Literally. Books on books. This year has been off to a fantastic start. Third year is a charm.
On the first day, I threw out the rule book and went with my gut. Starting with a writing prompt about what the quote "when everything feels like an uphill battle, just think about the view from the top," and the students had to describe what that meant to them. We then moved into a get to know them activity with a little bit of getting to know their classmates. Class was over pretty soon after that. Each class went like this and the first day was over before I really even had a chance to sit down and realize it.
As day two started I brought up rules or procedures as they were needed and reinforced them when a student forgot. This seemed to be an awesome approach. We were able to get right into things and move forward with English class.
One of my co workers recommended the book The Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller. It's all about how independent reading is what she focuses on and uses those to guide her lessons and her talks with the students. I'm only about half way through it, but have already adopted a few of her suggestions and it's been a huge hit. On Monday, I did a "speeding dating" of sorts, with books. My students went to the library where the librarian pulled over 200 books from the stacks and placed them around the room for them to look through. I played music while they perused the collections and when the music stopped, they had to pick one and go answer questions about it. My hopes were for them to open their horizons to different books and maybe by the end find one suitable for them.
I never imagined that some students would find two and three books they wanted to read and check all of them out. What's more, is they have been so excited to read these books in class. This week, while working on routines and getting them on a more set schedule of what class will look like, I've given them time to read. At first it was kind of forceful, like this it time to read not to do other things. Today, however, the kids were begging to read. Today, day 7 of school, I had a moment where I've already changed my plans to accommodate what the students needed. It was such a great feeling see them all wanting to read, especially kids I had last year who I know hated to read and would refuse. Even they had their noses deep in their books reading.
Currently, I am rethinking my whole idea of the quarter and trying to think how to use their independent books to get us moving forward. I love their eagerness to open their books the second their finished with their work and waiting for the other to get done. They remind me of me at that age, nose in a book constantly.
This year is off to a fairly great start, and I cannot wait to see where they go with their reading and writing.
Love from the girl who has her nose in a book, hoping to keep her students reading.
