Home to the great conversations about how to best promote reading to our students and the titles we can share with them (and each other). #titletalk meets on the last Sunday of each month from 8-9 pm EST.
Hello, #titletalk friends! Joining from Minnesota. I’m a first grade teacher and ILA co-chair for my school district. Looking forward to learning from all of you!
Wrapping up a book-filled weekend with #titletalk - perfect! I'm Sarah, a K-5 librarian and host of the #mglit podcast Happy Reading. I'm planning an episode on books about grief, so this is great timing!
Checking in from southern Indiana. This is an important topic tonight and I wouldn't expect anything less from @donalynbooks and @colbysharp to lead it here at #TitleTalk.
A1: Books might serve for some as the only mirror to their experience. In my community there are very few minority students. Those who struggle with that isolation books can be a comfort. #titletalk
A1: Books can make people feel less alone and realize that there are other people out there going through similar experiences. Books can also inspire people to affect change in their lives and communities. Pretty powerful stuff! #titletalk
#titletalk A1: I was one of those kids. Books allowed me an escape, a way to get away from the chaos of my family and get lost in my mind. They also showed me what was possible, that I could have some agency.
A1: Books can show children they are not alone. Their problems and situations are not unique. Books can provide comfort, and most importantly, a sense of hope. #titletalk
A1: Books serve as the best #windows to understand the world around them, empathize with those with whom they are unfamiliar, and #mirrors to help kids know they’re not alone. #titletalk
A1: books can help students understand that they are not alone in the emotions they're feeling and the experiences that may be rocking their world. When you know you're not alone, you can process a bit easier #titletalk
A1: I think books are a great way to “get away” from reality. I think they give kids a great chance to step out of reality for a little bit. For a child going through a rough time, they can almost be like a sanctuary. #titletalk#slis325
A1 - Books can validate their experiences OR they can give them a moment's reprieve from their experiences. Books can help them to navigate hard times.
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Hello #titletalk was hoping to be here but... can come back and check tweets! Faige substitute T in Los Angeles. Spent many years in kinder and love my read alouds. Just read Number The Stars for me
A1 When a child can find himself in a story, he knows he is not alone. They also give kids safe spaces to explore daunting feelings - especially fear and anxiety when life gets challenging and overwhelming. #titletalk
A1: Books can make people feel less alone and realize that there are other people out there going through similar experiences. Books can also inspire people to affect change in their lives and communities. Pretty powerful stuff! #titletalk
A1: I think books allow us a view into other person's life. They help us build understanding and empathy. This is so important for those of us who teach in small rural towns in the middle of Michigan! #titletalk
A1: Books help kids understand that they are not alone with their problems or worries. Just read Clayton Byrd Goes Underground - https://t.co/r5QiJ9mYm9
Important book for kids dealing with loss of a loved one. #titletalk
A1 A good book can either take their mind off of their problems, or even offer coping strategies. It's important for teachers to really get to know their students, so we can suggest titles. #titletalk
A1: books can help by providing mirrors for our students to see characters go through similar hard times. Seeing themselves in books helps students know they are not alone. #titletalk
A1: Books offer escape, a way to take your mind off things. They can also comfort & heal. We all know the power of words. At times, I’ve been overwhelmed because an author put my complex emotions into beautiful writing. I’ve seen the same happen with Ss. It’s amazing. #titletalk
A1) for children-regardless of age-books can give their brains ‘permission’ to think of something other than their reality. They can also inspire kids into action to improve their realities! #titletalk
A1: Books can help kids relate to their classmates/friends. We only live our own one life. Books let us get inside the heads of others, and get a glimpse of what that might look like. #titletalk
A1 I have always believed in bibliotherapy. Seeing themselves in character or hearing about another's story helps Ss know how to deal &/or overcome. Provides healing & hope #titletalk
A1: Books help us gain perspective; understand that we’re not alone. Books provide comfort. Books provide escape. Books allow exposure to why ELSE is out there in life - and allow us to decide what our future could look like. Books are everything. #Titletalk
