Red is my favorite color.
Can you tell?
Last month I was green.
Next month I’ll be brown.
But now I’m red, and I’m in my glory.
The sun and the wind like to play with me.
Children want to be with me.
I’m the one. The One.
It feels good.
I watch children.
They watch me.
I love them.
They love me.
I love being red,
because the more I give
my red shines like a beacon.
Jennie
I finished reading reading aloud Charlotte’s Web this week, with mixed emotions. I have a dramatic scene (understatement) I do at the ending of a chapter book. I get upset and tell my wonderful fellow teacher:
“Heidi, I don’t like this. The book is almost over. I don’t want it to end. Ever. I want the story to keep going. I’m so sad.”
Heidi is ready with her jeopardy-quick response, cool as a cucumber:
“Jennie, I know you’re upset and sad. It’s okay. Our chapter book has to end. It was a really good book. Guess what? That means we get to start a new chapter book tomorrow! It will be wonderful.”
In this way, we validate how good our chapter book was, and open the door for a new one.
Reading aloud the last chapter of Charlotte’s Web was pretty powerful.
As time went on and the months and years came and went, he was never without friends. Fern did not come regularly to the barn anymore. She was growing up, and careful to avoid childish things, like sitting on a milk stool near a pigpen. But Charlotte’s children and grandchildren and great grandchildren, year after year, lived in the doorway. Each spring there were new little spiders hatching out to take the place of the old. Most of them sailed away, on their balloons. But always two or three stayed and set up housekeeping in the door-way.
Mr. Zuckerman took fine care of Wilbur all the rest of his days, and the pig was often visited by friends and admirers, for nobody ever forgot the year of his triumph and the miracle of the web. Life in the barn was very good- night and day, winter and summer, spring and fall, dull days and bright days. It was the best place to be, thought Wilbur, this warm delicious cellar, with the garrulous geese, the changing seasons, the heat of the sun, the passage of swallows, the nearness of rats, the sameness of sheep, the love of spiders, the smell of manure, and the glory of everything.
Wilbur never forgot Charlotte. Although he loved her children and grandchildren dearly, none of the new spiders ever quite took her place in his heart. She was in a class by herself. It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer. Charlotte was both.
THE END
Did you know it took E.B. White seventeen takes to record the last chapter? Seventeen. He was overcome with tears and emotion. You see, in the book he is Wilbur and his wife is Charlotte. My goodness!
The best book about E.B. White is Some Writer! The Story of E.B. White, by Melissa Sweet. It’s much more than a story; the book includes photos, manuscripts, artifacts, memorabilia, and much more. Highly recommended!
Jennie
Tonight was a magical evening. Pizza dinner at school is pretty cool; yet carving a pumpkin into a jack-o-lantern with your family is a memory builder. We so enjoyed all the activity and excitement with each family. As the sun was setting, arranging all the jack-o-lanterns on the stone wall was filled with anticipation. Each one was lit with a tea light, glowing in the darkening sky.
Everyone sat together in a circle with their jack-o-lanterns. Singing the Jack-O-Lantern song along with the autoharp as it became dark was… perfect. Truly, it was a moment in time, the kind that leaves you with a feeling deep in your chest, yet you cannot find words to explain it. You just know that it is special. Often it is the little moments that are the most important and the best of all.
Jennie
Thank you, Carla, at Carla Loves To Read for posting this. Read on to see what classic children’s books were banned. My addition to banned children’s books is Charlotte’s Web.
This meme was started by Rae Longest at Powerful Women Readers, but as she is busy with her bookstore, she is not posting as much and asked me to take over. I hope some of you will join in and post those reviews of children’s or middle grade books on Saturdays. As I am a grandmother, who loves to read to her grandchildren, a mother who loved to read to and with her children, and a retired teacher librarian, this meme is right up my alley.
This is a bit different of a post this week. I am not reviewing any books but sharing some wonderful books that have been banned and the reason for it. I have read all these book to either my children, grandchildren or to students when I was teaching.
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
What it’s about: “Once there was a tree…and she loved a little boy.”
So begins a story of unforgettable perception, beautifully written and illustrated by the gifted and versatile Shel Silverstein.
