I really enjoyed reading this book, and think every teacher should read this book. I was going to have my principal read the book, and have her challenge the teachers to read it. She is leaving, so I am going to start with my daughters' teacher. I have already mentioned the book to her, and she wants to begin reading it over the summer. I am going to give her a copy at the end of the school year. The book has made me think a little differently about teaching reading by using some different kinds of strategies that the author has mentioned. I also like some of the forms provided in the book: the Reading Interest-A-Lyzer, Characteristics of Genre, and End-of-Year Reading Evaluation. I like many of the ideas the author expressed, but it would be difficult for me to follow through the way she does since I don't have my own classroom or teach this age of students. However, I will highly recommend this book to others!
I liked many of the strategies as well that she used to help us encourage reading. It has made me look differently at reading as well. I was not a strong reader in school, I read because we had to do book reports but as far as being excited and loved reading it really wasn't there for me. I felt excited to share with the students how important reading is even at our level of early childhood.
I really enjoyed this book! It was an easy read but filled with good information. It's also nice to know that this is something that was put into practice by a teacher in the classroom and that it showed positive reports. I think sometimes teachers aren't always willing to change procedures or try something new because it came from someone not in the classroom. This book is the opposite. I think teachers everywhere need to read this book! It would be something easy to impliment and build. I think the biggest resistance would be teachers saying they don't have enough books. However, like anything else, just starting in a small way helps build esteem and gets the ball rolling. Donalyn obviously started small and just adds slowly over the years. Any teacher can do this. Also garage sales and ebay could assist in getting books cheaply. My view of reading has changed and if I ever get back into a classroom with more than one student, I would try to implement this type of reading program, even with young children. Loved this book!
I agree I feel it was a great book. I also enjoyed that it was a teacher that practiced this in her classroom and I could visualize her classroom which I think helped me to like this book as well.
I agree that sometimes teachers are not willing to change, they just keep doing the same thing year after year. This book is a great challenge to that thinking!
I agree that teachers need to read this book. I also liked that it was a teacher who wrote the book and that she is actively practicing these strategies in her classroom.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It definitely gave me insight on reading and looking at interest of the students. I feel that teachers within the districts need to read this book providing them a view of encouraging reading. I know that so many time with the high stakes testing and all of the things teachers are asked to do reading is for reading the test questions not about reading a book and making that connection. Many classrooms that I see do not provide that love for reading including myself but I feel that after reading this it did make you feel as though your actions and your love reflect on how the students think about reading. I think if I was to walk into a classroom I could feel the love of reading as I felt within this book. I think the author had a way of making you excited so I could only imagine what her room was like.
I really thought this was a great book. It was an easy read but a lot of great information and good ideas to try. It changed some of the things I was doing in my classroom and confirmed somethings that I was already doing. I would strongly recommend this book to others. In fact I told several teacher friends about this book as we were doing this book study,
First of all, I loved this book so much I checked out the Nerdy Book Club Blog and figured out soon that I had to limit myself otherwise my family might think I had disappeared.
Overall, this book reminded me to look through the kids' eyes when deciding what I will and will not expect of them in class when it comes to reading. I am control of their environment and their reading experiences and I should promote and enhance, not stifle, their curiosities and learning through reading.
I very much enjoyed this reading and it gave me a sense of relief to know that I wasn’t he only one as a child who had a reading experience that wasn’t the hottest but as adults we have learned from those experiences and chose to make reading enjoyable. Our school did a book study for the regular ed. Teachers this year and I am definitely going to recommend this book to them for next year’s book study! In reading this book it reminds me of why I teach what I teach and how I teach it and it makes me want to have time all day long to just read books with my students
I'm with you, this book reminded me of why I teach and it's not so my students look good because they passed the big state test! It's to instill in them a love of learning that does not go away simply when they graduate. This book lets it be okay to just read! What a concept for classrooms today!
This was a thought provoking book that was definitely worth my time to read. I have and will recommend it to others. The single best thing I think I will take away from this book is that it is okay to let students spend lots of time reading for the shear pleasure of it. What better way to encourage a love for reading than to actually give students the time to do it without overwhelming them with work to do about the books they read.
I am going to share this book with one of the English teachers in our high school. She always requires her students to give an oral book report every nine weeks. The students HATE it, many skim through books to try to get by without reading. She used to have them write their reports, but so many were plagiarized that she gave up on that. I think she may have lost sight of why she wants to encourage them to read or how to go about it. I have already told her about the book and she is looking forward to getting her hands on it.
That is a great idea to share with the high school teacher. I know my children would enjoy reading more if some of these strategies were implemented instead of a book report. Good Luck!
As I read this book, I went through a range of emotions, I was inspired, intimidated, then skeptical, and ended up feeling as though many of her ideas are very doable. This book has really caused me to reflect on my teaching practices and question my purpose for each of the written assignments I give pertaining to books read in my class.
