There is no way I could keep up reading all the new books that come out
every year that my kids might be interested in. During the summer I
make a big basket filled with recommendations from friends, studsents
and collegues. The I read one book for personal pleasure, a
professional book and then a kids' book. I alternate throughout the
summer. ( I tell my students I do this all summer) When someone in my
class tells me I should read a book, I always tell them to put it on my
desk and I'll add it to my pile which I try to get to during the school
year as well. More often than not another student will ask if they can
have it when I'm through with it. We are always talking about books and
the excitement is contagious even my less enthusiastic readers ask for
suggested titles.
Sue
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
To: Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group
<[email protected]>
Sent: Tue, Jul 13, 2010 10:21 am
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 gu
ilty). How do you read and recommend books?
Judy
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