Every day the boy would come to the tree to eat her apples, swing from her branches, or slide down her trunk…and the tree was happy. But as the boy grew older he began to want more from the tree, and the tree gave and gave and gave.
This is a tender story, touched with sadness, aglow with consolation. Shel Silverstein has created a moving parable for readers of all ages that offers an affecting interpretation of the gift of giving and a serene acceptance of another’s capacity to love in return.
Why It Was Banned: The Giving Tree was banned from a public library in Colorado in 1988, and has faced challenges elsewhere, primarily because it was interpreted as promoting a sexist message. Critics believed the book depicted a female tree that selflessly gives everything to a selfish boy who takes without giving anything in return. Some also argued the book encourages unhealthy, codependent relationships or the exploitation of nature.
And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
What It’s About: In the zoo there are all kinds of animal families. But Tango’s family is not like any of the others.
This illustrated children’s book fictionalizes the true story of two male penguins who became partners and raised a penguin chick in the Central Park Zoo.
At the penguin house at the Central Park Zoo, two penguins named Roy and Silo were a little bit different from the others. But their desire for a family was the same. And with the help of a kindly zookeeper, Roy and Silo got the chance to welcome a baby penguin of their very own!
Why It Was Banned: And Tango Makes Three has not been “banned” universally but has been a consistently challenged and restricted book in U.S. schools and libraries due to its portrayal of two male penguins raising a chick, which some object to for depicting homosexuality as normal. Challenges cite the book as “unsuitable” or “anti-family” and have led to its removal from some schools and libraries, particularly after the implementation of the “Don’t Say Gay” law in Florida, though legal challenges have often resulted in the book’s return to public access.
Harriet The Spy by Louise Fitzhugh
What It’s About: Harriet the Spy has a secret notebook that she fills with utterly honest jottings about her parents, her classmates, and her neighbors. Every day on her spy route she “observes” and notes down anything of interest to her.
IF MARION HAWTHORNE DOESN’T WATCH OUT SHE’S GOING TO GROW UP INTO A LADY HITLER.
But when Harriet’s notebook is found by her schoolmates, their anger and retaliation and Harriet’s unexpected responses explode in a hilarious way.
Why It Was Banned: Harriet the Spy was banned and challenged because critics argued the main character was a bad influence who encouraged children to lie, spy, talk back, and curse. The book was also criticized for Harriet’s abrasive personality, her tantrums, and the fact that she didn’t seem sorry for the hurt she caused others by writing about them in her notebook.
Strega Nona by Tomie de Paola
What It’s About: Strega Nona — “Grandma Witch” — is the source for potions, cures, magic, and comfort in her Calabrian town. Her magical everfull pasta pot is especially intriguing to hungry Big Anthony. He is supposed to look after her house and tend her garden but one day, when she goes over the mountain to visit Strega Amelia, Big Anthony recites the magic verse over the pasta pot, with disastrous results.
In this retelling of an old tale, author-illustrator Tomie dePaola (whose middle names is Anthony) combines humor in the writing and warmth in the paintings as he builds the story to its hilarious climax.
Why Was It Banned: Strega Nona has been challenged and banned in some children’s libraries due to its positive depiction of magic and witchcraft. Some religious or concerned groups view the benevolent portrayal of witchcraft, including a magical pasta pot used to heal ailments and create food, as potentially harmful or inappropriate for children.
This is just 4 children’s books that have been challenged and banned in different places at different times. Pick one up and give it a read.
Welcome, Gloria! Children loved her from Day One. After all these years, I often think about the wonder of her magic, connecting with children. They want to be her friend. They want to take care of her. Here she is on her first day:
She even got a ‘check-up’ in our dramatic play doctor’s office.
Children greeted Gloria.
Some children were not sure,
some embraced her,
some watched.
After school, I got this email from a family:
“Thank you!! Love the inclusion and acceptance lessons!
Charlie is already in love with Gloria and asking when she can sleep over at our house.
Today when we got in the car I asked if she saw Gloria today and she started crying to go back inside to introduce me to Gloria so we went back in. She instructed me to be very quiet because Gloria is shy. Then she wanted a picture with her to bring home to show daddy.”
