Wonder is Wonderful for Teaching Character

Have you ever seen someone that looked “different” and found yourself glancing at that person? Did you wonder what that person’s story was?

Wonder by R.J. Palacio is a realistic fiction book that you will not want to put down. It tells the story of a boy, August, who was born with facial defects. He was home schooled through fourth grade, and he enters a school environment for the first time in fifth grade. The book is written in sections with each being from a different character’s point of view.

I am planning on starting the school year off reading this book with my class. It’s perfect for teaching about character. We will explore character traits, perspectives, motives, actions and effects on others. I found this great culminating character activity at  Keep ’em Thinking.  I’m looking forward to sharing my students’ finished projects with you when we are done.

Have you read Wonder and/or used it in your classroom?

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The Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller

I love this book! This was the first book I read on summer vacation. It was so engaging that I was not able to put it down, and I finished reading it in one day.

I am itching to get back in to my classroom to change my reading program. New and old thoughts for my reading program:

* Reorganize my library. I currently have it set up by book level. I plan to organize it by genre. Instead of focusing on Accelerated Reader (A.R.) points, my class is going to use a 30 book goal with genre requirements.

* Spiral review “morning work” will now become homework (which will be corrected). This will give me more time for independent reading.

* Reading homework will be skills based. Independent reading will be assigned, but a log for homework will not be used.

* Students will bring books with them to Picture Day, the library, and field-trips (if they are allowed to carry a bag).

* Accountability will be monitored through the use of a reader’s notebook and performance on Accelerated Reader (A.R.) quizzes. My school uses Accelerated Reader/STAR.

* Book Commercials – I love the idea of having on-the-spot book recommendations. It reminds me of Reading Rainbow and Scholastic Book Fair videos.

Have you read the book? What were your thoughts?