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| Our picture book collection |
Most
fifth graders don’t enter our classroom on day one and ask for a picture book.
They often tend to look at them as books for little kids – not something that
“counts” as real reading. Fortunately, in a matter of days, those feelings start to shift. We
share many picture books in our classroom – through reading and writing
mini-lessons, book talks, book trailers, and more.
Throughout this school year my students explored picture books. Some memorable lessons include:
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Reading
What You Know First by Patricia MacLachlan on the first day of school.
Knowing I will return to this text on the last day of school. Sharing that with
my class, eyes watering, knowing our time is limited.
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The
sharing I Want My Hat Back and This is Not My Hat – both by Jon
Klassen. The discussions about the endings were memorable.
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Whispering
“jackass” as I read It’s A Book by Lane Smith. Howls of laughter floated
up in the air. Watching a student read it to her dad at Open House. Praying he
had a sense of humor.
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Bringing
in a stack of Elephant & Piggie books to discuss familiar characters.
Watching as students read them to each other, acting them out.
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Discussing
banned books – and my feelings about speaking loudly when a book is challenged
– with the hilarious Dirty Cowboy by Amy Timberlake.
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Delving
into what makes a picture book “distinguished” during a Mock Caldecott Unit
with Margie Myers-Culver.
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Cheers
erupting in my class when the Caldecotts were announced.
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The
gasps as I turned the pages of the wordless book Bluebird by Bob Staake.
Hands down, one of the best days of conversation during mini-lessons this year.
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Skyping
with Mr. Schu’s second graders for Children’s Book Week and listening to the
two classes read We Are In A Book.
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Working
with my students to create our own picture book biography unit. Sitting back
and listening, as they just “have” to come up and tell me what they just
learned.
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Having
my RTI class ask to create their own reader’s theater from I Want My Hat
Back and then perform it for other students. (See video below)
Now,
almost 180 days after meeting these children, I know they are changed as a
result of picture books. These slim volumes have taught them about friendship,
love, loss, perseverance, history, kindness, family, and more. Picture books
are ageless – a lesson my students now understand. Each time I see their hands
shoot out to grab another book, a stack built by a student on the floor, my
smile grows a bit wider. I am grateful they have embraced these books for the treasures they are. I hope their teachers in the future do as well.