I was a fat kid who got picked on for my size and seeing similar situations in books like Blubber by the incomparable @judyblume helped me process my emotions. #titletalk
A1: Books are a pleasant distraction. I have a 8 month old and it’s beautiful to watch him get distracted by my reading voice or the colorful pictures or the rhythm of poetry. #titletalk#books
Currently what I am doing after my fathers passing a month ago. Books have been the only thing to help get through and feel somewhat “normal”#titletalk
books have the ability to articulate feelings and thoughts kids can experience but cannot describe. And of course, kids don’t feel so isolated and alone when they see these problems presented in something so public as a book. #titletalk
A1: Books can serve as a temporary escape from a harsh reality. Just last week I had a first grader who would not stop crying. Finally, after over an hour, I asked if he thought a funny book would help. It piqued his interest and eventually got him to laugh! #titletalk
A1: This may be the very reason books are called "hard bound." Because life is bound to be hard. These books give us something to which we can cling. Even before we open them, an answer begins to take shape. A hurt finds response. A healing begins. A story is shared. #titletalk
A1: Books help us gain perspective; understand that we’re not alone. Books provide comfort. Books provide escape. Books allow exposure to what ELSE is out there in life - and allow us to decide what our future could look like. Books are everything. #Titletalk
A1 Getting lost (or found) in a book can be especially comforting during difficult times. It's helpful to set aside the reality of hard stuff while going away to other places when reading. Comfort or diversion--either is possible in the pages of a good book. #titletalk
A1 Books help us see we are not alone. They can also give us hope that others may gain new insights and perspectives when they read books that reflect our story. #titletalk
A1: Books help us see that we are not alone in the world. We can see how characters navigate problems related to our own. This may teach us something or just be a comfort. Either way, it's a positive influence! #titletalk
A1. My first thought is they help kids feel less alone, but this wknd I dove into fantasy to escape, and I think that's what kids need, too, sometimes. #titletalk
A1 books assure us that in the darkest of times we are not alone. We can read about characters whose expierences are like ours and be reassured that like them we will preserve in spite of challenging times. #titletalk
A1/ Books are an escape. They're a way for readers to live an adventure and imagine what if. They allow readers to see what might happen if they followed the path the MC was taking. And they see the consequences of decisions. #titletalk
A1 - I think books are therapeutic and cathartic. They are amazing for mental health, and can help kids escape harsh realities. On the other hand, the right book can be a mirror & help validate a child’s feelings about their difficult time or struggle #titletalk
A1: Books can provide hope in hard times, rehearsals for how to cope & endure, validation that they are not alone & comfort in companionship #titletalk
A1: In most cases books can show children that their struggles and challenges are cross cultural. Bullying in a small town in Manitoba is like bullying in Australia. Books allow children, youth, and adults to know that they are not alone #titletalk
Books also teach. Hard times don’t necessarily have to be sad. Sometimes, the situation calls for resilience. Books teach that. Sometimes, a person needs new knowledge. Books teach that as well. Whatever the situation, books are definitely there to help. #titletalk
A1: I lost two family members during 3rd and 4th grade. Some books gave me an escape. Others taught me that loss is universal, and that I would be okay. #titletalk
A1: Putting books into the hands of children that can help them to see how characters in similar situations have dealt w/ tough situations. It can give Ss a role model or show them consequences they'd prefer to avoid. Books can provide opportunities to talk & hope #titletalk
Books should offer escape from our lives as well. I have had several students that books saved them from the unfortunate horror that was their lives. #titletalk
A1: They can help children process things and make sense of the world around them. Seeing characters in similar situations is powerful! On the flip side, they give a much needed break from reality. Sometimes you just need to forget about life and get lost in a story. #titletalk
Tonight's #titletalk (books in hard times) seems especially important. Glad to be back on Twitter and following along! I'm a firm believer that books can save lives.
