Sunday, June 30, 2013

The Book Whisperer Book Study

I have had this book, "The Book Whisperer" on my reading list for a long time.  I am so happy that I finally did it!  Finding the book study is what made it finally happen. Go to We Read, We Blog, We Teach. 

I absolutely love this book!

My last year in 2nd grade, I made it a mission to get all my students reading.  We did it.  I was so frustrated by those few students that just never could find a good book to start and finish.  I know we all have those students.  There are so many great books (way more and far more colorful and exciting than when I was their age!) and it just boggles my mind they can't find one.  It made me feel like I was failing if I could not connect them with a great book!

I had read somewhere about a way to describe books you may choose:  Too hard, just right, a "vacation" book, or way too easy.  I loved the idea of a "vacation" book.  So, I seized it!  There was a student in my class who was reading at 3 levels above grade.  His parents were desperate to have him read anything other than a book about baseball.  I agreed!  One of my read-aloud books was from the "Jigsaw Jones" series. This boy happened to really like it!  I got him hooked.  Once he started reading it, the whole class wanted to do so, as well.  I told him, "You know this book is a little easy for you, but consider it a vacation.  If you don't like it, you don't have to go there again.  But you may be surprised.  I love these books.  There is always some very funny parts and I feel like I can relate to the characters.  I'm eager to hear if you think this next one is one I can read to the whole class.  Let me know."  He went for it.  I teased my class that we had a reading fever going on.  Students were reading at home, and coming in each day eager to add to their growing lists.  The only thing they had to do to be accountable to me for what they read, was to add the title, author, date started/ended, and color happy, plain, or sad face to rate the book.  I added a section to list names of friends who might also like this book.  I started with cards that were hole punched and added to ring that was attached to their desk.  Honestly, I could not keep up with copying the cards.  I ran out way too fast.  I will say that big wads of paper on the back of chairs also got to be a hassle...  So, I moved on to the 3-ring binder.  I used number tabs (each student has a number) and it made it easy for them to get to their page(s.)  Life got so much better then. And my little friend who read only baseball was reading all sorts of great books, on-level, below and a little beyond.  I never was so happy!

So get this book, check out the blog above to see what other teachers think and are doing with the book in their own classrooms.

I cannot wait to start my own book journal.  Thanks for reading all of this!

Sara


Year End Poem

It has been way too long!  So sorry.  I plan to have an active blog over the summer.

Our daughter graduated from college in May.  So proud of her.  She immediately started an accelerated nursing program at a local university.  In 15 months she will have a second degree in nursing, and hopefully 2 months after that her license.

This was my first year in Kindergarten in this school.  (I taught 2nd for 5 yrs before.)  There was so much year end work to do... and we do narrative reports cards...  And I work summer camp which started directly after school got out.  Enough said,

Having previously taught Kindergarten, I had some favorite things I could share.  Many of you do the monthly or weekly poems.  It is such a meaningful way to address reading and make it fun, as well.

Here is the poem I always place in the end of the book.  I trace my hand first, then call a student over.  I read the poem to him/her and then we hold hands for a minute...  Lastly, I trace their hand over mine.

Love it!  Hope you do, too.  Click on the title below for a freebie.


This hand I hold I touch it now
For all eternity.
And the knowledge that I share
I give from me to you.

In hope that all you do and say
Reflects your lessons learned.
And all the awards that you receive
Are ones that you have earned.

I am your present teacher
And your true friend,
But, though the year is over
My thoughts of you will never end!

Hope you have a wonderful summer.