I woke up this morning thinking that I needed a topic for a
blog post. Ideas raced around in my mind. I’ve been thinking a lot about
beginning teachers. The last two years have brought me four student teachers,
all wonderful, but they make me consider what it important. I’ve been thinking
of some post related to that. I have many books I need to review. Some
reflections on what is happening in my classroom popped to my mind. But then, I
listened to Frankie Sibberson’s podcast on Choice Literacy with Donalyn Miller,
Colby Sharp, and Cindy Minnich. And my topic was there.
Listening to their conversation made me think about my
reading life. The reading communities I am part of online, my classroom reading
communities, and my reading life at home. I thought today I’d simply list some
wonderful reading moments from this week. Honestly, this was a rough week. One
of those where you think, “Why am I doing this?” But always, always, when I sit
back and look at the bigger picture, I am grateful. So here are my bright spots
from the week of reading.
Entering my colleague, Wendy Stokowski’s, classroom to ask
her a question and having our conversation be continually interrupted by
students who had to tell me what they had read the previous night. They were
buzzing with excitement about reading.
A text message from a teaching aide, Buffie Burket, telling
me that she was enjoying John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars that I had
lent her. She had been telling her college age kids about it and they had told
her they loved him, the Vlog Brothers, and Nerdfighters.
My friend, Wendy, pulling me out of my classroom to look
into hers. In the back of the room there was a table of boys using iPads
because it was “choice” time where you could grab one to play some apps or work
on their research paper. In the middle of that table was a boy who Donalyn
Miller would classify as a dormant reader. He had his nose
buried in a book. (School’s Out Forever by James Patterson) Yay! I did
an impromptu jig in the hall. He was choosing reading over iPads? Sweet!
Having a student shout out, “Where’s my copy of Knuckleheads?”
And three other kids helped her find it and then shared their favorite
chapters. (Crossing Swords was mentioned several times)
Talking with one of my IEP students about the Babymouse
series and having him tell me he connects with Babymouse because she has a
vivid imagination, and so does he, but his isn’t pink. J
Conferencing with a student and discussing why we love
reading series books AFTER they have already all come out so we don’t have to
wait for the next one.
And, finally, reading Wonder by R.J. Palacio with my
son, Luke, this week. We just began Thursday night. It is already one of my
favorite reading experiences with him. I got to the part where the parents are
telling Auggie that the principal’s name is Mr. Tushman. As I read I wondered
if Luke knew that “tush” was a term for butt. Then I glanced to my right and
saw him with his hands over his mouth, giggling. Yep, he got it.
Those are just a few examples of reading moments I’ve had
this week. I wish I could tally every time some child comes up to tell me what
has happened in their books unprompted, it is huge. I think that alone tells me
that reading is becoming a major part of my students’ lives. I can’t wait to
see their growth by May; I think it will be amazing.
Today Luke and I are headed to the bookstore because I need more books. (Need, want – those
terms are a bit fuzzy when it comes to books.) I will have a stack of books to
dive into and a long weekend to do just that. Have a great weekend everyone!
