#MustReadin2018 Spring Update

Hello, Readers! 📖

I just thought I'd write a quick update on the books I've finished from my #MustReadin2018 TBR list. 

Passionate Readers by Pernille Ripp outlines exactly what I want my classroom to look like! I wrote an entire post about it earlier, so I won't say any more here, except that you really need to read this one!

My Goodreads review: This book is an absolute must-read for creating a reading community...with ideas and resources that teachers and admin can implement immediately. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater is a tough, but important read; a true story of an afternoon bus ride home for two teens in Oakland, CA. Richard and his friends are playing with a lighter, and Sasha's skirt ignites. Needless to say, a lot of lives are affected by this event. What I like most about this book is that the author deeply examines both sides of the story. The numbers offered about US juvenile incarceration are quite sobering. 

My takeaway quote: "'To forgive, you have to forget,' he counseled. 'Because otherwise you haven't truly forgiven.'"

I checked out Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling from our school library. I read it, book-talked it to students, sketchnoted it, and then bought my own copy because it was a necessity for our classroom library. Aven has so many talents including art and playing the guitar. And she has a special gift for storytelling, which she mainly uses to explain what happened to her arms. I adore Aven's sense of humor, and the people she meets and friends that she makes are so wonderful. This book has family, friendship, mystery and a LOT of laughs. It is a beautiful reminder that people are so much more than what we see on the surface. I highly recommend this one!

I must admit, I don't usually read about superheroes. But I was pleasantly surprised by Miles Morales: Spider-Man by Jason Reynolds. I did a book talk on this one, and it was snatched up immediately by several different students. Miles is a character who is easy to relate to. A lot of our students dread going to one class or another, but Miles seriously dislikes his history teacher. There are several reasons for this, but mainly it's because Miles's spidey-sense goes into overdrive every time he is near! This story has a little of everything--the best friend, the love interest, the family issues, and a whole lot of drama and adventure. Once again, Jason Reynolds does not disappoint!

I have nothing but love for The War I Finally Won by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley! This is a continuation of Jamie and Ada's story from The War That Saved My Life. Shaped by the cruelty of her mother, Ada grew up so much faster than she should have. Now Susan is trying to teach Ada that it's OK to let someone take care of her for a change. When Ruth, a German girl, comes to stay with them, Ada struggles to understand faith, family, and making the right choices. I highly recommend both books!

I have never read a book by Katherine Applegate that I didn't like! Wishtree hit me right in the feels. The story centers on Red, the gorgeous old oak tree who watches over the neighborhood. Once a year, people visit Red to make their wishes and tie scraps of cloth to the branches. When a new little girl moves in with her family, her wish becomes a call to action for Red and the neighborhood animals. But what can they actually DO? This is such a sweet story!

I knew from the first sentence that I was going to enjoy I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sanchez. The title pretty much explains the book. Julia's sister Olga has died, leaving Julia to try to fill her shoes. Unfortunately, Julia's plans don't include living at home and going to college locally, and this is a major source of stress. As the story goes on, Julia discovers some new information about her family that makes her realize that not everything is what it seems. If I were going to summarize this story with an adage, it would be this one: "Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind."

I look forward to many more great titles this year!

Happy Reading! 📚

On Behalf Of My Middle School Students

On any given day, how much time do you spend completing multiple choice assessments? Me...not so much. This got me thinking about how much time our students spend completing them. (Spoiler alert: it's a LOT!!!)

Unfortunately for far too many of our students, this has become the lens from which they view "reading": 
1. Read the passage. 
2. Read the questions that go along with the passage.
3. Select the best answers. 
4. Move on to the next passage. 

If that was all that "reading" had offered me, I guarantee you that I would not be the person (or Reading Specialist) that I am today. 

My love of reading may have started at home, but it was nurtured both at school and in the community...the public library Bookmobile that came to our grocery store plaza, the weekly class visits to the school library (it was a "special" like Art and PE), and my absolute favorite...when the BOOK FAIR came to school!!! 
(Sidenote: our school's Book Fair begins on Feb 26, and I'm still just as excited now as I was back then. 🎉🎉🎉) 

Sadly, the VAST majority of my reading intervention students do not share my book love. I think it's because of how they have learned to view "reading". When I say, "Let's get our books out and read!", I'm often met with the same reaction I would get if I said, "Let's poke ourselves with sharp sticks!" But I refuse to give up. An educator on Twitter once referred to middle school as "the place where reading goes to die". Not on MY watch, friends.

On behalf of my middle school students, I ask you to please consider the following.

1. A teacher reading aloud from a book while students follow along in their own copies is not a waste of instructional time. 

2. A teacher giving a book talk, then reading aloud a few pages to entice the students to want to read the book, is not a waste of instructional time.

3. A teacher reading a picture book to middle school students is not a waste of instructional time. As I've told my students, sometimes you have to be older to really appreciate the author's message. 

