Excited Readers (or How I Know My Students Are Reading)

There were quite a few joy-inducing moments today when students came up to me on their own to share their excitement about the books they're reading.

As the students started coming up the stairs to their lockers today, I was greeting students and monitoring the lockers, when the following interactions happened...

"Mrs. Heise, I finished my book last night!"

"Mrs. Heise, I really like this book!" [which I booktalked to her yesterday at the bookshelves during an impromptu, individual reader's advisory]

Student: "Mrs. Heise, I finished Just One Year - that ending!"
Me: "I know, right?! Now do you see why I had to check back in Just One Day while you were reading it to see if what I thought happened really did?"
Student: "Yes! That scene on the beach..."

"Mrs. Heise, I started that book last night...and I already cried."

"Mrs. Heise, I need a new book."

"Mrs. Heise, I read for two hours last night! This book is really good."

"Mrs. Heise, where's the next book in this series? I know I'm going to need it this weekend."

"Mrs. Heise, I loved that book. Best. Book. Ever!" (to which I inquired why and got an explanation)

The awesome poster my reading specialist has in our book room (that she got from the publisher of this picture book at ALA) pretty much sums up my mood today.

And later in the day, these conversations happened:

Student 1: "I'm probably going to finish this book tonight."
Student 2: "I want to finish my book tonight."

In library working on computers, listening to librarian read aloud to K5 class, "Mrs. Heise, Click, Clack, Boo!" [with huge smile on her face because she remembers how much fun it was when I read aloud Click, Clack, Moo to them in language arts class last year]

Student (with a big smile): "Mrs. Heise, I finished!"
Me: "What did you think?"
Student: "That ending..." *pantomimes head exploding with sound effects* "He really grew on me. I'm not embarrased to say I cried a little bit."

This. This is the reason I love what I get to do everyday. The moments like these. Seeing readers growing before my eyes. Hearing the excitement build as they read books that they are interested in. You want to know how I know my students are reading when I don't make them all read one specific book? This is how. These interactions. These moments when they share their responses to what they're read. These reactions can't be faked. They can't be made up. They are how I know my students are reading.

My Favorite Moments of the Day

Some of my favorite moments during the school day are the impromptu, unplanned moments when I get to talk books with students. Why? Because when I see their enthusiasm, excitement, eagerness, and energy about books, authors, and reading, it lets me know I'm doing something right. It shows me that they are reading and that they are finding enjoyment in it, which we all know will lead to increased learning and engagement.

Some snippets from today (it was a good Monday)

Student rushing up to me as we're lining up for buses, "Mrs. Heise, I finished it."
Me: "Do you need to check out a new one before you leave?"
Student: "Yep."

Student: "Mrs. Heise, what was that book you were reading last week?"

Student: "Mrs. Heise, this book is really good."
Friend: "Wait, which one? I want to read it, too."

Student to Friend: "You read Crash already?!" turns to me: "Mrs. Heise, Where is Bang? S needs it."

Me: "Okay. Get to a good stopping point."
Students (at various times):
*groans*
"No! Can't we just keep reading all day?"
"Can't we read for just 10 more minutes so I can finish?"
"Can we just read the whole class today?"
"No! I only have four pages left!" (My response to that one? "OK. Everyone read a few more pages so B can finish."

These are the kinds of comments that keep me going and energize me during the school day. I particularly love that this year these moments are happening most often at the start of the day and at the end of the day. Why? Because that tells me my students are reading at home. And I love that culture being built, supported, and embraced.

The Best Part of My Day: I Have Readers

The best part of my day today? 

It involves one of my book obsessions.

When walking back in from taking my homeroom to their buses, I heard my name called from a window. I stepped onto the bus questioningly. One of my 8th grade girls, to whom I had recommended one of my all-time favorite books (The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin),which I knew she was loving because we had discussed what she thought earlier in the day, was just checking to make sure that I would have the sequel (The Evolution of Mara Dyer) ready to give her tomorrow. I had to laugh because she was so eager because she knew she would finish the first book tonight and that my classroom copy was currently in another student's hands. I told her I would check for the library copy, but if it was out, I would bring my personal signed copy from home.

