I am a kiddie lit lover! I think children's books can be catalysts for learning, not just reading and writing, but also in content areas. I have been using children's books to teach for years, way before "mentor text" became a buzz word in education. My 32 years as an educator have taken me from a 1st grade classroom, to 2nd grade, to being an intervention specialist, to teaching ESOL students, and finally to being a reading specialist/literacy coach.
I, especially, love picture books. We are lucky to have extremely talented writers we, teachers, can use as models for our students. Their stories connect with students of all ages, and more time than not with adults, too. I've seen many colleagues wiping their tears as I share books with them, just as I'm trying not to blubber all through the pages.
That is the power that well-written works can have. When you read Polacco's book January's Sparrow, or Ellen Levine's Henry's Freedom Box, students come to a deeper understanding of the horrors of slavery. When you read Ralph Fletcher's, Fig Pudding, you show students that there are stories to be told in the mundane, day-to-day living of their lives. These are just a few of my favorites, like them there are many.
In this blog, I hope to share some of my favorite books and lessons. Often I hear from teachers that they wished they knew more books. Maybe some of the ones I share are new to you, or maybe you'll find a new way to use an old favorite, and maybe you'll share with me a new book or lesson you've tried.
