Monday, July 7, 2014

It's Monday! What are You Reading? The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires

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.


The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires is a perfect picture book to read aloud to discuss the concept of having a growth mindset vs. a fixed mindset.  In this story, a little girl is trying to create something magnificent, but continues to struggle.  She gets frustrated and even walks away, but ends up going back to her project to attempt it again and again.  This text shows and reminds the reader that ideas we have in our minds or projects we attempt to do successfully, won't always go the way we want them to go.  However, it is important that we continue to try and not give up on our dreams, plans, and goals.  This is a perfect book to read aloud at the beginning of the year when introducing the concept of having a growth mindset and what it means to persevere.  I can easily see this book being a mentor text throughout the year, being revisited again to discuss the power of mindset.  

Enjoy reading this week! :)



7 comments:

  1. I've read a lot about The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires, so I've added it to my wish list for books I want to get for our school library. When I was a classroom teacher, every September I used to take my class to The Edge, an indoor rock climbing facility. Everyone struggled and had to make numerous attempts to reach the top. Even it the top was never reached, we all learned that so long as you persisted, you could make progress. Remember The Edge became a reminder that just about anything is possible if you don't give up. This book reminds of those days.

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    1. I love that idea about taking your students to an indoor rock climbing facility! What a great way to instill perseverance, build a community of risk-takers, and foster a growth mindset!

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  2. This is such a delightful little title. I like also that it speaks to having healthy perspective. Reminds me a little of Extraordinary Jane about accepting what we have and seeing the best in it (or in Jane's case - the best in someone)

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    1. I don't know Extraordinary Jane, but will definitely check that title out! Thanks for sharing! :)

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  3. Melanie - Did you see our post? Such a fun coincidence :)

    http://assessmentinperspective.com/?p=1697

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    1. I just read your post today - That is too funny! What a great coincidence! :)

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  4. Hi there Melanie, this is the second time that I am seeing this particular title - now I really have to find this book. Thanks for sharing!

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