The Book Whisperer- Chapter 4

I really liked the ideas that were displayed in his chapter in regards to genre. I liked how she gave them a bucket of books with no label and they had to guess the genre. I definitely want to discuss genre a lot more with my firsties.

One of the questions that was addressed in the book was how you pick out books. I pick mine out a few ways:

1. Friend recommondations

2. Author's I like

3. Books that I see movie trailers for! I always want to read the book and then watch the movie! 

Current books I have read due to movie trailers:

1. Water for Elephants

2. Something Borrowed

3. Hunger Games (reading now...)

I like that Miller talked about what abandoning a book when it is not your type of book! I couldn't agree with this more! There is nothing worse than laboring through a horrible book! I abandoned books before and I am sure I will again!

The Book Whisperer- Chapter 3

Loving this book! It is really making me think of how I want to "arrange" my reading block to accommodate self selected reading. I loved the part where she mentions WHEN reading should occur- and classroom interruptions is one of them. I am not sure why I never thought of this, but it makes perfect sense. An adult walks in my room and needs something, and the kids just get out a book and read! I plan to try it out this coming school year. Of course, I like when she stated that kids should just read when they finish an assignment early. There are always early finishers! I sometimes let my kids write in their writing journals as well when they are done.

Loved this quote:
"Resolve to edge in a little reading every day, if it is but a single sentence. If you gain fifteen minutes a day, it will make itself felt at the end of the year." - Horace Mann

In this chapter, Donalyn discusses how students do not need a specific PLACE or ENVIRONMENT to read. I find this so true. I see other teachers responded on other blogs about how they have restrictions on these "no boundaries" and I agree- I do too. I will not let a student sit under either of my two desks. This spells trouble to me. I also don't let them in any area I cannot specifically see them or near anything they might take- as I have had thieves in the past.

I cannot wait to put more of a focus on self selected and independent reading!

The Book Whisperer- Surveys

I love the idea of giving an interest survey at the beginning of the school year! I really want to tap into my kids" interests this coming school year in hopes to engage them more in reading. I was going to make a survey more "first grade friendly" but Brenda at Primary Inspired made a perfect one- so why reinvent the wheel- right?  :)  You have to check it out!

I already read Chapter 3- thinking it was next! So I guess I am ahead- look forward to discussing Chapter 3 with everyone!

The Book Whisperer- Chapter 2

I am really getting into this book! I am answering some of the discussion questions I got off of "Thinking of Teaching":





Discussion Questions:

1) Would you start the year off with a book frenzy similar to Miller's or would you adapt it?
I like the idea of children self selecting books. My students do this for the most part anyways as I teach first grade. We are not reading chapter books as a whole class. I really feel like I need to let them READ for PLEASURE more often though. My students are always reading when they should be doing something else, and with the way the schedule is, it is always hard to fit in DEAR time. But I think I need to reassess and try and MAKE the time. I also allow my students to pick their book for their nightly reading log. Books are in a bucket by their levels and they pick from the bucket with their name on it.


2) What were your impressions of Miller's more positive descriptions of the three types of readers?
I liked the more positive descriptions. I don't think a child needs to associate anything about reading in a negative light. Although, you hope a child doesn't know they are called a struggling reader, it might boost their esteem to purposefully give them a positive "name" for their reading stage.

3) 40 books!!! What do you think of that??
40 seems like a ton!!!! I wonder how many meet that goal? I think it sounds overwhelming! Of course I am assuming she is talking about chapter books. Teaching first grade, I hope my students hear and read more than 40 picture books during a single school year. This has opened my eyes to doing more read alouds as I feel like each year I am doing less and less- why? I have no idea! They love read alouds and are soooo good during them! I think it comes back down to schedules!! 




I found this quote very true to how things are anymore:
"While teachers focus their instructional efforts of the students who are at risk of failing state assessments or classes, there is a whole group of readers who are taken for granted"  How true is that?! I always think how badly I feel for my "average" or "higher" readers. I feel like they just stay stagnant while teachers struggle with the "struggling" readers. Every year I try and find ways to help "the rest." 


I also thought I would try out this whole "link" thing :)  I know I like jumping from blog to blog, and this is a good way for those reading the same book to be "connected".

I look forward to the rest of this book!

The Book Whisperer- Intro and Chapter 1

I am reading The Book Whisperer and am going to respond to discussion questions that the others who are  reading the book are answering :)

How did you feel as you started reading? What were your first thoughts, connections, insights?

I felt anxious to know how she accomplished instilling the love of reading on to her students. I myself love to read and  a lot of what Donalyn Miller was saying about reading pertained to me. I love to read, and to be taken to "another world" by a book.

Were you like me and finally felt as though you had found someone who was speaking your language?

Yes, someone who loved reading as much as I do. I always find it unfortunate when a student does not like to read.

Which part jumped out at you and made you say "aha!! I knew it"?

Even though I do know this, I think we all need reminders here and there- I really needed that reminder that it is important that a child find a book they are interested in. I wouldn't want to read a book I am not interested in, who would?

If you are interested in checking out the book with is, please visit:

Here is the wordie I created using quotes from the book!

No matter what I tried to do I could not make it appear bigger or get rid of the blue box!