Happy teaching moments by Jennifer Mitchell

One of my favorite parts of teaching is finding a book that connects with my students.  A few years ago, I was introduced to the book, Because of Winn Dixie.  Though it was not a newly published book, it was one that I hadn’t read to students before.  I loved the engagement the students had with it, and it seemed like they could really connect to the character Opal because they could identify with how she was feeling throughout the book.  The other characters in the book all have their own challenges, and that provides for rich conversation while teaching.  Literature “finds” like this, that connect with kids, and get them engaged and wanting to read, makes me fall in love with teaching all over again. 






As a special bonus to this reading unit, we always do a culminating activity with one of the characters where we focus on their character traits and how they changed throughout the story.  A couple of years ago we also started surprising the kids by having a party like they had in the book, egg salad sandwiches, pickles and of course Littmus lozenges.  As a teacher, I remember these moments, so I hope that students not only remember them, but that they also spark a love of reading for kids.


Jennifer Mitchell — teacher in the Kansas City area


Comments

  1. I love that you had this party! I also love focusing on a character change.

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  2. So wonderful that you celebrate and honor those special moments. I bet so many of your students remember them as well.

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