This is the picture for daddy.
My Goodness!
Gloria is away at Cape Cod this weekend with Charlie. She has never had a weekend with a child on her very first week at school. This is big. I can’t wait to hear about her adventures.
Here is the email I sent to families, explaining and introducing Gloria:
Gloria was introduced to your children this week. She came to Morning Meeting, reluctantly, because she is very shy. After all, some people have called her a witch, so it is no wonder she needed coaxing to meet the Aqua Roomers. Gloria is old, has wrinkly skin and gray hair, and is very fond of black. Actually, black is her favorite color, along with a pointy hat and pointy shoes. Gloria is our classroom puppet, yet she is very real to all the children. She represents all the things that children feel. Because she is different, she helps children develop an understanding of others.
When she arrived, your children didn’t know what to think. No one said a word, and there were many wide eyes. When we talked about Gloria, children wondered if she was a witch. That was the perfect door to open! Gloria herself jumped in to talk (finally), and she told them how people had called her a witch. “Well, I’m not a witch. I just like black. It’s my favorite color. My skin is wrinkly, and my hair is gray and sticky-uppy-outy.” Then children started to look to Gloria directly, eye to eye, and Gloria responded in kind. One child rushed over to give Gloria a surprise hug. No words were needed. Then she introduced herself. Gloria wanted to learn the names of your children, and asked each child if she could shake their hand. Well, children stayed by her side after the handshake. Many surrounded the teacher chair, and the conversations kept going. There were spontaneous hugs and high-fives.
This was powerful. What transpired in our classroom in less than thirty minutes is what can sometimes take years for people to learn; caring and acceptance. Gloria is different, yet she has the same feelings that we all do. She is a good friend. Your children were able to look beyond her appearance and see her for what she truly is.
A child rushed over to hold her. A group gathered to play with her. They gave her a check-up in the doctor’s office. They were careful and gentle; it made teachers smile to stand back and watch. Children were helping Gloria. She is being looked after. She is a new friend. Today we took her to other classes to greet teachers she knows well, and see former Aqua Roomers. Everyone was very excited.
Gloria will quickly become a close member of the Aqua Room. She will be the one who understands, or perhaps the one who has problems. She will be fun, sometimes silly, and may look to your children for a hug. If you want to know more about Gloria, she has a journal with stories and photos of weekend visits with Aqua Roomers over many years. She has been everywhere! We hope she can visit your children. Please tell her hello when you’re in the classroom.
Jennie
If you think reading aloud doesn’t make a difference, think again!
Mac then
Mac now
His parents recently wrote to me:
“We commented before bed that Angus is probably ready for chapter books and Mac jumped up for the opportunity to read him The Wild Robot each night. We remembered that Mac started to read chapter books with you at this age. Too bad Angus can’t be in the Aqua Room with you this year!”
All of our best,
The Igoes
The photos span many years. What a treasure to see that reading aloud sticks – really sticks. In order to tell you the whole story (oh, it’s a good story), here is a blog repost. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did, again.
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This Christmas card arrived from Mac and his family. Oh, the memories and stories I have to tell. He is quite ‘old’ in this photo, so I have to go back four years to tell you about Mac.
“Oh Jennie, how we miss you so!
We are forever grateful for the 2 years Mac had with you
that will serve him for a lifetime.
Lots of love.”
Mac wasn’t quite three years old when he started in my preschool class. One of my first memories is when he discovered our Memory Garden at school. He wanted to know about the stones and statues, and the departed classroom pets they represented. He loved the planted American flags. We had just had a Memorial Day remembrance at school. It made an impression on him. Mac often ‘visited’ the Memory Garden after that day.
November 9, 2017
Mac loved spending time looking at the picture books in the classroom. His absolute favorite book was Humphrey The Lost Whale. Every time I read this book to children, I think of Mac. It’s a nice memory for me.
The book includes a map of the United States on the end papers. This is where Mac started a lesson that exploded in the best of ways.
First we studied the map and traced Humphrey’s route from the ocean to the Sacramento River. Next, we studied the small map, but it was too small to really see. I got out our Big Book Atlas. We found San Francisco and Humphrey’s locale. We also found Massachusetts (we always relate geography to home), and then the questions started to flow.
