WONDER

These were such a fun activity!  Some of you may have gotten them for Thanksgiving!  The book WONDER has taken over our classroom, and we are all thrilled it has.  What a wonderful message to hear again and again!

These have been so much fun!  We've done them for all of the characters of the story!  It's interesting to see what changes about the characters over time.  Julian in particular.  

As we all know, I love reading books with your kids.  This book is always one of my favorites to read out loud.  The conversations we have, and will continue to have long after reading the book, are truly great.  They really think about what each character is feeling and can make personal connections with their own lives.  Everyone has a connection to Auggie.  Everyone has been treated poorly at some point in their lives and this book gives them a chance to talk about it.  This year, our conversations are even better.  The movie has upped the ante.  I have loved the conversations we’ve had since seeing the movie and LOVED having so many Haisley families in the theatre with me last week.  Kids were upset with all of the changes in the movie and we had some really great conversations about WHY they made some of the bigger changes.  They have all agreed, the book is always better.  Truth!

While reading books out loud, we connect with things we are learning in the classroom, but we are also practicing skills they will use when they read on their own too. Here are some benefits to listening to books read out loud:

•  Reading aloud improves our classroom climate.  Everyone is listening and experiencing the same story – regardless of their reading abilities.  They can have conversations with one another about the book, and do!  They hear good literature – and we are then able to have mini lessons using the book everyone has heard throughout the school year.

•  Kids will often buy or find the book we are reading at the library to read on their own.  How cool is that!?

•  Repeated reading not only helps children to learn to read but also has an impact on school success. 

•  I read novels, but I also read picture books throughout the year.  Picture books are shorter and are jam packed with things kids can learn while listening. 

Share YOUR favorite books with your kids!