One of my favorite
parts of my job is awaiting our first conversations about books with eagerness
like waiting to open a favorite birthday present. It is so much fun to unwrap the gifts they
bring each year when we begin to share our lives as readers. In my opening letter to welcome my new students to
fifth grade, I ask each student to bring in a photo of his or her favorite
place to read. They must be in the photo
and reading their favorite book. Our
first conversations will be centered on these photos along with my sharing
several pictures of me reading around my home.
My students love seeing where the teacher lives as well they learn
about my country life especially the picture of my reading in my hammock next to our pond with barn in the background.
Finally they begin
their first entry in their Reader’s Notebook (RNB). The students begin to write about their lives
as readers. I ask them to finish writing
at home after I share Ralph Fletcher’s book:
Guy Write, which I read this summer. I will always remember him
speaking at Allwrite and reminding all of us that a RNB could be a collection
of photos, items, stickers, game tickets etc.
From looking at their RNB, both boys and girls really heard this message
this year.
I was thrilled the
next day as the students shared their notebook, and I overhead several
conversations:
“I didn’t know you
liked Percy Jackson, we’ve been in the same class for 3 years.”
“I read that book
over the summer. Did you know the next
book is coming out in October?”
“Can I borrow that
book when you are finished, I have been waiting for it at the library.”
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| This was fun to read because she wrote about authors. |
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| A reminder about the importance of author visits. Thank you Cynthia Lord-this student ranked you #1. |