“Why is Massachusetts so small?” “How far away is Humphrey?”
Mac noticed Mount Rushmore on the Big Book Atlas. “What’s that?”
I told them about carving the huge rock. I told them about the four presidents. I tried to explain how big Mount Rushmore really is. “You would be much smaller than the nose.”
Blank stares. I had to do more. I grabbed the iPad and found a photo of a worker on the nose at Mount Rushmore. That helped show Mac and the children about the size. This was exciting! Of course it had nothing to do with Humphrey, but that didn’t matter. This is emergent curriculum, when a teachable moment presents itself, and that becomes the lesson. This was a joyful one for everybody. And yes, we finally read Humphrey the Lost Whale. Mac took it home that weekend.
Mac loved Gloria
January 9, 2019
Mac’s dad was a high school English teacher, and was surprised that I read chapter books to the children at rest time. We often had discussions about children and reading, even though the ages of the students we taught were far apart. Interestingly, he reached out to me as to how to get his students to listen to books he read aloud, and of course to get them to read more. Teacher to teacher.
“Turn out the lights. Have them put their heads down on their desks and close their eyes”, I suggested. “That’s what I do at chapter reading.”
He was stunned. “Really?”
One of the first things children will often ask is, “Where are the pictures?”, and I tell them how to make the pictures in their head: the words go into your ears, then to your brain, and sometimes into your heart. Then, you will see the pictures.”
We talked about this for a while. He was excited, as if he had discovered something brand new. Well, he had. The following week he couldn’t wait to tell me how marvelous it now was to read aloud to his students. I smiled. He did, too.
Mac and his family moved away. That summer Mac and his dad went camping up north. They got supplies in a nearby town, including a trip to the local book store for Mac to pick out a book for his dad to read to him. He selected Charlotte’s Web, which Mac loved and remembered from chapter reading in the classroom. Dad was so happy, he sent me this photo:
July 24, 2019
A few years later – which is now – these memories are still with Mac and his family. They’re still with me, too. Thank you, Mac!
Jennie
Summer is over.
Flowers have finished blooming,
yet one brave, red, bloom burst forth
with grandeur that rivaled nature.
Flowers are like children,
my children at school.
They bloom at different times.
Some are quiet, some are vibrant.
Yet, when they bloom, I’m with them,
all the way.
Jennie
Sometimes I read something that makes me stop in my tracks, takes my breath away:
I believe we are simple creatures with a complex makeup. That may not make sense but think about it in its simplest form: we are alive but within each of us is a spark that enhances. It enhances not just us and those around us but the world itself. We may not believe that our spark could have any lasting effect but think of the people who read our words, hear of our journey or see our artwork and are then inspired to go out and do something creative. Or just to be kind, to connect with another human being. Once again it is the domino effect. We are not just living; we are thriving but only with each other.
Thank you, Pam at quiallButterfly Sand
Jennie
Storytelling is a staple in my classroom. It connects teachers with children, especially if those stories are “real.” It gives children a big dose of language, because storytelling doesn’t include pictures. They hear the words and make the pictures in their heads. Receptive language (what you hear) is the foundation for expressive language (what you say.)
Jennie Stories are ever-popular. My teaching partner has embraced storytelling! Recently she told The Bat Story, and it was so good I grabbed my phone to video the second half of the story:
This is what makes our classroom a family.
Wait, there’s more to storytelling. I give children an opportunity to tell their own stories. After we have settled into the school year, children tell me what they like to do in school. They watch me write their exact words and read it back to them. In this way, they see their words ‘in print’, making a connection with reading, and giving value to the child’s story.
The icing on the cake is having children illustrate their story, cementing their words. We hang these picture stories in the hallway, with a photo of each child alongside their story.
Jennie
I’ll never forget the first time I saw painted cows. They adorned the main street in Bennington, Vermont. You couldn’t help but be in awe of the art on the cows. Now, cows at Old Sturbridge Village have been decorated by artists. They are wonderful! Art brings everything to life, including cows. Thank you, Dan Antion for sharing this cow post. I’m thrilled you thought of me on the Starry Night cow.
A Teacher's Reflections 