Joy of Teaching Day 3--STORY TIME

One of the best parts of my job is story time. Yep, story time. I love reading to these kids, making up voices for the characters, forgetting the "curriculum" for fifteen minutes and simply revelling in the joy of reading. I think some of the best literature conversations in my classroom have taken place during the story time part of the day. We are getting to the end of a LONG suspensful book and when I say, "and THAT'S where we have to stop for today," I hear groans and pleads to read just a little more.

So, hat's off to Story Time! My joyful moment of today.

0 members like this

Comment by Dan on January 14, 2010 at 6:14am: What grade do you teach? I do the same thing in my 5th grade class. I tend to read the same novels aloud every year, so I know exactly where to stop to leave 'em hanging!

Comment by Michelle TeGrootenhuis on January 14, 2010 at 7:21am: Thanks for the comment, Dan.
I teach 5th grade as well. What are some of your favorite titles for story time? I'm always looking for a variety to read and to have for literature circles as well.

Comment by Jessica Eitzen on January 14, 2010 at 8:15am: I LOVE reading to my kids. I try (not always successfully) to read ot my children every day. I like to read books I enjoyed as a child but that don't necessarily have a movie to go with them (although sometimes it's interesting to read the book, watch the movie, and have them compare/contrast). Right now we're reading one of my childhood favorites--The Phantom Tollbooth. They absolutely LOVE it! They keep asking when we can read more. Right now we're at the point where Milo is in prison for a million years and he meets the Which.

Comment by Jessica Eitzen on January 14, 2010 at 8:18am: The favorites I love to read to my students:
The Phantom Tollbooth
Matilda (and other Roald Dahl books)
Bunnicula (any of the James Howe books)
The Trumpet of the Swan
any and all Ramona books

Comment by Dan on January 14, 2010 at 8:38am: My list of favorites:
A Long Way from Chicago (and the sequel if the kids get into it: A Year Down Yonder)
Hoot
Loser (usually start the year with this one)
Crash
Ruby Holler

What's on your list?

Comment by Michelle TeGrootenhuis on January 14, 2010 at 4:02pm: Thanks so much, everyone, for the title suggestions. So many books, so little time!

For story time I'm currently finishing up the book Heir Apparent by Vivian VandeVelde. It's a LONG one, but SO good. I also like Island by Gordon Korman, and Rules by Cynthia Lord. This year I'm really thinking about reading aloud the first book of the 39 Clues series from Scholastic. Anyone read that one for story time?

Comment by Dan on January 15, 2010 at 5:52am: I tend to shy away from longer books, but the kids really want me to read "The Lightning Thief" aloud, before the movie comes out. (Yes, my class actually want to "read" the book before the movie!)
I've not read 39 Clues.

Comment by Michelle TeGrootenhuis on January 17, 2010 at 10:42am: I have HEARD so much about The Lightning Thief, including rave reviews from Donalyn Miller, author of The Book Whisperer. That is going to be the next book I read for children's lit. Thanks for mentioning it. By the way, my son and I have been reading the 39 Clues series at bedtime. He (10 years old) loves them. :-)

Comment