Our Literature Footprint

What is the literature footprint in your classroom?

I love reading workshop time in my class. I am in book heaven. This week as my class was reading, I looked around and checked out their literature footprint.  Here are a few of the titles.

·      Son of Neptune

·      Lunch Lady, a graphic novel

·      Smile, a graphic novel

·      Ancient Weapons

·      Go, Dog. Go!

·      Mortimer! Mortimer!

·      Warriors

·      A Tale Dark and Grimm

·      Fancy Nancy

·      A Field Guide to Dragons,

Conferring with my students about these books takes us to very diverse places. Let me offer you a quick snapshot of some of our discussions.

The other day I was able to reread Go, Dog. Go! with a student. This was one of my favourite books when I was a kid, and it doesn’t take much persuading to entice me back into it. I love listening to the rhythm in the words. It is a happy place to be.

Now reading about Ancient Weapons is something that I wouldn’t likely pursue on my own. In fact, I can’t tell you the last time that I pulled a book on this topic off of a library shelf.  Yet, as we discuss this book, I am intrigued by my student’s description of “the evolution of weapons throughout history.” I need to know more.

The graphic novel Smile, an ALA and Eisner award winner, was very popular in my classroom last year, and is making the rounds again this year. I shared with this student that the author, Raina Telgemeier, was the illustrator for the Baby-Sitters Club graphic novels. We pulled that series from the shelf and we spent some time comparing the character illustrations. I think I can predict what book she will read next.

Next week, I’m looking forward to exploring Fancy Nancy and Son of Neptune. I invite you to have a look around your classroom and check out what your students are reading. What is the literature footprint in your classroom?