4. A teacher giving students class time to read and discuss books that they CHOOSE is not a waste of instructional time.

We MUST ensure that our students are spending time IN SCHOOL reading books. Not excerpts of books...books. We can't allow our fear that some students won't make good decisions keep us from giving all students the gift of reading time.

Reflections on Passionate Readers by Pernille Ripp

This week I finished Passionate Readers by Pernille Ripp, my first book for #MustReadin2018. I highly recommend it for anyone who is interested in creating a building-wide reading community! 📚

Here are just a few of my takeaways.

1. Reading Teachers have to be readers!

The bottom line is that if we are going to try to convince our students that reading is a good use of their time, we really need to practice what we preach. Mrs. Ripp recommends that teachers make our reading visible, set public reading goals, and share our reading plans with our students. 

Two years ago, I incorporated Donalyn Miller's 40 Book Challenge into our classroom. The students have a copy of this sheet in their reading journals, and mine is posted on the board so students can see my progress. When we do book shopping, I rotate to the different tables with the students and add titles to my TBR list (the first page in our reading journal). When I finish a book, students know that I go back to my TBR to decide what to read next. As we read, I journal about my thoughts and feelings, keep track of characters, and copy quotes that I find to be particularly significant. I share these with students when we discuss what we're reading.

40 Book Challenge sheet adapted from Donalyn Miller

2. Teachers need to have a classroom library.

It's not just that we need to have classroom libraries, it's that they have to be filled with books that students WANT to read. Ask the students. Become familiar with what other teachers recommend (there are so many fantastic resources right on Twitter). The good news? This can start small. I shop at Scholastic Warehouse sales and use their book clubs to order. I try to get at least one copy of new titles, even if that means that there is a wait list for them. Bottom line: students need to have books right at their fingertips. Classroom libraries are a must!

3. We need a "Passionate Reader Learning Community".

Starting on Day 1, our students are aware of the expectation that "this is a reading class; we are going to read." As Mrs. Ripp points out, "...if we are a class where reading is discussed, then reading also needs to take place in it" (66). We book shop on the first day of school. I have found that if the expectation is there, and the routine is in place, students WILL read!! I may not be able to control what happens outside of our room, but I can ensure that while they are with me, students will have time to read books that they choose. 

The link below is to my favorite blog post that Pernille Ripp has ever written:

What Administrators Can Do To Promote a Reading Culture

4. We need to help our students develop their reading identities.

Mrs. Ripp recommends the following steps:

• Hold an Initial Reading Conference. This is where students set a reading goal to work on until the next time you meet. Mrs. Ripp explains, "It is important that we let the students speak more than we do, as we need for them to realize that their reading identity is not determined by us, but one that they solely carry responsibility for" (100). 
• Allow students to have complete choice in their reading.
• Allow students to book shop whenever they need it, not just at some predetermined time.
• Incorporate audiobooks. This is NOT "cheating"! Audiobooks can be an equalizer for many of our students. Mrs. Ripp points out, "...students finding success with the audiobook world are building their courage, their stamina, and their desire to pick up print texts" (120).
• Book abandonment is OK. I usually tell our students that "life is too short for bad books". The last thing I want is for them to dislike reading any more than they already do. So, if a student says they don't want to read a particular book anymore, I say "OK." But one tip that I picked up from Passionate Readers is that it is important to discuss WHY the book is not working for him/her. 

What I enjoyed most about this book is its honesty. All of the strategies are ones that Mrs. Ripp has adapted after years of trial and error in her own classroom. And she is quick to point out that there are always those students who just don't become the readers that we want them to be. As someone who has taught in a reading intervention classroom for the past eleven years, this was VERY refreshing to hear--it is SO easy to become discouraged!

As Pernille explains, "Teaching would be so much easier if we could see the influence that the learning may have on a child, but most of the time we do not. We can only plant the seeds that hopefully will grow into something bigger than even we could imagine" (88).

As always, Happy Reading! 📖

#MustReadin2018

Happy New Year! 🎉🎉🎉

I have decided to give #MustReadin2018 a try. Here are the books that I have committed to read. 

Some are titles that #2jennsbookclub will discuss; some are recommendations from #ProjectLITBookClub; and some are simply because I've loved other titles by the author, and to quote The Fault In Our Stars by John Green, "Frankly, I'd read your grocery lists." 

