Wordless Wednesday

 

Now What Will Be My Excuse?!?

Part of being a literacy teacher is the ability to match students with ‘just right’ books. I spend many hours every week reading books in order to know what is available and what might make a great match for my students. I try to read a variety of levels, genres, and interests.

I have to admit, while I have been teaching 5th and 6th grades for the last many years I read my fair share of YA novels. I enjoy them. I don’t necessarily have to think too hard. The pace tends to be fast. I can get sucked into a book at the end of a long day and enjoy the journey it takes me on.

Next year I am teaching third grade.

Uh-oh. What will be my excuse for reading YA? I figure I either need a new excuse or need to stop reading so much YA. The good news is that I have several lists from book clubs in the States, but those books can be quite an investment in time and tend to get moved to the bottom of my list. I envision more time for reading ‘grown up’ books in my near future.

Third grade books aren’t the same commitment as 5th & 6th grades. I expect to plow through loads this summer. The ‘classics’ I know; Roald Dahl, Beverly Cleary, The Borrowers, etc. But what about books that have been written in the last decade, or two, (or three?) This is my task for summer. (If you have any suggestions, please pass them on!)

My summer reading will also keep me on the lookout for new read alouds. While some titles I read now transcend grade levels (The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane and The Toys Go Out), most do not. I am excited to discover new journeys to take with my students through books, I just have to figure out what they might be!

Living overseas takes some planning as new titles aren’t readily available and you never know what you might be able to find in a school’s library. (Thankfully ebooks have increased availability and thus my options.) So I’ve started a list. Do you have anything to add to it?

Enough with this writing, I only have a few more weeks of justifiable YA reading!

What Are You Reading?

“It’s Monday! What are you Reading?” is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. It is a chance for book lovers to share their reading accomplishments as well as what is on the proverbial nightstand. She even does a giveaway. Subsequently Jen and Kellee at Teach Mentor Texts added an opportunity for those reading kidlit to join the fun. Since I read both I will post to both. Check them out, join the conversations, and discover more great books.

Books marked with an '*' I would put in my classroom library.
Books marked with a ^'#' would be in an middle or high school library.
Books marked with a ‘@’ would be good for adult book clubs.

* Ways To Live Forever by Sally Nichols

@ The Price of Privilege by Madeline Levine

# Saving June by Hannah Harrington

 The Perks Of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

# Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult (audio)

# Unwind by Neal Shusterman

# Boy Proof by Cecil Castelhucci

 Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler