It’s Monday! What are you reading?
Each week I share a reading photo of the week.
Last week I was here – Western Washington’s Children’s Literature Conference with Rita Williams-Garcia, Laurie Halse Anderson, Christian Robinson and Matt Phelan so I didn’t post. I just lived in literary love land. It was pretty darn amazing. I came home with bags of signed books and a head full of inspiring words.
So two weeks of literacy snapshots from my classroom are here:
When UBC (University of British Columbia) students come to teach us science for three days, you should also ask them to read aloud The Book with No Pictures. Hilarious!
Loved that I had both big kids (from UBC) and little kids (my 4s and 5s) reading during quiet reading time.
Sarah Lean sent us some books – this is a group of readers showing her their excitement!
Finally, the Grade 1/2 teacher has agreed to be our buddy reading class! Our first session was all that I knew it would be.
And because I can’t resist – here are my students doing their version of slam poetry – which is basically alternating poem lines in a loud dramatic fashion. They are rocking a Silverstein poem. Kind of hilarious.
#classroombookaday titles
Join Jen from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers and share all of the reading you have done over the week from picture books to young adult novels. Follow the links to read about all of the amazing books the #IMWAYR community has read. It’s the best way to discover what to read next.
On the blog:
It’s Slice of Life Season so there’s a lot here:
Advice on the Fly: Slice of Life #5 2 minutes to give teaching advice? What would you say?
Elevated Love Notes: Slice of Life #4 A letter from a student that knocked me over.
Proof: Slice of Life #3 A necessary post to help me process some stuff I don’t like observing
Listening During the In-Between: Slice of Life #2 The precious things we hear when there is time to listen.
Doubts: Slice of Life #1 Because you might as well start off a month of writing being sure you can’t do it . . .
Books I enjoyed:
Bob, Not Bob! written by Liz Garton Scanlon and Audrey Vernick and illustrated by Matthew Cordell
When we are sick, we clearly need our Mom most of all. This may not be possible to make perfectly clear. Lots of tissues and blowing of noses here. Funny!
Antoinette written by Kelly DiPucchio and illustrated by Christian Robinson
Antoinette is pretty charming.
School’s First Day of School written by Adam Rex and illustrated by Christian Robinson
Finally, I got my hands on a copy of this book. A beautifully tender first day book told from the school’s perspective.
A Family is a Family is a Family written by Sara O’Leary and illustrated by Qin Leng
Oh how I LOVE this book. Families all look amazingly and wonderfully different. This book celebrates this perfectly.
Preaching to the Chickens The Story of young John Lewis written by Jabari Asim and illustrated by E.B. Lewis
Gorgeous paintings by Lewis accompany an inspiring story of John Lewis in his childhood.
Before Morning written by Joyce Sidman and illustrated by Beth Krommes
Wow. This book is all about leaving and returning to a cozy home on a winter’s day. Just absolutely beautiful and poetic.
A River by Marc Martin
Take a journey along a river through your imagination. The colours here are just incredible.
My Beautiful Birds by Suzanne Del Rizzo
This will be another title about a refugee family’s experience that I will be sharing with my students. One little boy must leave his home and his birds behind as he and his family seek safety in a camp.
When we Were Alone written by David A. Robertson and illustrated by Julie Flett
An important story of family and remembering. A grandmother tells her granddaughter about her residential school experience. Beautiful art by Flett.
Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer by Kelly Jones
This is one funny book.But it’s also sweet and full of grief and change. Fantastically illustrated letters tell the story of a girl and the chickens she has inherited. She needs lots of help and advice along the way.
Reading Progress updates:
2017 Chapter Book Challenge: 11/75 complete
Goodreads Challenge: 65/365 books read
Progress on challenge: 2 books ahead of schedule!
#MustReadin2017: 6/30 complete
Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: 13/50 titles
Diverse Books in 2016: 11/50 books read
Up next? I am reading Short by Holly Goldberg Sloan
There's a Book for That 
I am almost done with Short! Sloan has a great narrative voice.
I love the slam poetry pictures. They are too fun and your students are super adorable in them.
I just picked up Short yesterday. I’ll try to read it this week so we can compare notes. I am glad you enjoyed Unusual Chickens. It was one of my favourite books from last year. Do you now want to raise a brood of hens in your backyard? I’ve read some, but not all of these picture books. I just checked and Preaching to the Chickens is finally on order at the VPL. I am first in line. Hurrah!
Will find A River and My Beautiful Birds, Carrie. Fun to see that you got to a conference, always delightful to be with a group that loves teaching and books!
Oooh! I need to read Bob, Not Bob and Antoinette very soon!
Preaching to the Chickens is amazing. John Lewis is one of my heroes.
When We Were Alone looks like my kind of read! Loving those photos!