Why was this the best part of my day? It reaffirmed for me yet again in a small way that choice works.
I have readers. I have readers who are excited about books. I have readers who want to make sure the next book will be waiting for them when they get to class. I have readers who maybe weren't readers at this time last year. I have readers who advocate for themselves to get the books they want. I have readers fighting over books and racing to be first to the bin to get the sequel. I have readers sharing their favorite books. I have readers who are recommending books to each other. I have readers talking to me about the book they like. I have readers I can connect with because I've read the books they're reading. I have readers who take my recommendations and read. I have readers. Because I let them choose the books that they want to read that are interesting to them, because I don't force a specific book on them, because I allow them to try books and not read them if they don't work for them...I have readers.

Slice of Life: Saving the Good Things

This is my first official Slice of Life post...of what I hope will be many more. 

This weekend my husband and I went to the farmers market, for perhaps what might be our last visit of the season. One of the best things about Wisconsin and the midwest? Our summer sweet corn. We bought our corn, and then turned the corner and saw the sign for the one we've had before that we really liked, "You've tried the rest, now try the best." Love that slogan! Especially because it's so true. It's delicious, juices run down your chin, sweet bicolor corn that I wish I could eat all year. So we bought more than we can eat this week, knowing that we would be cutting some off the cob to freeze so we could enjoy the sweet taste of summer throughout the gray, dreary, cold days of winter.

And as I thought back to this weekend as we stood there scooping corn kernels into bags, I realized what we were really doing: saving the good stuff for later when we would really need it. And it hit me that I do that in many aspects of my life. It's more than just saving the best for last; it's saving those moments of joy or greatness or celebration for the times when I need to be reminded of them. Those nice emails from friends or family? Saved in a file. The kindest of the personalized signatures from authors I adore? Torn out of those books before taken to my classroom and kept in a file to be made into a display at some point for my library. Those sweet, laugh-out-loud, kind notes from students? Saved in a drawer where I can pull them out whenever I need a pick-me-up or reminder that they appreciate the work I do to help them be successful. And I'll continue to keep those reminders of the good for the times when I need the reminders. I'll keep the good corn and freeze it so it'll be waiting in those times when I can't get it.

Slowing Down and Finding Joy

I was running late this morning. My hair wasn't cooperating, so I was rushing to get moving and get to school because I knew I had a couple of things yet to prep. I knew they would only take a few minutes, but I hate feeling rushed when I arrive to school in the morning. But...as I opened the back door to the deck to let Dooley out, I had my breath taken away by a beautiful sunrise. It made me pause for a moment and I realized I wanted (perhaps needed) to take a few minutes to snap a few pictures. Because when you see something so beautiful, it's worth the time it takes to appreciate it for a few more minutes. And it calmed me down. It made me slow down a little bit. And it put my day, and my morning rushing, into perspective for me. That sunset made my day because it changed my whole mindset.

As I drove to school, I was still thinking about the beauty of the orange and bright yellow with the pink swirling into the blue clouds and how it forced me to slow down. I realized I needed to keep that calmer perspective throughout the day, and that I should take the time to appreciate the "sunrises" throughout my day when they came.

And they came...

First thing this morning a seventh grade girl came right up to me, "Mrs. Heise, I finished my first book!" This was the start of the third day of school, and she's already done with a whole book. And she's excited about it. And she immediately asked if I had the next book which we went to find on the shelves. That was a joyful moment. I slowed down to appreciate it and remember it. That helped make my day.

Looking around the room during Independent Daily Reading (IDR), I saw how much my students are enjoying the "poufs" I took quite a bit of time last week to procure for them to use during reading time to get more comfortable on the floor. Seeing them leaning up against them, sharing them, sitting on them, flopped over them...made it completely worth the effort I put into finding them. It makes me smile every time I see them using them so happily.

At the end of IDR time in the next class, a seventh grade boy walked toward me holding up I Am Number Four proclaiming, "This book is awesome!" I agree kiddo, and I have the rest of the series ready to hand you when you're done.

Because technology class isn't happening due to MAP testing, my seventh grade homeroom came back to me later in the day during that time. As they walked in, (keeping in mind this is only day 3 of school so they don't know me super well yet) this conversation occurred:
Student: "Are we reading?"
Me: "Yes."
Student: "Awesome!"
2nd Student: "Ugh."
3rd Student: "Wait, what are we doing?"
2nd Student: "Reading."
3rd Student: "And that's a bad thing?"
Me: *Walks in behind them with a big grin*

And finally, later in the day with my 8th graders, I asked them to "Get to a good stopping point," at the end of IDR time, and I received a chorus of groans and "Can't we just keep reading the whole time?"

I slowed down and found the joy in my day today (and it was so joyful to see these student reactions already!). Thanks for the reminder early this morning, Universe. I'm remembering to pay attention now.