Bouchard shares passion for reading

Reading is the only prerequisite for succeeding
“There is only one prerequisite to success in school: that children be readers.”

David Bouchard believes this message so strongly he has spent the past seven years spreading it across the U.S. and Canada.

Bouchard, an award-winning Canadian author and sought-after public speaker, presented to students and faculty on campus as the 2006 T. R. Johnson Speaker. He championed his philosophy with tremendous passion and energy that resonated with his audience.

“You can tell he truly believes in his message,” said Mary Valkos, a senior in teacher education. “He really got me thinking about the role I’ll have as a teacher to get kids excited about reading.”

A former educator and school principal, Bouchard said he personally was not much of a reader. He also confesses to not introducing reading to his older children but has become an important role model for his 8-year-old daughter. No matter where he is traveling, he reads to her every night, sometimes via the Webcam on his computer.

“The greatest gift we can give our children is the gift of reading,” Bouchard said. “There is no magic in giving it. There is no toy or program that will do the job for us. It takes time, commitment, and most of all, fire. We cannot hope to light a fire in the hearts of others without a fire burning in our own. Let literacy be your legacy.”

Unlock the world of reading
Bouchard shared with his audiences the three keys to getting children to read. First, they need time. “Children’s lives are incredibly hectic today,” Bouchard said. “We need to make time for them to read and to do so at their own pace.”

Second, children need role models: teachers, administrators, and parents who are excited about reading. And finally, Bouchard said children need books that are accessible to them. “By access I don’t mean physically available, I mean they need books that interest them, not that are forced on them.”

With 2,500 new children’s book titles printed each year, Bouchard said there are plenty of good books to engage children. He himself is the author of several award-winning books.

Bouchard’s visit to campus was made possible through funds from the Timothy R. Johnson Lectureship. Johnson started the endowment several years ago to honor his parents, Timothy and Myra, both CMU alumni and former educators.

After lining the stage with assorted books, David Bouchard shares with CMU students and faculty his passion for encouraging every child to love reading. Bouchard, an award-winning Canadian author and sought-after public speaker, was the 2006 T. R. Johnson Speaker.

Three keys

• David Bouchard offers three keys to getting children to read:
• Make time for children to read and allow them to read at their own pace
• Surround them with role models who are excited about reading
• Increase the availability of books they find interesting