Books provide a window through which our students can make connections, view matters from a variety of perspectives, and find inspiration during difficult times. #titletalk
A1: Books help students identify with characters like themselves. Seeing others go through tough times and make it out ok can give our students hope and motivation to carry on #titletalk
A1: I have found when Ss see themselves in a story, they will open up and share what they are thinking because they know they are an expert on the topic. They don't feel like they have to hold back. #titletalk
A1: Books offer children portraits of a variety of different kinds of relationships between characters. Helps students see the complexities that come with being human and having to deal with wide range of problems/emotions/connections. #TitleTalk
A1: Authors often place themes in books to help readers deal with specific challenges. Educators can help students find these and use them in the ways that will help them the most. #titletalk
A book can serve as a friend, keeping a kid company, but also provide inspiration and ideas to make changes in their own lives or the lives of others. Also, being told and becoming entranced by a good story is to be reminded of many of the best aspects of being human. #titletalk
A1: it’s so important for teachers to read and read widely what kids are reading. Because in those moments of hard times, the tchr can be armed with the perfect book. #titletalk
A!: I agree books can help by being a distraction or place to be lost, but I also think books can give guidance and examples or non-examples of how to deal with tough times. #titletalk
Books can heal, inform, and help our students gain courage they didn't think they had. They can encourage our students to speak up for what's right! #titletalk
A1: Books offer children portraits of a variety of different kinds of relationships between characters. Helps students see the complexities that come with being human and having to deal with wide range of problems/emotions/connections. #TitleTalk
A1. It allows for that transcendent experience. I am struggling/hurting/ searching and the story I’m reading about isn’t mine, their life isn’t mine, but I recognize their feelings...because I feel them, too. That connection is healing and world opening. #titletalk
A1: I think books can also help us see that others are having hard times when we aren't. Many of us live extremely privileged lives (raises hand). Books help us see a bigger world. #titletalk
And seeing your own struggle describe in beautiful language is uplifting. Those moments when you feel like an author is writing just for you... We need to help kids have those moments, too. #titletalk
A1 I also love when a student comes to me because they have a friend who is having a difficult time that they done really I understand. They come in search of a book that will help them better understand and support their friends in hard times. Books = empathy! #titletalk
Joining #titletalk tonight. A1: students can connect with characters who experience the same struggles they do. This incidental camaraderie can spark hope.
For many Ss if they can relate to the characters they can see how others are dealing with similar issues. Good relatable books can be a comfy blanket #titletalk
A1 A 6th grade student introduced herself to her class this year-- "I know I'm not very social and always have my face in a book, but my family is pretty screwed up and need to go somewhere else in my head. Don't take it personal. Just my way to cope." #titletalk
Yes to this. Even the kids in classes that problems are not easily seen. Books can help us see them. The quiet classmates that students notice after reading The Invisible Boy. #titletalk
A1: I think books can also help us see that others are having hard times when we aren't. Many of us live extremely privileged lives (raises hand). Books help us see a bigger world. #titletalk
A1 I also love when a student comes to me because they have a friend who is having a difficult time that they done really I understand. They come in search of a book that will help them better understand and support their friends in hard times. Books = empathy! #titletalk
A1: Books are there when adults aren’t. Conversations that are difficult will a lot of times be ignored by parents and other adults... Books sometimes become en loco parentis. #titletalk
Yes yes yes! I also live a very privileged life and NEED books to help understand as much as I can about different ways of life, cultures, experiences, etc. #titletalk
A1: They can also give a guide about how to interact with things that are outside of their own experience. You need to work on understanding hard times even if you don't live them all. #titletalk
A1: Books can do as @BreneBrown discusses abt empathy & just be w/ readers when they are in pain & we as educators can help make that connection #titletalkhttps://t.co/YPJ0cniOtp
A1 Books are an escape. They can also be a way to see that they are not alone in their experience. Finally, they can see other possibilities. #titletalk
A!: I agree books can help by being a distraction or place to be lost, but I also think books can give guidance and examples or non-examples of how to deal with tough times. #titletalk
A1: books in hard times give students (and teachers!) an avenue for conversation. My favorite hard times reads are the ones that see characters through to the point of the overcoming... esp. REAL people in REAL stories. Shows students there IS a way #titletalk
A1: Books are mirrors, and at the same time windows to the world at large. Books help students look inward, self-examine/reflect on their struggles, but they can also be a catalyst to help them truly see others and develop empathy for what they are enduring. #TitleTalk
A1 We don't always choose books with similar heartaches as our real lives. So often we choose books as a diversion. Either is OK. Kids need a choice and as Ts we don't need to "prescribe" books as bibliotherapy. #titletalk
When I was young, a book that made an impact on me was The Secret Garden. I loved the idea of have a secret place all to myself, and made one! #titletalk
A2: William Styron's Darkness Visible helped me a lot when my husband was deeply depressed. It gave me some understanding he wasn't equipped just then to give me. #titletalk
I read the glass castle the other day and it just opened up my eye to what “homeless” could be... didn’t realize the instability of not knowing where you will be #titletalk
A2: I think last week was a really sad week for everyone in the children's literature world. Reading Amal Unbound helped me get through the weekend. https://t.co/TBr4tuFEvn#titletalk
#titletalk A2. I always read Harry Potter when I'm sick! Revisiting old friends seems to make me feel better and it doesn't matter if I forget what page I'm on.
