If you had to pick one, what would be your all time favorite book? Why that book?
And, two, how can you share your life as a reader with your students?
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The difficulty lies, not in the new ideas, but in escaping the old ones, which ramify, for those brought up as most of us have been, into every corner of our minds.
~John Maynard Keynes, English economist
~John Maynard Keynes, English economist
12 comments:
I think I've read too many to chose just one.
But, since I have to pick, I guess my all-time favorite book would be a smut novel called Splendid by Julia Quinn. Or possibly The Notebook or A Walk to Remember by Nicolas Sparks. I've read all of them too many times to count. I love the romance of the stories and the absolute passion that jumps off of the page (and I mean emotional there, not physical).
As a child, my favorite book was Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. I read it so many times the book literally fell apart. I still have the copy with the duct tape on the outside holding the whole thing together. I don't think I ever cried as much reading a book as I did every time I read about Beth's death. I'm not sure why I loved this book so much, but I did. I should probably reread it, it's been years.
I can make sure that my students see me reading. I often use my personal reading during SSR as an excuse to get them to read. If they want to talk, I'll tell them that I need quiet time to read because I've just got to find out what happens in my book. I tell them all about it after we finish SSR, but they've got to let me READ! I also think it's important that students see us talking about reading, not just doing it. Otherwise, how can I expect actual vivid discussions from them? I should try more often to show the students that I read more than novels, but honestly, I don't usually. I'll work on that, though.
After thinking about this for several minutes, I would have to say that my favorite book would have to be Mother Goose's Nursery Rhymes. I remember reading that book over and over again as a child. I still have it. To be honest, I can't think of any book that I have read twice because I have loved it that much
I agree with Ms. Hartely, I think that students should see you read and you should share what you are reading with them; it may spark some interest.
I would pick To Kill a Mockingbird. The decision has much to do with loving the movie and knowing that the book is SO much deeper and richer in characters and experiences the characters go through. To me it is a layered book, readable as a coming of age story, readable as an anti-racisim campaign, readable as "dad does the best he can." And it is teachable - Chapter 10 when the mad dog comes down the street is a GREAT lesson in dialog and dialect.
Sharing my life as a reader with my students can be accomplished by bringing them significant and diverse pieces of writing that strike me as important. Last year I shared a Sports Illustrated articles about Mike Coolbaugh, a baseball coach killed by a line drive, with my English IV Honors class. Just because it was one of the most beautifully written magazine pieces I had ever seen - it is LOOONNNGGG because it explores the tragedy from many points of view. But it was a great classroom reading experiences, and at the end the students - some of whom were/are baseball players, one the daughter of a baseball coach, wrote great responses - letters to Mike's widow, personal journals, poetry & tributes.
My life as a reader is not just books - and my students deserve to know that.
I would be torn about picking just ONE. I LOVED Anne of Green Gables, any/all Nancy Drews, and Little Women [I had mom's 1930 edition and like Mrs. Hartle, I bawl every single time that Beth dies - my aunt had the Madame Alexander dolls and Beth was my fav!!].
I think surpassing all of them as to be James Michener's Centennial I saw parts of the late 1970s miniseries and was hooked. When I found a copy and read how much more there was to the adventures of Pasquinel, McKeag, Levi, poor Ellie, and their many descendants...I was in love!
When I taught US History, I brought Centennial in and read a few pages to my students. I chose to read to them pages from the chapter called "The Massacre" that detailed a massacre by US soldiers of a peaceful Native American village...then I had them read the portion of our text that describe the Sand Creek Massacre. I then told them how even I learned some of my history by reading fiction which supllemented my lessons in the classroom.
How can I choose just one!!! To Kill A Mockingbird is my all time favorite. I cannot tell you the number of times I have read that book. I had older brothers and sisters and I always (tried) to read what they were reading!! Growing up, I always loved spunky little girls, who asked lots of questions and wanted to know why something happened or was happening. Growing up in the far north I was intriqued by what was happening in the south and wanted answers to why these things were like they were. I just knew at the end of the book he would be set free and everyone would be happy and the world would be different.
Reading is my friend. It is one of the joys of my life-reading. It is exhilerating at times, relaxing at other time. I can get lost in reading. A day does not go by when I do not read (a book I am currently reading, newspaper, magazine, daily mail, etc). I read constantly.
Can We Read Today? was very intresting. I found myself reflecting of how I have used some of Ms. Sliva's strategies for pure reading engagement. I really enjoyed the first day of school event. It was very innovative and the students had no clue that the learning process was in progress. Accountability (honesty) of my students during SSR was my most challenging aspect of an SSR session. Like Ms. Silva , I elected to concentrate on the engaged reading activity of the students as oppose to constantly
giving attention to the non-readers of the day. Eventually they would catch on and begin to read---at least time went by quickly. Reading is an element that warrants conditions of norms in the class . A classroom of readers is indeed something to strive for---however never expect it to be 100% every day.
I agree with Ms. Reed and Mrs. Hartley on my favorite book. I would have to pick Little Women. That book is very special to me because my mom read it to me when I was a little girl. I can think of that book and it automatically brings me back to my childhood. I also have enjoyed series book. I have really enjoyed the Twilight Series. I am not sure if that is my favorite book or just one that I am hooked on now.
I think that the best way to show students how to read is to model reading for them. Also, when you have students that can book talk books that they have been interested in it can hook other students.
Since so many of you said that you like Little Women I think that I just might have to go and read it....again? I am not sure if I have read that or not...I think I saw the movie? When I am done I will get back to you and let you know what I think!
Nancy Drew? Rachel, did you mention Nancy Drew?!! I read every Nancy Drew I think was ever written. I am having a childhood moment here!! I remember walking downtown to the library (in the big town of St. Ignace Michigan) and checking out book after book of Nancy Drew. The librarian, Mrs. Prokop, said if I didn't start reading something else she was going to take all of the Nancy Drew books off the shelves!!! Of course, she never did, but that was her way of trying to get me broaden my reading!! Oh, she lived 4 doors down from us and she told me mother I needed to check out something other than Nancy Drews!!!!!
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