I am participating in a month-long writing challenge called The Slice of Life Story Challenge sponsored by Two Writing Teachers. The purpose is to share little short "slices" of your everyday life in realistic terms. "Slicers" also read and comment on other bloggers' slices - and in the process we get to experience some fun topics and are exposed to many different writing styles. {There is an individual SOL challenge and a classroom SOL challenge, so perhaps next year I'll be brave enough to tackle this with my students!} IMWAYR?I love IMWAYR - mostly because I love books and reading! My classroom is so very full of books, from wordless picture books (a future post because I find such joy in these), to picture books, chapter books, ABC books, graphic novels, entire series, magazines and poetry - you name it, we've got it! And the daily read-aloud part of our day is inarguably the favorite part for me and my students. Our last book was The Hundred Dresses, which we finished in mid-February. Sadly, with state-mandated testing last week, we just have not made time for this over the past two weeks. We've all missed that special time set aside each day to, well, frankly - to get lost in a book. A classroom read-aloud is a unique time, a shared experience but also a personal and private one as students make their own connections to the story. No, we've certainly missed snuggling into a 12x16 space all tuckered out after lunch and recess, looking to refocus as we immerse ourselves in the words of a beloved author. But that all changed today! Today we happily returned to our regularly scheduled daily read-aloud time! {Insert whoops and hollers!!} We've just started the fun book pictured here; it's written from the point of view of a dog (insert much tail wagging and barking), and after only one chapter we are HOOKED! Fenway and Hattie, by Victoria J. Coe, published by Penguin Random House. It's a scream, filled with dog language and antics - please look for it if you have a middle-grades reader! If you are a teacher, what are your favorite books to share with students? What read-aloud traditions or routines do you have?
10 Comments
3/6/2017 08:24:33 pm
I start each year reading Indian in the Cupboard. I love how Lynn Reid Banks weaves genres...historical, fantasy and realistic fiction. My read alouds take place at morning snack time. Whenever possible students have a copy of the text too. I also read Flying Solo by Ralph Fletcher each year. There are others, but those are my favorites.
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Lisa
3/6/2017 08:59:23 pm
Oh, I love both of those authors! I read IITC to my very first class of 4th graders and still can picture the looks of awe at various parts! Thanks for commenting!
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Katy Collins
3/6/2017 08:28:00 pm
I LOVE read alouds!! I teach sixth grade comm arts right now, so sadly, unless I'm using it in a lesson, there really isn't time to, as you said, get lost in a book. Our reading teachers get to have all the fun! :) My favs used to be anything by Kate DiCamillo, although it seems that the kids know all her things from movies these days. I liked to surprise them. I'll need some new favorites if I move grades! :)
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Lisa
3/6/2017 09:10:44 pm
Thanks, Katy - I'd miss this part of the day, too, if I weren't working with ELA classes. We love Kate DiCamillo, and always read The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. The 2nd grade teachers read Because of Winn Dixie. If you change levels or positions, be sure to reach out for some great middle grades books - I'm in a Twitter book club and we've read many! Thanks for stopping by!
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3/6/2017 08:31:13 pm
The Westing Game was my all time favorite to read with my 6th graders. So much suspense! I am not in the classroom anymore, but I love seeing a group of kids on the carpet, eyes wide, ready to listen and soak in a good story! This slice makes me smile because I love that part of a classroom so much, and it makes me miss that part of the day now that I am no longer in a classroom...
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LIsa
3/6/2017 09:12:18 pm
Thanks, Katie - love your line about soaking in a good story! That's so true! That's how I got hooked as a reader, too.
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3/7/2017 06:48:07 am
I am SO excited that you and your students are enjoying FENWAY AND HATTIE as a read-aloud! Reading aloud is one of my own favorite things to do, so knowing that you are reading words that *I made up* to share that joy with students is a huge thrill! Can't wait to hear how it goes!
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Lisa
3/7/2017 07:58:38 pm
Thank you - my students were so excited when I told them Fenway and Hattie's creator ("Wait, a REAL author, really, Mrs. Kincer??") left a note telling us how excited she is that we're loving her book!!
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Vanessa Worrell
3/7/2017 10:03:16 pm
My favorite books are ones that were read to me by teachers or my father. Charolotte's Web (3rd grade) Little Princess (Dad). Going to check out Hattie.
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3/8/2017 01:52:48 am
Howard Pyle''s <i>The Adventures of Robin Hood</a> as read to me by my father when I was 7
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