It’s Monday! What are you reading?
Each week I share at least one reading photo of the week.
Love how this little brown bench is a magnet for readers!
Our #classroombookaday titles helped us to talk about bullying and all of the assumptions and complicated feelings that happen when someone is unnecessarily cruel and others bear witness.
Classroom Highlights
My Monday posts now also contain some sharing from my week in the classroom.
Students had so much to say about all of our #classroombookaday titles this week. Their written responses were also rich. One sentence can be so powerful when the talk leading up to it has been so layered.
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.
I didn’t get a lot of reading done this week. Part of the reason – I had the wonderful opportunity to attend the largest ever Professional Development Conference hosted in B.C. – a Super Conference with over 6 000 attendees. Two days of learning (Friday and Saturday) from some amazing educators and presenters. On the Saturday I presented two workshops and was honoured to share my love of nonfiction picture books and my passion about Reading Workshop with those who attended my sessions.
Further reading to complement both of my sessions is posted on this blog: Reading Workshop Resources and Nonfiction Resources. A comprehensive book list for nonfiction titles is here.
I presented in a gorgeous room with a beautiful view of the water (not seen in this photo) but wow, there were a lot of seats!
Books I enjoyed:
If You Were the Moon written by Laura Purdie Salas and illustrated by Jaime Kim
So excited about this book! I brought it along to share at my session. What would you do if you were the moon? A poem travels line by line page by page on one side of each two page spread and on the other, more information about the moon. Incredible illustrations. Jaime Kim is fast becoming a favourite.
Older than The Stars by Karen C. Fox and Nancy Davis
It’s hard to believe this book does what it does. Told partly in a rhythmic repetitive poem and partly in longer sections of text, the origin of the universe – the big bang theory – is explained for young readers. I will be sharing this with my students soon.
Today Is the Day by Eric Walters and illustrated by Eugenie Fernandes
Based on true story of an orphanage in Africa that helps children celebrate their birthdays – some who don’t even have a registered birth. Extra details in back matter. These stories by Walters and Fernandes are so special.
The Memory Box: A Book About Grief written by Joanna Rowland and illustrated by Thea Baker
This title explores the complicated emotions of loss and grief. How do we hold on to our memories? How powerful is forgetting? Why does it seem to get easier and then harder again? In this title, a young girl participates in a number of things to help her hold on and remember the one she lost. She makes a memory box, asks others to talk and share their own memories and begins to enjoy new experiences (making new memories). While this book has a gentle, soothing feel, it doesn’t pretend that having somebody die is easy. Many pages reveal the confusing, contemplative, lonely feelings involved in grief. This title would be an ideal title to share in the classroom to initiate discussions about grief or to read with a child experiencing loss.
Reading Progress updates:
2017 Chapter Book Challenge: 52/75 complete
Goodreads Challenge: 249/365 books read
Progress on challenge: 45 books behind schedule.
#MustReadin2017: 24/30 complete
Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: 34/50 titles
Diverse Books in 2016: 35/50 books read
Up next? I am still reading Refugee by Alan Gratz Wow, what a book!
There's a Book for That 
I have not read any of these books, but they all sound great in their own way. Love your students’ writing about what they learned. It definitely shows how important talk is in helping students build deeper understanding.
I agree! Even the shorter responses hold so much thinking!
I really loved looking at your student’s reactions to the books you shared this week. Thanks for the classroom highlights and the great list of books.
Thank you Stacy! I get so excited about all of the discussion and thinking that happens in our room with this weekly set of themed books!
These picture books are new to us. The Memory Box sounds like an important book to have in school libraries and bookrooms so it is at a teacher’s fingertips when they need it.
It definitely is. A special book.
With the exception of Today is the Day, I haven’t read any of these, either but they sound great. I love the responses to the favorite book of the week question.
I always love reading these too! And it is a pleasure to share them here!
It sounds like you had a terrific time at your PD conference. Congratulations on a great presentation. I love If You Were the Moon, too! I’ll have to check out your other titles. Have a great week.
It was an incredible conference. I was excited about some of the presentations I attended. Very fortunate!
I love Laura’s moon book, glad you shared it, Carrie. Today Is the Day sounds wonderful. I have a nephew who is adopted and a birthday was chosen for him. Even grown, it’s still hard for him. I hope I can find the book. Your time at the conference sounds lovely, and I’m sure those in your workshops learned much about books!
Oh, this would be a wonderful book to share with him! I love all of the titles this author/illustrator team create.
I love Mondays when I get to peek into your classroom and reading life. You always have the BEST books! What an amazing experience for those who were able to attend your sessions! I know you gave them lots to consider in their reading lives. (BTW, the links to your sessions do not connect 😦 )
Thanks for letting me know Elsie. I think that perhaps the site is now down as the conference weekend is over. I will remove the links. Thanks!
I love reading the children’s thoughts about bullying. I’ve read all of those except Bully. All the rest are new to me too. There are just so many books and not nearly enough time!
So very true!
I really love the reflection the students do about the theme of the week. Every time I see you post it reminds me to start something similar!
Congrats on your presentation! I bet you inspired so many educators 🙂
Thanks for the congratulations Michele. It was wonderful to connect with so many people!
As always, it’s fun to get glimpses of your classroom. I think I will want to grab Older Than the Stars. It looks intriguing. Thanks!
I was very excited to find this one!
I love looking over your students’ shoulders and guessing what those books are! I’m intrigued by all of the picture books and may need to get Today Is the Day.
Today is the Day and all titles by this author/illustrator are fantastic!
Thank you for sharing IF YOU WERE THE MOON, Carrie! And I love your students’ responses on bullying. Plus OLDER THAN THE STARS sounds amazing. Off to put it on reserve!
Oh, my pleasure! I absolutely adore this book of yours!