A reading Community

My students eventually learn the term "reading community" as I use this phrase often in my daily talks about books and my daily inquiries with them about what they are reading and who they are talking to about books. I want the answer to eventually be people other than me. Why? Well once they start relying on others, hopefully kids their age even with similar reading interests, they become REAL readers, not just readers for my class. I want my students to develop that internal need to read even without my influence. That sort of built in reading community, one without me at the helm is what will continue students on their own personal reading life, not letting it end because they don't see me everyday after June. Their ability to develop people in their lives to discuss, share and gain book ideas from is probably my number one goal as a teacher each year.
Each year the students in my class/classes become a valuable members of my reading community. Some are still members, as they stop me in the halls or even email me (that is still one of the best things I have had happen as a reading teacher) to suggest or ask for new titles. As the year ends we spend a great deal of time discussing what we want to read over the summer. Making a big deal out of a summer reading list, because "you know you will have all that extra reading time!!" I listen intently as they book talk and discuss great reads from their year in hopes that others will want to add those titles to their summer lists. Here is a book I heard repeated over and over again. I knew I needed to read it soon! I had it on my own list for months, but it was constantly checked out in my room. So popular in fact that kids were making their own bids for who would read it next and so on. I had trouble keeping up with who had it, it was that popular!
4 of 5 stars for Amulet book one The StoneKeeper by Kazu Kibuishi
This is a fantasy graphic novel and the illustrations are beautiful! The story opens with Emily loosing her father in a horrible car accident. This causes the remaining family to move back to an old creepy home that was once their grandfather's estate. Emily and her brother Navin stumble upon an amulet with secret powers and a secret world that pulls them in. They must dive into the secret world if they are to save their mom and possibly change their past....could this bring back their father too??



I love when my kids find a book before I do and draw me towards it! I know that my methods are working if it happens often!