It’s Monday! What are you reading?
Each week I share at least one reading photo of the week.
Loved reading aloud this title on Friday as I had a little walking skeleton dressed for the occasion!
Our #classroombookaday titles focussed on story telling and becoming writers. So glad I chose to share these titles so early in the year. Some highlights from our learning included:
- The middle is where all of the good stuff happens.
- Tell more!
- Write the stories around you.
- Illustrations also tell stories. Pictures have important details.
- Everyone loves to share stories!
After reading Ralph Tells a Story we were inspired to make a list of story ideas in our writer’s notebooks. I can’t wait to read about overflowing bathtubs, funny families and big and little adventures!
Classroom Highlights
In this recent post Dear Blog Readers, I explained how I will be sharing more of what is happening in our classroom each week. Some highlights:
On Wednesday and Thursday evening we hosted Goal Setting Conferences with parents and students. It was really lovely to meet families (including older and little siblings) and participate in meaningful conversations about learning, happiness and engagement. I loved this drawing left behind by one little brother. It reminded me to listen with big ears!
Kindergarten students have so much to share. I love to pop in to the K classrooms on my prep to see what is happening. One little author/illustrator read me her animal book. 🙂
One of my students wants to be a poet. She shared her notebook with me this week. During Choices time one afternoon, she was working on her writing. She turned to a new page and exclaimed, “I love when a blank page turns into a story.” Her supportive Mom had taken her to the public library this week and helped her to sign out some poetry titles!
We have been writing to the people in our school community. I love this letter to our school engineer:
“Parm Thank you for everything. Our light is broken Parm. Can you fix it please and pretty?”
Here are our wipe off math mats patiently waiting for us to return from music and recess so we can continue practicing decomposing numbers to add.
Little mathematicians at work! Overheard: “Let’s try that one again. I think we’ve almost got it.” Math is social! When we work together our learning multiplies.
Students are now taking the lead solving math riddles. This student is crossing out numbers on the 100s chart that have been eliminated by specific clues. Her classmates are so attentive!
After choral counting, we notice so many patterns! My job? To record all of the thinking that is shared.
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.
Books I enjoyed:
After the Fall: How Humpty Dumpty Got Back up Again by Dan Santat
Kind of impossible to talk about this book without giving anything away. I will just say this. I read a LOT of picture books. I often find books that touch an emotional nerve or inspire a sense of awe or make me laugh out loud. I am amazed at the calibre of titles that continue to be published. But I don’t often find myself completely surprised. This book surprised me. The ending caught me off guard and I loved it!
La La La: A Story of Hope written by Kate DiCamillo and illustrated by Jaime Kim
Well, wow. This book – with only these three little repeated utterances: La, La, La and some more than expected and then some illustrations – pulls off an experience that is pretty incredible. I read a bit of criticism in the reviews about this being a challenging title to share as a read aloud. I think in a room with an adult who knows his/her readers and where there is space for wondering and talk, this book would be amazing. I need to get my own copy and prove it very soon.
The Wish Tree written by Kyo Maclear and illustrated by Chris Turnham
In search of a wish tree . . . There is much here about unwavering belief, hope and kindness. A magical experience.
Hooray for Books! by Brian Won
I am not quite sure what could be better than a book about book love. Such a celebration!
Imagine by John Lennon with illustrations by Jean Jullien
A gorgeous picture book of the famous song by John Lennon. I will be sharing this as November 11th approaches. An important book to inspire conversations about peace.
Animal Camouflage: Search and Find by Sarah Dennis and Sam Hutchinson
Can’t wait to put this title out for some of our Soft Start mornings. I know students will pour over it as they learn about continents and various animals. Just beautiful.
Mighty Jack and the Goblin King by Ben Hatke
I was so excited to finally have the chance to read this book and I couldn’t put it down. It was full of surprises and the ending just about knocked me over. I now feel like my students who read Mighty Jack last year and then whined all year about the second in the series not yet being published. Consider this my first whine: WHEN is Book 3 coming?
Zinnia and the Bees by Danielle Davis
Wonderfully quirky, gentle and true. The unbelievable becomes believable in this middle grade novel about a girl who literally has a bee hive in her hair. Not a bee hive hair style. A hive of bees who take up residence. Really. She also has a missing brother. A there, but not really, mother. A boy named Birch waiting to be her friend. And . . . those bees. Loved this book!
Reading Progress updates:
2017 Chapter Book Challenge: 52/75 complete
Goodreads Challenge: 231/365 books read
Progress on challenge: 49 books behind schedule. Under 50 this week!
#MustReadin2017: 24/30 complete
Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: 29/50 titles
Diverse Books in 2016: 33/50 books read
Up next? I have a lot of transitional chapter books on the go as I get ready to book talk more titles for my classroom!
There's a Book for That 