I really enjoyed reading the book and all the ideas she had. Made me rethink some of the things I do with my students. I want students to love reading and this book gave many suggestions to help keep that love alive. I have talked about the book with my daughter who is a teacher and would like her to read it. Various teacher in my building have seen my book and asked about it, so may have it floating around the building next fall. The book commercials sound very exciting so plan to end the year trying that out with my WALK groups.
I really enjoyed the book and found useful ideas to incorporate into my area. I would recommend this book to other teachers. I mentioned some of the ideas but some of them were not very receptive. I think it would encourage students and keep them involved if they could pick books of their interest. It has opened my eyes to letting there be more freedom with teaching reading instead of a narrow path everyone follows. I am going to incorporate the ideas of letting students choose the book we will study during language time, using letters to practice comprehension and written language, and doing book commercials and reviews. I am excited to begin the year with a new plan!
This book had a very different tone than what I've seen or expected from a professional development book. I was captivated by her approachability and genuine love of literature. It was contagious! Yes, I've already lent out my copy and am drumming up business for other teachers to read my district colleagues' copies as well. (grin) If we can get the children to see what this teacher is saying in their formative years, it would turn education as we know it around.
I enjoyed reading this book. It has given me alot of ideas for my reading classes in the future! I would recommend this book to others. I like her attitude of teaching her students the love of lifelong reading and not teaching reading to pass the high stakes test at the end of the school year. Unfortunately I think that standardized tests and reading programs such as AR have taken the enjoyment/pleasure out of reading. This book has reinforced some of my beliefs as a reading teacher that teaching reading is a lifelong skill and not a short term goal to pass the "big" test every spring!
This was an amazing book full of excellent ideas for teaching reading! I would highly recommend this book to any teacher...no matter what subject they teach. I really enjoyed her beliefs about teaching reading and encouraging students to develop a love of reading. That is such an important skill for all children to develop. If I had my own classroom, I would find any way possible to incorporate these ideas. I think there are definitely some ideas that I can incorporate with my small group of students.
I really enjoyed this book. I have already told several of the teachers in my building about it and they are asking to read it. One of my paras has already started reading it and can't believe what an easy read it is. It has definitely affected how I will teach reading in my classroom next year. I plan on using many of the ideas that she talked about in the book. I believe it is time to step away from class novels.
Miller brings a reasonable & needed focus to the classroom: true student interest in reading. I recommend this book to anyone who is willing to improve his or her teaching strategies. For me, The Book Whisperer provides a fresh look at student perspective and community in the classroom.
I really enjoyed reading this book, and think every teacher should read this book. I was going to have my principal read the book, and have her challenge the teachers to read it. She is leaving, so I am going to start with my daughters' teacher. I have already mentioned the book to her, and she wants to begin reading it over the summer. I am going to give her a copy at the end of the school year. The book has made me think a little differently about teaching reading by using some different kinds of strategies that the author has mentioned. I also like some of the forms provided in the book: the Reading Interest-A-Lyzer, Characteristics of Genre, and End-of-Year Reading Evaluation. I like many of the ideas the author expressed, but it would be difficult for me to follow through the way she does since I don't have my own classroom or teach this age of students. However, I will highly recommend this book to others!
ReplyDeleteI liked many of the strategies as well that she used to help us encourage reading. It has made me look differently at reading as well. I was not a strong reader in school, I read because we had to do book reports but as far as being excited and loved reading it really wasn't there for me. I felt excited to share with the students how important reading is even at our level of early childhood.
DeleteI would also be interested in promoting this book in my school.
DeleteI really enjoyed this book! It was an easy read but filled with good information. It's also nice to know that this is something that was put into practice by a teacher in the classroom and that it showed positive reports. I think sometimes teachers aren't always willing to change procedures or try something new because it came from someone not in the classroom. This book is the opposite. I think teachers everywhere need to read this book! It would be something easy to impliment and build. I think the biggest resistance would be teachers saying they don't have enough books. However, like anything else, just starting in a small way helps build esteem and gets the ball rolling. Donalyn obviously started small and just adds slowly over the years. Any teacher can do this. Also garage sales and ebay could assist in getting books cheaply. My view of reading has changed and if I ever get back into a classroom with more than one student, I would try to implement this type of reading program, even with young children. Loved this book!
ReplyDeleteI agree I feel it was a great book. I also enjoyed that it was a teacher that practiced this in her classroom and I could visualize her classroom which I think helped me to like this book as well.
DeleteI agree that sometimes teachers are not willing to change, they just keep doing the same thing year after year. This book is a great challenge to that thinking!
DeleteI agree that teachers need to read this book. I also liked that it was a teacher who wrote the book and that she is actively practicing these strategies in her classroom.
DeleteI really enjoyed reading this book. It definitely gave me insight on reading and looking at interest of the students. I feel that teachers within the districts need to read this book providing them a view of encouraging reading. I know that so many time with the high stakes testing and all of the things teachers are asked to do reading is for reading the test questions not about reading a book and making that connection. Many classrooms that I see do not provide that love for reading including myself but I feel that after reading this it did make you feel as though your actions and your love reflect on how the students think about reading. I think if I was to walk into a classroom I could feel the love of reading as I felt within this book. I think the author had a way of making you excited so I could only imagine what her room was like.
