The “I swear you will miss them” post!

There are teachers on my staff (who will remain nameless) with a countdown of the school days left in the school year. (If you’re in our district, I think it’s 36

There are teachers on my staff (who will remain nameless) with a countdown of the school days left in the school year. (If you’re in our district, I think it’s 36, as of today. I know I made you wonder.) However, let me tell you something that I know to be true: whether this is your best-behaved class, your 100th class or the class that drove you to the non-book item in my picture- you will miss them. You will never forget this class or any class. You are a teacher. This means, for the rest of your life, you will carry an imaginary bag of memories and a list of names of the children who forever changed you. With 36 days to go, let me remind you, they were changed by you, as well.

Here is a list of books with characters as funny, annoying and inspiring as those that sit in front of you each day. Please enjoy: laugh and be inspired- in not that long, those 36 days will pass and it will seem like it went too fast.

Bink and Golie: For whatever reason, these Kate DiCamillo books have not garnered the attention of her others. Let me tell you, they live up to her name. The vocabulary is extensive, the characters are almost too real and you will laugh out loud. I appreciate that she made this “picture book” into the feel of a “chapter book” for some of my kiddos that are not quite ready for chapter books but really wish they were. Thanks, Kate- you did it again.

The Fantastic Flying Books of Morris Lessmore: “Morris Lessmore loved words. He loved stories. He loved books.” So starts the adventure of this book that you must read for the poor child that you have asked to stop reading and do their math work at least million times this year. Remind them that they are special, books are special and you get it. Enjoy the beautiful art and the moving text and then, please, one more time, let your students write for the sake of writing. Their imaginations have capacity that we will never know if they never write it.

One Cool Friend: I feel like I have endlessly tried to find a place for this book in this blog. I almost dared to put it in with books much more academic than it tries to be. The reality is this: the book is special. The ending will get you. No spoilers here- the book comes in paperback, for goodness sakes. Just go buy it and thank me later.

Louise, The Adventures of a Chicken: Okay, I am practically making this post a Kate DiCamillo theme but bear with me. Your students are tired of five paragraph essays and hamburger graphic organizers. Let them write stories their imaginations dream of late at night. Read some great stories and then let them write their own. This book is also an homage to someone I will never forget. My grandmother, Louise, was not a chicken but she surely sought adventure. Send your students out into the world with bigger imaginations, brains full of fabulous literature and an “I can do anything” mentality.

XO, OX: My librarian put this in my mailbox the other day. I think I looked like I needed a laugh and this book definitely delivered. I, in turn, bought it for my mother’s Easter basket. (Let’s not talk about the number of adults in my family still getting Easter baskets.) Ox is my new hero and he is sure to be yours. Never Give Up. Long Live Ox. Long Live Love! You know what I mean- it’s good!