TCTELA 2015

This weekend, I attended one day of the TCTELA Conference in Houston. I was honored to present with book friends (and esteemed colleagues) Teri Lesesne, Donalyn Miller, and Karin Perry.

Because TCTELA was celebrating its 50th anniversary, our presentation was called "50 Books in 50 Minutes". Can you imagine how difficult it was for us to name 50 books as a group? Altogether, we have read MANY books. We each chose 10 to represent a decade, then a few to represent 2005-2015.

Here are three of the books I included in my portion:

How I love this book! I love the persistence of this little kitten. He is on a quest for the unattainable. And though he finally does give up, he is rewarded. 

This book was the 2005 Caldecott Winner and also received the Charlotte Zolotow Award. The artwork is gouache and colored pencil, and perfect. 

I read this one with fourth graders as a classroom teacher years ago. I remember so many lines from this book. How brave Sarah was to leave her home in Maine!  But also, I know the children needed her so! 

Winner of the 1986 Newbery Medal as well as the Scott O'Dell Award. 

My favorite lines: "I will come by train. I will wear a yellow bonnet. I am plain and tall." 

I saw an exhibit of Ed Young's work when it came to our area last spring. I got swallowed up in the beauty of the pieces. I walked around quietly and respectfully, taking in every image and bit of color. Lon Po Po's red and other dark colors created a surreal yet vivid backdrop for the Little Red Riding Hood story. And the panels! How glorious! 

Winner of the 1990 Caldecott Medal 

A book you could -- and should -- read again and again. 

It was a joy to present with Teri, Donalyn, and Karin. These book friends help me grow in my own love of children's literature. I am grateful for them! 

Our Graffiti Wall

This is the Graffiti Wall outside my classroom. I got the idea from Donalyn Miller, author of The Book Whisperer. It's black butcher paper stapled to the wall. We will use it to write quotes/favorite lines from books we read. We'll write on it using metallic markers. Students will share their quotes with me, then I'll hand them a marker to write on the wall. My students will write the title of the book, the author's name, and the page number where the line can be found. (Again, all of these ideas are from Donalyn Miller.)

I didn't introduce it until the second week of school. I thought I'd establish my reading community first, and I think that was the right decision. To do this, we read some great picture books together:

We read:
C.R. Mudgeon by Leslie Muir & illustrated by Julian Hector (a sweet picture book about a hedgehog who is stuck in a rut!) His new neighbor is named Paprika, and she is VERY different. It's a great story about friendship.

 

 

 

I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen

This is a GREAT picture book about a bear who has lost his hat. It's a very clever, and it inspires a lot of debate/discussion. My 4th graders loved it. We still talk about this one. (Buy a copy for yourself!)

My students are reading more and more, and they are learning to spot quality writing. When I read picture books aloud, I highlight lines I think are really terrific.

Now when I read aloud, THEY are pointing out the lines to me.

"That should go on our wall," they say.
This was the first quote:

(Capture the Flag is a middle grade chapter book that's making its rounds in my classroom these days! Check out all of Kate Messner's books!)

When the wall is filled, I'll take a picture of it, take it down, and put up another sheet of butcher paper.

It's a display that doubles as a writing tool. But it's also a way we capture the word gems we come across. I'm anxious to see how it looks when it's filled!

Thanks, Donalyn! You continue to inspire teachers with your great ideas!