brain, which involves more creativity and imagination than having them spoon-fed.

·         Reading time is all quality time, with no time wasted on commercials.

·         Books are portable and less expensive to use.

·         Books delve into thought-provoking issues more thoroughly than TV shows.

·         Reading is a quieter, more peaceful activity.

·         You can read on your own schedule.

·         You don’t have to worry about whether you subscribe to the right channel.

All great points, but here are a few more that come from educational (and brain-based) research:

·         Reading, unlike watching or listening to media, allows the brain to stop, think, process, and imagine the narrative in front of you.

·         Reading creates connections in the brain that promote language, cognitive, social, and emotional development.

·         Reading rewires the brain and creates new white matter.

·         Reading puts the reader in the shoes of the character in the book, figuratively and biologically. It creates empathy.

·         Reading increases attention spans and encourages sequential thinking.

·         Reading increases vocabulary.

·         Reading rewires your brain, so that you can imagine alternative paths, remember details, picture detailed scenes, and think through complex problems.

In short, reading makes you more knowledgeable AND more functional. In other words, if television is a bag of potato chips and a soft drink, reading is a warm and tasty meal and a delicious smoothie.

My years in education have proven to me over and over again how important it is to be a good reader. Literacy is the basis for all learning (even mathematics and music, which are other forms of reading). The more you practice reading, the better able you will be to comprehend, analyze, compare and contrast, synthesize, and evaluate. No one I know of has ever made those same claims for watching television.

I’m not advocating the abolishment of TVs or television programming. But I do recommend making reading a priority when carving out your leisure time. Whatever you choose to read, you’ll have excellent entertainment, and your brain will thank you.

Saralyn Richard’s award-winning humor- and romance-tinged mysteries and children's book pull back the curtain on people in settings as diverse as elite country manor houses and disadvantaged urban high schools. Saralyn’s most recent release is Bad Blood Sisters. A member of International Thriller Writers and Mystery Writers of America, Saralyn teaches creative writing and literature at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, and continues to write mysteries. Her favorite thing about being an author is interacting with readers like you. Visit Saralyn here, on her Amazon page here, or on Facebook here.