LOL what is it about science fiction/fantasy that rubs us the wrong way?
My sons and I read together every night until I couldn't take it anymore and
my students gobble them up too! I usually read "kid" books during the year
because I am tired at night and it is easier to get through the kids chapter
books but my summers were all mine! Until...............I read the
suggestions she listed in this book, now I am curious to read some on her
list...After my vacation I am going to come back and start on those, until
then, I need some adult books!
I love the book box idea to get the kids to share. My students naturally
begin doing that at the end of the year because they have free choice during
independent reading but this may inspire them to start earlier in the year.
It is harder to recommend them when you haven't read them all so this method
may help!
I do love a lot of the 5/6th grade books like Hatchet, Walk Two Moons, True
Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, Maniac Magee...which I do recommend to my
higher readers (I teach 3rd) and I have a TON of favorite picture books that
are at, below and above grade level that I can recommend but 3rd grade
beginning chapter books are not always that interesting! Luckily a lot of
my science fiction/fantasy were from my kids and I know whether they plowed
through them or not...
We do have some of the non-fiction x-zone series from scholastic that all my
kids beg to read (mysteries, mummies, weird and wacky festivals....) even
the kids who struggle to read these can pair up with a higher reading
partner for interesting reading and discussions! Sometimes I have used them
for guided reading and the kids NOT in my group always want to butt in and
read with us, LOL...how can you say no to that!
--------------------------------------------------
From: <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 13, 2010 10:21 AM
To: "Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group"
<[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] Book Whisperer Ch2
I agree wholeheartedly with Suzanne: Donalyn has inspired me to do a
better job of matching books to children. Because of a grade level change,
I spent a great deal of time last summer reading kids' books. I read 20
and was proud of myself, but that was a small dent. I continued, albeit at
a lesser rate, over the year and this summer, but I know the value of
reading and KNOWING their books. One of my students told me that the best
part of 5th grade was "how you always know just the right book for us." Of
course, she was easy: an avid reader who is emailing me over the summer as
we continue talking about books. The problem is that I really detest some
of these books. I get about a quarter in and just want to read adult
literature (I, too, am an avid reader). In addition to The Book Whisperer,
I am reading Nancie Atwell's The Reading Zone. She is, of course, a huge
proponent of self-selection and believes we need to read the kids' books.
She reads them every weekend. At first I found this so discouraging
because I want to read MY books (after all, I'm the one who stood at my
UCLA graduation many years ago and announced, "Now I can read what I
want.") But Atwell also admitted she doesn't read the genre she
dislikes--and guess what? It's what many kids love: sci-fi/fantasy. Yay,
I've given myself permission NOT to read those books and I'm much happier.
I took another suggestion from Atwell and just yesterday went into my
classroom to make a new book box labeled, "Room 42: We recommend." I am
going to have kids put a stickie with a brief note on the books they LOVE.
I'm pretty sure most will be Fablehaven and The Ranger's Apprentice, etc.,
the books they love and I can't bring myself to read. I was honest with my
students last year that I wasn't a reader of fantasy (or vampires!), but
other than Sharing in reader's workshop, I didn't give them a way to
discuss those books. I'm hoping the book box will lead to more discussion
(and make me feel less guilty). How do you read and recommend books?
Judy
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