I have been in a book study all year with a group from the All Write!!! coaches. The book group I chose to be in was reading The Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller. I chose that book group because I had the book but never seemed to finish it. I thought this would make me read it. It wasn't that the book was boring or not appropriate for me. I was just that something else always seemed to come along. Tomorrow we were to have our last chapters read, so I needed to get busy. That is what I did this afternoon, read! For any teacher who has not read it, I would say it is a MUST read! Donalyn is a 6th grade teacher who says she turns every student into a reader. The book takes you through how she does that. I knew of Richard Alllington's findings from thirty years ago where he says that students weren't spending enough time actually reading during reading instruction, and they still aren't. Miller finds the way to turn her students into not only readers but passionate readers. This is one book that I know I will read over and over and recommend to others.
2 comments:
I definitely liked that book too! Your book group sounds terrific. - KT
We started this book as a 3rd grade team this year and decided to implement the book challenge mid-year. Some of us are having more success than others but I agree with you it is a must read. It can be very difficult at first allowing kids that much time to just read, but the payoff is worth it!
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