Reading IS Part of My Job!

I started thinking about something today while I was sitting in my room during my prep hour. My prep is the hour before my lunch, so sometimes I grab my lunch early and sit in my room and enjoy reading a book while I eat. (I know, I know,  I'm lucky to not have the typical 20 minutes to shovel something down that is built into some teachers' schedules!) But sometimes I feel like I'm not using my prep hour as efficiently as I could be.

You see, for my prep today, I sat and read a book in my classroom. It was not because I didn't have any other work that needed to be done. I had ended at a really good/suspenseful part when our independent daily reading time ended in the previous class period, and I was anxious to know what would happen next. 

But all of a sudden a thought occurred to me: What if someone were to walk by? How would they interpret what they see? And I started to feel guilty for not doing paperwork and grading stuff during my prep time.

But then I called myself out on it. Why?? Reading IS a huge part of my job! I am a middle school language arts teacher, and if I have any chance of getting my 7th and 8th graders to read, I better be doing A LOT of reading myself. 

If I am doing my job well, I am using every occasion I can to model readerly habits, to show my excitement about books, to share book recommendations, to encourage reading during and outside of class, to build a culture of literacy beyond my classroom walls, and to know books that will hook my students. I can't teach reading well if I am not reading myself.

So that means reading. Often. A lot. As much as I can. And quite frankly, sometimes that break in the day is what I need to go into the afternoon with a good mindset. I had no reason to feel guilty. The paperwork can wait until after school when the kids aren't around - I'd rather they walk by my classroom and see me reading a book that they might want to read next. 

From an 8th Grade Teacher, My Hope for Their Futures...

My students were learning to write long off of an idea in class. As I sat down to decide what my model writing would be about, I looked around at my 8th graders in the room (who are in their second year with me) and realized that not too long from now they would be graduating. I took that idea and went with it, and when I wrote long about it, this is what happened.

From an 8^th grade teacher, my hope for their futures:

I hope they will…

…find success, in whatever way it manifests for them individually

…reach for their dreams, but always have a solid backup plan

…learn that they are so much more than a test score

I hope they will…

…know happiness, joy, and love in their lives

…become lifelong seekers of knowledge, readers, and critical thinkers

…have grand adventures, whether close to home or far away

I hope they will…

…continue their education in a way that best fits their needs

…never forget the books we’ve shared and what they’ve taught them about life

…share their individual strengths to contribute to society and impact their communities

…hope for the best from, and for, themselves

I hope they will…

…strive for greatness

…surround themselves with people who care about them and have their best interests at heart

…reach their fullest potential

I hope they will…

…always find a book for when they need a mirror or window, to get lost or to be found

…make mistakes & then learn from them and do better the next time

…realize that friends may come and go, but it’s not the amount but the quality that matters

…do what’s right, even if it’s not popular

I hope they will…

…figure out what they want to do in life, but if it doesn’t work out, realize it’s not set in stone

…discover the right path for them, and then follow it through all the twists and turns while keeping the destination in sight while being willing to veer from the path when necessary

…appreciate the good around them and the support others give them

…rely on their core values to carry them through

I hope they will…

…remember the lessons I’ve taught them – not the grammar ones, but the ones on empathy, communication, respect, bravery, kindness, and how to be better people

I hope they will…

…believe in something

…be the best version of themselves that they can be, to create the best possible version of our future

I hope they will…

…come back to visit and let me know how they’re doing – just because they’ve left my classroom, doesn’t mean they’ve left my thoughts

I hope they will…

…not ever give up on themselves and what they can achieve in their lives

180 #bookaday Read Alouds

*If you are looking for information on #ClassroomBookADay, please visit the new website with information, links to videos / podcasts / posts, and many recommendations www.classroombookaday.com.*

Updated July 2017 - See yearly updates at the bottom of this post*

Because our bell schedule was changed in such a way that we were going to have 5 more minutes per class period...

Because my students' feedback at the end of last year overwhelmingly mentioned wanting me to do more read alouds...

Because I know the importance of continuing to read aloud to adolescents...

Because data shows our students need more modeling of strong fluency...

Because I know the power of a picture book...

Because my summer reflection on the previous school year made me realize that I usually started strong with read alouds, but then they tapered off as we got busier throughout the year...

Because I was looking for ways to continue to build a strong and caring community in my classroom...

Because sometimes a picture book can get the message across much better than my talking can...

Because sometimes there are things kids need to hear that a picture book can tell them...

Because I wanted shorter common texts to use as reference points when talking about writing and reading...

Because I believe in the power of a shared experience with stories...

Because it's a valuable use of extra minutes...

Because I can find titles that connect to curriculum needs...

Because you are never too old to read or listen to a picture book...

Because read alouds...

Because picture books...

Because humor...

Because community...

Because caring...

Because empathy...

Because #bookaday...

Because there are 180 days in our school year...

Because of all of that and more, I made a #bookaday goal to read aloud a picture book to my 7th & 8th graders each and every one of the 180 days I will meet with them this year. That doesn't mean we won't be doing other reading also, but we will read at least one picture book every day this school year.

I'm excited to see where this takes us.

