Lovely tribute to Mr. Burton. I’m old enough to have missed Reading Rainbow and appreciate your story and perspective. You brought me into young Charlotte’s world and the impact on you of RR. What a brilliant show structure, gently offering specific reading options and encouragement, and connecting a community of young people, honoring their agency and thinking. All while contradicting racism. The implications of this generous man hosting a cultural staple where facts matter, and opportunity of course hasn’t truly been equal, are rather staggering. Thank you for this morning gift.
I, too, am too old to have watched any of the amazing educational shows on PBS. I do, however, know two things relevant here. 1) Charlotte, your skills and extraordinary ability to analyze situations speak very well to how well you learned! They are two of the myriad reasons I follow you! 2) I am a rabid Trekkie from the original show in the 60's. LeVar Burton caught my eye in Roots. He is a force of nature & I could not admire him more!
Reading your story, Charlotte, brought so many smiles; for how much more I appreciate you all the time & for how much Mr Burton has meant to so, so many of us!
Charlotte, my reading development exactly mirrors yours, except the part of having excellent teachers who “caught me up” and encouraged me. Mr. Burton sounds like just the ticket for us “boomers”, too. Love your writing 😘
Beautifully written. By 1994 I was a teacher myself. I haven’t ever seen Reading Rainbow but am always struck by the deep connection people feel with the show. Guess I’m going to have to see if I can find some eps on You Tube.
I read this first thing this morning and have been thinking about it all day. I also read a Humans of New York post about a child psychiatrist in the Bronx and how much it means to the community being able to seek help from someone that looks like them and grew up in the neighborhood. Mr Burton is very much needed ❤️
This is just one reason why I love you. My kids watched Reading Rainbow & were able to purchase low cost RR books @ school. LaVar is the best. Reading was the thing that got me through my abusive childhood. When everything was screaming, drinking, & passing out, I could lose myself in a library book. I soooooo appreciate your insights.
Lovely tribute to Mr. Burton. I’m old enough to have missed Reading Rainbow and appreciate your story and perspective. You brought me into young Charlotte’s world and the impact on you of RR. What a brilliant show structure, gently offering specific reading options and encouragement, and connecting a community of young people, honoring their agency and thinking. All while contradicting racism. The implications of this generous man hosting a cultural staple where facts matter, and opportunity of course hasn’t truly been equal, are rather staggering. Thank you for this morning gift.
I, too, am too old to have watched any of the amazing educational shows on PBS. I do, however, know two things relevant here. 1) Charlotte, your skills and extraordinary ability to analyze situations speak very well to how well you learned! They are two of the myriad reasons I follow you! 2) I am a rabid Trekkie from the original show in the 60's. LeVar Burton caught my eye in Roots. He is a force of nature & I could not admire him more!
Reading your story, Charlotte, brought so many smiles; for how much more I appreciate you all the time & for how much Mr Burton has meant to so, so many of us!
Thank you, dear Charlotte.
Charlotte, my reading development exactly mirrors yours, except the part of having excellent teachers who “caught me up” and encouraged me. Mr. Burton sounds like just the ticket for us “boomers”, too. Love your writing 😘
Beautifully written. By 1994 I was a teacher myself. I haven’t ever seen Reading Rainbow but am always struck by the deep connection people feel with the show. Guess I’m going to have to see if I can find some eps on You Tube.
I read this first thing this morning and have been thinking about it all day. I also read a Humans of New York post about a child psychiatrist in the Bronx and how much it means to the community being able to seek help from someone that looks like them and grew up in the neighborhood. Mr Burton is very much needed ❤️
This is just one reason why I love you. My kids watched Reading Rainbow & were able to purchase low cost RR books @ school. LaVar is the best. Reading was the thing that got me through my abusive childhood. When everything was screaming, drinking, & passing out, I could lose myself in a library book. I soooooo appreciate your insights.