Gwinna

Yesterday, I finished reading The Wizard of Oz aloud to the class. In preparation for the theme that starts next week—flight—I offered the children a choice of two books, both of which center around children who can fly: either Peter Pan, or Gwinna, by Barbara Helen Berger. They chose Gwinna. It's a beautiful book, though not much known. It's not as long as some chapter books we'll read, so perhaps we'll have time for Peter Pan, too.

We're going to try a new reading system (new to me, too!). I'll be reading aloud to the children at the beginning and end of each day, and so we need the chapter books we're reading to be in school each day. However, if any child wants to take the book home to keep reading in it, that will be allowed for one night, on one condition: if that child reads ahead at home, then he or she needs to pick out a couple of favorite pages from that reading to share with the class. This will be good practice reading out loud, and will allow the children to share their favorite moments in the book with one another. I am discussing with the children the importance of practicing their readings out loud at home before bringing the book back. I look forward to seeing what moments in the story strike them!