After two weeks, I'm already seeing the benefit of what we've been doing...
...as the conversations increase in individual participation and level of talk
...as students refer back to picture book titles
...as my students learn authors and illustrators by name
...as they come eagerly to the floor for read aloud time each day
...as I see students' faces engaged in the story and responding with their whole being
...as I read more and more picture books myself to have a plethora to choose from
...as I find ways to make connections through picture books to what we're learning in class
...as I realize the multitude of stories they will have to pull from later in the year when responding to text
...as I see our display every day, knowing other grade levels also see it, and share the literacy experiences we're having in middle school
...as I sit for five minutes each day, four times a day, and share a reading experience with my students that they likely wouldn't get anywhere else

Our First Three Weeks Read Alouds:
Day 1: My Teacher is a Monster! (No, I Am Not.) by Peter Brown (First Day of School)
Day 2: Flight School by Lita Judge
Day 3: It's a Book by Lane Smith
Day 4: The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend by Dan Santat
Day 5: Extraordinary Jane by Hannah E. Harrison
Day 6: Pardon Me by Daniel Miyares  (testing day)
Day 7: Ninja! by Arree Chung  (testing day)
Day 8: 7th gr-Fireboat & 14 Cows for America  8th gr-September Roses & The Little Church That Stood (September 11th)
Day 9: This is a Moose by Richard T. Morris
Day 10: The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds (International Dot Day!)
Day 11: Picture Day Perfection by Deborah Diesen (Picture Day)
Day 12: Little Red Writing by Joan Holub (First Quick Write Day)
Day 13: A Book by Mordicai Gerstein (Genre day)
Day 14: Telephone by Mac Barnett

Next week I'm planning to read I Want My Hat Back & This is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen and Sam and Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Barnett illustrated by Jon Klassen at the start of the week.

Thank you Donalyn Miller for #bookaday leading to the inspiration for this goal in my classroom this year.

*Update September 2015*

The entire year went so well that I'm doing it again!
I also had the opportunity to present a session about my #classroombookaday at nErDcampMI in July. 

The slides from that presentation are below if you want to see more of my thoughts after the whole year of a #bookaday picture book read aloud with my middle schoolers. As with any presentation the first time talking about a topic, there are things I would change for next time, but it's a start.

nErDcampMI 2015 A Year of #bookaday Picture Book Read Alouds in Middle School from Jillian Heise

*Update September 2016*

I was again able to present a session at nErDcampMI in July with my friend, Angie Huesgen, who is an instructional specialist in St. Louis, and adopted classrooms in her school to do #classroombookaday even without her own classroom. 

Though I left the classroom, I still see the power of sharing these picture book stories with students. The 2016 slideshow is below.

nErdDcampMI 2016 Picture Books in Every Grade, Every Day #classroombookaday from Jillian Heise

*Update June 2017*
Another change in career path has led me back to grad school (again!) for an MLIS and I'll be starting as a K-5 Library Media Specialist this fall. I'm thrilled to be getting back into a school to talk books with kids and get back to #classroombookaday with students as a school librarian!

I often get asked about title recommendations or books I use for #classroombookaday. Here are several places to start to find picture books I would recommend for sharing with students.

• Pictures of #classroombookaday boards - zoom in to see the book covers
• My goodreads shelves of my #classroombookaday books from the two years I was in the classroom: 2015-2016 & 2014-2015 (you can see my star ratings for my higher recommended titles)
• My goodreads shelves of my personal working shortlists of contenders for the WSRA Children's Literature Committee Picture This list: 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014
• My instagram feed where I post most highly rated picture books after I read them
• The #classroombookaday Twitter feed & (brand new) Facebook page

*Update July 2017*

I was the guest poster at Nerdy Book Club on July 3rd with #classroombookaday & the Power of Shared (Picture Book) Stories, which includes testimonies from many other teachers who have participated in #classroombookaday the last two years. 

 I'm grateful to the Nerdy community for the chance to share and for the support. 

I was honored to be able to present again this year for nErDcampMI Day One on Picture Books Every Day & the Power of Shared Stories.

Picture Books Every Day: The Power of Shared Stories - nErDcampMI 2017 from Jillian Heise

Join the #classroombookaday community!

With other teachers participating, you can follow the #classroombookaday hashtag on twitter. And, if you're participating in #classroombookaday, join our facebook group!
If you decide to try it, I'd love to hear from you!
#classroombookaday Tweets

Finding Inspiration...I Believe

Today was the second day of full day inservice meetings in our back-to-school week for teachers. One of our committees started off their presentation by sharing a video of 9-year-old Dalton Sherman's powerful keynote in 2008 for Dallas ISD. What a back-to-school message to share.

As it went on I laughed, teared up, clapped, cheered, and thought to myself, This kid is great. And, of course, I thought of my own students. I thought of how much I believe in them. I wondered if they always know that I believe in them. I was curious if they sometimes want to shout out to us, but don't. I thought of my colleagues and school staff in the room and how much I believe in them. I was reminded of how much I believe in my school and our mission and vision, and how grateful I am to be there. I immediately thought of my kids and how much I would love for them to experience the standing ovation that Dalton gets from speaking so powerfully and touching so many people emotionally. I then thought of Auggie Pullman (you know the reference, right? From the end of WONDER?).

And as it finished, and the lights were coming up, and tears were being wiped from eyes, and smiles were expanding, and the energy was increasing...I turned to my friend and said, "Now that's a mentor text to use. I'm totally going to. I want to focus on identity and community at the start of the year anyway, so I want my students to write "believe" speeches and present them (on any topic they choose)."

So one more item was added to my to-do list. Once again, I was adjusting what I was planning to do to start the year. And isn't that just how it is with teaching? Being impacted by something...seeing the connection to my students...adjusting plans to share something with them...planning lessons that will let me get to know them, let them get to know each other, give them a way to build confidence, a way to learn to communicate clearly, a way to share, a way to look inside themselves and figure out what they stand for...a way to impact others.

And who knows, maybe we'll find a way for them to get that standing ovation themselves.
Because I believe in each one of them.


(You can skip the beginning stuff from the district and start at 45 seconds)