I too like the idea about using a book box -- but, I think we need to keep in mind that not everyone likes the same books. I teach my students that notion. For example, my best friend could like science fiction and recommend a book from that genre, but that doesn't mean I'm going to like it. I would more likely gravitate to a book that is recommended by a person I'm not even friends with, but I know she likes historical fiction -- just like me. I would teach my students that it's OK not to like the same book as my best friends. As a matter of fact, throughout the school year I think we need to give our students an opportunity to know who in the class has the same likes as I do when reading a good book -- letting them know you don't have to be BFFs to like the same book. So...if I were to use the book box, I think it's important to have the students put their names with the recommendation and have this conversation before I use the box. I think that would make it more powerful. Just a thought :). Judy
On Jul 15, 2010, at 5:42 PM, soozq55...@aol.com wrote: > 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: jvma...@comcast.net > To: Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group > <mosaic@literacyworkshop.org> > 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 > _______________________________________________ > Mosaic mailing list > Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. > > Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. > > > _______________________________________________ > Mosaic mailing list > Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. > > Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. > _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive.
