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Twenty years ago this summer I became a fellow with the National Writing Project summer institute. That summer completely changed my ideas about teaching. In the institute, teachers were teaching teachers. There was not one guru in the room imparting knowledge. The writing workshop of Donald Graves became my own. We were all learners and teachers, collaborating, writing, coaching.
I kept this model for teaching writing all these years, but I hadn’t thought about applying it to reading. This week I have participated with an amazing group of teachers in a cyber book club around Cynthia Lord’s Handful of Stars. I was not intimidated about joining in because I had already read the book once. Also, my friend Julianne Harmatz was spearheading the project, and I wanted to support her efforts. I had no idea that it would change my entire philosophy about teaching reading.
Because I teach elementary gifted students at varying grade levels, I have to create an individualized plan for my students. A few years ago I read Aimee Buckner’s Notebook Know How and implemented reader response notebooks into my curriculum. I have gone from requiring three responses a week to requiring only one. After this week, I think I know what has been missing. Note-taking.
As I was reading Handful of Stars, in order to be ready to write my response for the group, I took notes. I found myself writing down quotes. Quotes that spoke to me. Quotes of wisdom. Quotes that showed a change in the character. Here is a sample of my writing from a quote.
“People want us to come and work, but they want us to be invisible.” Whoa! Similar to the quote above about change. Being invisible is how so many racial and socio-economic prejudices play out. Maybe if we ignore them and go our own way, no one will really notice. Like that damned flag. We need to be having these conversations, as tough as they may be. We need to make the invisible, visible. All lives matter!
I was surprised at what this quote bubbled up in me. Writing fleshes out and helps you understand more fully yourself and your response to text. This is a powerful realization for me. I have felt that my reader response assignments have been just that, assignments. Now that I have experienced writing about reading in such a supportive environment, my passion for noticing and noting has grown. I will be more intentional about the note taking during reading.
All of us in this group of teachers have experienced revelations such as these. I learned about tools such as a pressure map for the main character and a what I know/what I wonder chart. I have new tools in my tool box and a fresh outlook on reading workshop.
Julianne created a game for finding quotes in a book using an Uno card game. Take a look at it here.
Our group will be having a Twitter chat on Tuesday at 7:30 PM Eastern using #WabtR. Join us and see what new thinking arises. Working with a group of like-minded and dedicated teachers has fueled me this summer. I have so many new Star Friends!
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Reflections on the Teche 
Margaret, This group sounds amazing and I wish I’d been able to join. There is so much this summer, I’m feeling overwhelmed. Sigh… Is it a good idea for me to join the Twitter chat even if I haven’t been doing that work? I’d like to be there! 🙂
You should join the chat because we are talking about the work not specific to the text but more about our teaching.
I’m planning to start that book next (per your recommendation). Have to finish Circus Mirandus first.
“We” are so lucky you joined the group. I believed it was going to be a great group but had no idea how powerful it would get. Now I’m not sure if I want to read alone.
Can’t wait for the chat. I think our journey has just begun!
Margaret,
I was excited to read that you were also touched by the National Writing Project and it has impacted your teaching. I am currently co-facilitating the Long Island Writing Project Summer Institute and being a fellow in 2002 changed my life and my teaching philosophy. I was also happy to see you referenced Amy Buckner’s book. I am reading both of her notebooks books this summer- reading and writing- and finding so many valuable ideas to try with my students. One of the areas that I’ve been struggling with is figuring out what should live in the reading notebook and how to make writing about reading feel less like a chore. Going through this process with A Handful of Stars showed me the value in taking time to record my thinking but I also feel like the audience/community really played a role in my motivation. Now to figure out how to transfer that to my students and their reading! Thanks again for a great post, Margaret!
I think I got the title wrong on the Amy Buckner book. It’s Notebook Connections, the one about reader response.
I echo your thoughts about writing about reading. It is a chore for my students. I’ve cut down on the number of required responses because of this. Our experience has taught me that it is very important, though. So how do we motivate our students in the same way? An ongoing dilemma.
Margaret,
Thank you so much for sharing your NWP story. I have noticed a lot of your work on the CLMOOC as well. I knew you had a history with the project, but it was nice to read more about it.
I SOOOOOOO wanted to join this book group. With #cyberPD and #CLMOOC I knew wouldn’t be able to give it the attention it would need. I’m enjoying reading about the group and your reflections. It really matches well with the reading we are doing in #cyberPD as we talk about Digital Reading: What’s Essential by Franki Sibberson and William Bass.
Thanks for hosting again,
Cathy
I understand making choices. I had already read the book, so the choice was easy for me. I am listening in on the posts about cyperPD as well. So many good things going on this summer. Wish I could do them all.
I had good intentions of joining this group, but two days at Nerd Camp and then helping my daughter in her new classroom demanded more of my time. If only we had more….sigh. Writing about reading has been my “fix it” project for this summer. I have made strides but I know I would have learned so much from this group. I do plan to join the Twitter chat even though I am at another conference this week too. This one is in my hometown so it shouldn’t be too bad. See you Tuesday!
You have been busy. It will be hard to put into words the experience we had with this book club. I was amazed at the variety and depth of responses. I hope you will join the chat.
Star friends indeed. This has been an incredibly energizing endeavor. I had every expectation it would be great but wow! Beyond great. I love what you say about note taking as you read and you’ve got me thinking about how I can model/ teach/ encourage my skilled fourth grade readers to do this …and how it might change and enrich discussions and writing. Thanks for such a clear reflection on our shared experience Margaret.
[…] few weeks ago I wrote about a virtual book club I joined led by Julianne Harmatz. We read A Handful of Stars and wrote using Google docs. The model […]