ReplyDeleteI really thought this was a great book. It was an easy read but a lot of great information and good ideas to try. It changed some of the things I was doing in my classroom and confirmed somethings that I was already doing. I would strongly recommend this book to others. In fact I told several teacher friends about this book as we were doing this book study,
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, I loved this book so much I checked out the Nerdy Book Club Blog and figured out soon that I had to limit myself otherwise my family might think I had disappeared.
ReplyDeleteOverall, this book reminded me to look through the kids' eyes when deciding what I will and will not expect of them in class when it comes to reading. I am control of their environment and their reading experiences and I should promote and enhance, not stifle, their curiosities and learning through reading.
I very much enjoyed this reading and it gave me a sense of relief to know that I wasn’t he only one as a child who had a reading experience that wasn’t the hottest but as adults we have learned from those experiences and chose to make reading enjoyable. Our school did a book study for the regular ed. Teachers this year and I am definitely going to recommend this book to them for next year’s book study! In reading this book it reminds me of why I teach what I teach and how I teach it and it makes me want to have time all day long to just read books with my students
ReplyDeleteI'm with you, this book reminded me of why I teach and it's not so my students look good because they passed the big state test! It's to instill in them a love of learning that does not go away simply when they graduate. This book lets it be okay to just read! What a concept for classrooms today!
DeleteThis was a thought provoking book that was definitely worth my time to read. I have and will recommend it to others. The single best thing I think I will take away from this book is that it is okay to let students spend lots of time reading for the shear pleasure of it. What better way to encourage a love for reading than to actually give students the time to do it without overwhelming them with work to do about the books they read.
DeleteI am going to share this book with one of the English teachers in our high school. She always requires her students to give an oral book report every nine weeks. The students HATE it, many skim through books to try to get by without reading. She used to have them write their reports, but so many were plagiarized that she gave up on that. I think she may have lost sight of why she wants to encourage them to read or how to go about it. I have already told her about the book and she is looking forward to getting her hands on it.
ReplyDeleteThat is a great idea to share with the high school teacher. I know my children would enjoy reading more if some of these strategies were implemented instead of a book report. Good Luck!
DeleteAs I read this book, I went through a range of emotions, I was inspired, intimidated, then skeptical, and ended up feeling as though many of her ideas are very doable. This book has really caused me to reflect on my teaching practices and question my purpose for each of the written assignments I give pertaining to books read in my class.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading the book and all the ideas she had. Made me rethink some of the things I do with my students. I want students to love reading and this book gave many suggestions to help keep that love alive. I have talked about the book with my daughter who is a teacher and would like her to read it. Various teacher in my building have seen my book and asked about it, so may have it floating around the building next fall. The book commercials sound very exciting so plan to end the year trying that out with my WALK groups.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the book and found useful ideas to incorporate into my area. I would recommend this book to other teachers. I mentioned some of the ideas but some of them were not very receptive. I think it would encourage students and keep them involved if they could pick books of their interest. It has opened my eyes to letting there be more freedom with teaching reading instead of a narrow path everyone follows. I am going to incorporate the ideas of letting students choose the book we will study during language time, using letters to practice comprehension and written language, and doing book commercials and reviews. I am excited to begin the year with a new plan!
ReplyDeleteThis book had a very different tone than what I've seen or expected from a professional development book. I was captivated by her approachability and genuine love of literature. It was contagious! Yes, I've already lent out my copy and am drumming up business for other teachers to read my district colleagues' copies as well. (grin) If we can get the children to see what this teacher is saying in their formative years, it would turn education as we know it around.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading this book. It has given me alot of ideas for my reading classes in the future! I would recommend this book to others. I like her attitude of teaching her students the love of lifelong reading and not teaching reading to pass the high stakes test at the end of the school year. Unfortunately I think that standardized tests and reading programs such as AR have taken the enjoyment/pleasure out of reading. This book has reinforced some of my beliefs as a reading teacher that teaching reading is a lifelong skill and not a short term goal to pass the "big" test every spring!
ReplyDeleteThis was an amazing book full of excellent ideas for teaching reading! I would highly recommend this book to any teacher...no matter what subject they teach. I really enjoyed her beliefs about teaching reading and encouraging students to develop a love of reading. That is such an important skill for all children to develop. If I had my own classroom, I would find any way possible to incorporate these ideas. I think there are definitely some ideas that I can incorporate with my small group of students.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this book. I have already told several of the teachers in my building about it and they are asking to read it. One of my paras has already started reading it and can't believe what an easy read it is. It has definitely affected how I will teach reading in my classroom next year. I plan on using many of the ideas that she talked about in the book. I believe it is time to step away from class novels.
ReplyDeleteMiller brings a reasonable & needed focus to the classroom: true student interest in reading. I recommend this book to anyone who is willing to improve his or her teaching strategies. For me, The Book Whisperer provides a fresh look at student perspective and community in the classroom.
ReplyDelete