This month, I have committed to writing every day through the community at Two Writing Teachers. All are welcome to the March Slice of Life Challenge! It's not too late to join in or comment or just read... Many of my posts will be at my personal blog, Just Write, Melanie, but the posts that relate explicitly to learning will be on both blogs. Jen Vincent at Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee Moye and Ricki Ginsburg at Unleashing Readers cohost It's Monday! What are You Reading? weekly on their blogs. To see what others are reading and recommending each Monday, or to participate, be sure to head over to these blogs.
Last week, I wrote about The Crossover by Kwame Alexander. Over the last few days, I read this out loud to my seventh-grade daughter who doesn't really like reading. (Yes, I just wrote that. :( ) Not only did she beg me to keep going, she finished it without me. She came downstairs all teary and set the book down on the kitchen counter while I was making dinner. "This is too sad," she said. We had a great conversation about the power of books and of writing. I have to say, I enjoyed this book even more out loud than I did when I read it to myself.The other significant reading I have been doing is at Two Writing Teachers. Many of you are familiar with the Slice of Life Challenge where we write every day throughout the month of March. Over the weekend, there was a commenting challenge in order to be entered into a drawing to win a Highlights Foundation workshop. What an amazing prize donated by Kent Brown, the Executive Director!
Happy Slicing!
I didn't know Pooh was inspired by a real bear, either. I'd love to read that book! Crossover is just a wonderful book, and I'd love to read aloud sometime. I'm so glad your daughter was hooked by it! The Highlights Foundation prize was amazing, but I just couldn't find the time to make 60 comments, even though I would have loved to! I can't wait to find out who wins it!
ReplyDeleteThose are two books I wanted to read, but now you've inspired me to work a bit harder to find them and read them. That is an incredible prize, I know the winner will be in writer's wonderland. I hope that could be you.
ReplyDeleteI've got to order the Pooh book! I missed reading the Pooh stories aloud to my kids. The text was too complex when they were young enough for them, and now I think we've missed our window and they aren't interested in that kind of story. I loved Pooh as a child, and the stories are really well-written. I loved the story of your daughter's reading experience with The Crossover. Let's find her some more books like that one!
ReplyDeleteSome books are just meant to be heard and Crossover is one of them. The end is tough, though. I am putting Winnie on my list. It looks like a book I would adore.
ReplyDeleteThe whole history around Winnie the Pooh is fascinating. Have you seen this? https://www.historicacanada.ca/content/heritage-minutes/winnie After reading your comments on The Crossover, I'm thinking that I might see if I can get it as an audiobook.
ReplyDeleteYay for the power of Crossover - it's going to be the book I get to first when March slicing is over.
ReplyDeleteYay for the power of Crossover - it's going to be the book I get to first when March slicing is over.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to read Winnie!! I had no idea Pooh was based on a real bear!
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to read Winnie!! I had no idea Pooh was based on a real bear!
ReplyDeleteThe Pooh book is indeed a lovely story. I knew that Milne wrote the stories for his son while he was away at war sometimes, but didn't know about the real bear that Christopher Robin visited. Special background. And The Crossover is one verse novel that really touches the heart. It's nice to hear that it touched your daughter. You never know when that one book might light the flame. Perhaps she will like other verse novels?
ReplyDeleteCAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU IN FOUR DAYS
ReplyDeleteI would love to have someone to read The Crossover aloud to. It's an amazing book. I've been looking forward to reading about Winnie the Pooh, but haven't gotten to it yet. Thanks for reminding me about it.
ReplyDeleteGreat to read about the powerful impact of The Crossover. I have a feeling my 13 year old girl would love this too. We're discussing this for our book club this June so really looking forward to it. Will definitely be on the lookout for the Winnie the Pooh story.
ReplyDeleteYour recommendation of "The Crossover" just hooked two reluctant readers in my 8th grade classroom!! THANK YOU!
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