I kept this list professional, MG and YA titles only, but look forward to LOTS of great reading in the upcoming year! 😄

I purchased Passionate Readers by Pernille Ripp in November, and haven't had a chance to crack it open yet! 😩

The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater

One Of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus

Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling

Miles Morales: Spider-Man by Jason Reynolds

They Both Die At The End by Adam Silvera

The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser

Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli

The War I Finally Won by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

Wishtree by Katherine Applegate

Granted by John David Anderson

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sanchez

The Peculiar Incident on Shady Street by Lindsay Currie

I wish you all Happy Reading in 2018! 📚

Reflecting on my 2017 Reading

2017 was another amazing reading year! It included titles that my Book Club(s) read, MG and YA titles from all of the bookish Twitter hashtags that I (try to) keep up with, and some books that were "just because" (2017 was the year of Pride and Prejudice!). 

I'd like to share just a few of the titles that had a significant impact on me, in the order that I read them. 

I don't think I can add anything about The Hate U Give that hasn't already been said. Starr is sitting in the car when her friend Khalil is shot by a police officer. Needless to say, the event has a huge impact on Starr, her family, and her neighborhood. For me, the most intriguing thing was the duality of "Starr" Starr, and "Williamson" Starr. I have to admit, I highlighted something on pretty much every page. Oh, and I loved each and every one of the Harry Potter references! 💖

Takeaway quote: "Goodbyes hurt the most when the other person's already gone."

I simply can not say enough about Refugee by Alan Gratz! I received an ARC at the Scholastic Reading Summit, and finished it in 2 days. I read parts aloud when presenting PD sessions, and recommended it to all participants. I am thrilled that the good, kind people of Donors Choose made it possible for Refugee to be one of our Project Lit Book Club titles!

Refugee is the story of 3 young people: Josef (a Jewish boy in Nazi Germany in the 1930's), Isabel (a Cuban girl in 1994), and Mahmoud (a Syrian boy in 2015). It is an extremely timely read, and masterful in the way the characters' stories are interwoven. I loved all of the characters, but would like to give a special shout-out to Mahmoud's dad, who was often comic relief in the midst of some very dark situations. 

Takeaway quote: "But a funny thing happened while I was waiting for the world to change, Chabela: It didn't. Because I didn't change it."

An ARC of Dear Martin was graciously given to me by our Reading Council. I passed it on to one of our high school teachers, then bought myself a copy and purchased another one for a friend. The story begins with Justyce being handcuffed because of a misunderstanding by the police. He journals letters to Martin Luther King, Jr. as a way to explore his feelings and try to wrap his head around what's happening in his life. There is a LOT to discuss and learn from this book, but for me, the most powerful parts were the discussions that took place between Justyce and his classmates. 

Takeaway quote: "I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality."-Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Alan Gratz also provided another excellent title this year. Ban This Book is outstanding! Amy Anne is incensed when the school bans her favorite book from the library--and it doesn't stop with just one book! She and her friends come up with ways to get the books into students' hands, and ultimately take the fight all the way to the School Board. 

Takeaway quote: "Everybody had the right to interpret any book any way they wanted to. What they couldn't do then was tell everybody else their interpretation was the only interpretation." 

I purchased Restart for our classroom based on reviews that I had seen on Twitter, and was inspired to read it because of one of my 6th graders, who devoured it and then exclaimed, "You have to read this one next!" She was so right! Chase wakes up in a hospital room after a fall and can't remember who he is. When he returns to school, it becomes clear to him that maybe he wasn't such a swell guy. I found it touching to see some humanity develop in a kid who was so clearly a vicious bully before his accident. 

Takeaway quote: "Sometimes a whack on the head is exactly what a fellow needs."

Our Book Club (as well as #2jennsbookclub) finished the year with Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds. Will is heading downstairs from the seventh floor in an elevator to avenge his brother's murder. At each floor, someone from Will's past who has been shot gets on. Will receives insight from each character as he tries to decide whether or not to follow the rules (No crying, No snitching, Revenge). The imagery is absolutely beautiful, and the story is completely compelling.

Takeaway quote: "Blood soaking into a T-shirt, blue jeans, and boots looks a lot like chocolate syrup when the glow from the streetlights hit it. But I know ain't nothing sweet about blood. I know it ain't like chocolate syrup at all." 

Earlier this year, I read that Angie Thomas said, "empathy is more powerful than sympathy." Each of these books exemplifies that idea to me. What books have you read recently that inspire empathy? I would love for you to share titles!

Happy Reading! 📖

Reflections From the Scholastic Reading Summit

This week I attended the Greater Washington, DC Scholastic Reading Summit. Each session that I attended could have its own blog post, but I wanted to provide an overview of the awesomeness!
Breakfast with Mr. Schu
     First, I would like to point out that this man had a broken clavicle and STILL presented his new favorite books like a champ! We heard book talks on many titles and discussed our answers to the question, "What do you love reading right now?" Great idea: EVERY faculty meeting should begin with a book talk!
     Then it was off to the Book Fair!! It was wonderful to watch teachers, librarians, administrators, and college students get so excited about BOOKS! These were definitely my people! 😊
General Session-Ernest Morrell
     Mr. Morrell spent time explaining the 7 Strengths from Every Child a Super Reader, which he coauthored with Pam Allyn (Belonging, Curiosity, Friendship, Kindness, Confidence, Courage, Hope). Read this book! There is a lot of great information in it! He also recommended following #SuperReader to join the movement!
Some favorite quotes:
     *"Kids don't show up to school saying, "I can't wait to struggle at reading!"
     *"Every child WANTS to do well. Every child CAN improve."
     *"We don't have STRUGGLING readers...we have INEXPERIENCED readers."
     *"A diverse classroom library is a window to the world."
     *"Hope is a basic human need. When we lose our hope, we lose our humanity."
Booktalking-Brad Gustafson
     This session focused on WHY we book talk, as well as how we can make our book talks even more engaging. Some of the "Hooks" that were discussed included asking a question, reading the first line or chapter, drawing a comparison, making an author connection, and typecasting ("If you enjoy books like Lord of the Flies, you'll want to check out Scar Island.") 
Twitter hashtags to check out:
     #6wordbooktalk
     #familybooktalk
     #booktalkin40
Why should we Book Talk?
     *Genre Introduction
     *Pairing Texts
     *Don't Judge a Book by its Cover
     *Don't Judge a Book by its Title
Favorite quote: (which Mr. Gustafson made up on the spot) "The only bad book talk is the one that didn't happen."
Personal Takeaway: I really need to book talk more nonfiction!!
Independent Reading Panel
     Facilitated by Donalyn Miller, the panel included elementary principals Stephanie Brant and Nicole Paylor, middle school principal LaQuita Outlaw, and Professor Ernest Morrell. I was so happy to see secondary represented!! Topics discussed included current books and action research, how to get caregiver buy-in, and reading identities (both student and caregiver). On a personal note, they discussed research behind NOT using incentives to reward reading! 💗💗💗
In order to build a culture of reading, we need TIME, ACCESS, CHOICE, COMMUNITY.
Some favorite quotes:
     *"You yourself have to be a reader."-Dr. Outlaw
     *"Value has to be placed on independent reading."-Dr. Outlaw
     *"I read to my college students. We don't age out of loving to hear a fluent reader."-Mr. Morrell
     *"(A reading gap) is not a gap between other students; it's a gap between the child and his/her best self."-Mr. Morrell
General Session-Jewell Parker Rhodes
     This was absolutely the BEST way to end our day of learning. What an inspiring, beautiful human being! Ms. Parker Rhodes told us her personal story, and how it led her to become a writer. After she read us an excerpt from Towers Falling, we heard about how she researched for the book. On writing about such a tough topic, Ms. Parker Rhodes said, "Students want to know our history and we need to share it with them. They're going to be running our country." 
I am VERY excited for her upcoming book, Ghost Boys! Keep this title on your radar.
Some favorite quotes:
     *"Always, eventually, the universe shines down with love."
     *"I hope that when the world forgets to love you that you remember to love yourself."
     *"We can change a civilization by raising critical thinkers."

How We Read Matters

Sometimes building empathy in middle school students feels like climbing a long flight of stairs after a heavy meal. 

These children are at that very special age when the entire world revolves around them, and their focus is often limited to their immediate needs and desires. Oh, and lest we forget, they have opinions about EVERYTHING. How do we get them to understand the bigger picture, to really look at what is happening around them, to see that our lives and experiences are small parts of a much larger story?

Enter my new favorite professional book, Disrupting Thinking, by Kylene Beers and Robert Probst. I am excited to facilitate a book study with our staff in the fall, and can NOT recommend it to other educators enough. 

Beers and Probst want us (and our students) to be responsive, responsible, and compassionate readers--to read with our heads as well as our hearts. 

Responsive: "...if (the reader) doesn't let the text awaken emotion or inspire thoughts, then she can barely be said to be reading at all" (29).

Responsible: "...not only a willingness to acknowledge and defend one's own thoughts and values, but to change thinking when evidence or reason dictates" (37).

Compassionate: "But if we can convince our students to read with compassion, perhaps they will begin to act with compassion. And perhaps, as adults, they will enter into conversations with one another with more civility, with more generosity, with more kindness toward one another" (51).

My sketchnote of the BHH Framework

I started with baby steps this year. I read aloud to the class and asked them to write in their journals about what was going on in their heads and/or hearts ("What were you thinking?" "What were you feeling?"). Some of our best discussions came from Wonder, All-American Boys, Ghost, and Out of My Mind. And as an added bonus, several students were inspired to read the books during independent reading time. Score!

We used the framework with nonfiction as well. One of our units focused on the importance of clean water. After reading about conditions in other countries as well as the effects of drought in the US, our question became, "So, what can we do about it?"

I am so excited to continue using the framework with our students in the fall! If you have not read Disrupting Thinking yet, please add it to your TBR list. I promise you, it's worth it!