A2: The Key to Extraordinary was one of the first books I remember reading after my boyfriend passed away. The description of the big empty felt like the first time someone put into words how I felt! #titletalk
A favorite book/series provides me with an escape from reality! So many books... Harry Potter series popped into my head right away though. So therapeutic... #titletalk
A2: Speaking on privileged, I have not had tough times I can think of. But picture books are awesome for generating joy when I am feeling a bit stressed or down. #titletalk
A2: Charlotte's Web helped me get through the loss of two uncles while I was in elementary school. @amylvpoemfarm wrote a beautiful poem about how that book helps readers experiencing loss. #titletalk
A2: As a kid, when I was sad or worried, I often turned to books. I reread favourites... something comforting about knowing what’s going to happen. Anne of a Green Gables was (still is) my all-time favourite! #titletalk
A2. I'd say books helps me get through all of my childhood and adolescence. They let me understand that others were having experiences I was having, feelings I was having. They let me understand differences and it was ok not to be exactly like everyone else. #titletalk
I can't think of one particular book, but books in general were a coping mechanism when I was down or angry as a kiddo. Personally, I liked fantasy because I wanted to ESCAPE. #titletalk
Recently, a student who has gone through SO much finished Gabi, a Girl in Pieces by @isabelinpieces in one weekend. She came in so proud on Monday, and said, "Gabi is me." #titletalk
A2: I feel like every book I read and/or share with my students makes me a better person and more open minded. Each one has its own special spot in my memories. #titletalk
Wow! Yes! Always! My sster passed away from cancer when The Fault in My Stars came out. I try to prescribe to kids as well when they are going through something. #titletalk
#titletalk The book that gave me the most escape was A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Sara Crewe’s life was so much worse than mine, but she ended up with a happy ending. Gave me hope.
A2: I struggled with infertility issues for 4 years and went through 5 unsuccessful rounds of IVF. Books that made me laugh and briefly escape from my misery were invaluable. No particular titles come to mind, but I know there were many. #titletalk
A2: Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli saved my life as a middle school girl, and I finally had the courage to write about it just recently: https://t.co/hB4NBsCBf5#titletalk
A2: I remember reading a ton of picture books after the 2016 presidential election. I couldn't focus on novels, so picture books were my only escape. #titletalk
A2: Lost my mom in Sept. to cancer. Just read The Care & Feeding of a Pet Black Hole a few weeks ago. Helped me see my grief, care for it, & eventually let it go. I bawled my way through it & read whole chapters aloud to my sis. I already have an S to share it with. #titletalk
A2 I can't think of one particular book, but books in general were a coping mechanism when I was down or angry as a kiddo. Personally, I liked fantasy because I wanted to ESCAPE. #titletalk
A2: often times I don’t know it’s helping me. Bud, Not Buddy by CP Curtis, Milkweed by @JerrySpinelli1 and one that I cried in front of my students was Penny from Heaven by @jenniholm . These books and characters have stayed with me! #titletalk
A2: I don't think that there is one issue, but as someone who literally feels that books can be a best friend-there is no time in my life a book hasn't helped me. #titletalk
A2: I read memoirs of loss when my dad died. A River Runs Through It helped me live the good times again in gorgeous prose, and it helped me find words for my grief. #titletalk
A2: I appreciate how I approach books differently at different points in my life. I remember experiencing books at 14, for example, that I perceive very differently as an adult (for better or worse) #titletalk
A2: I've always been grateful for TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE. It seems to have been the book we are reading in the room when the big life events have happened for me. This fall, it was the loss of a childhood friend to ALS. It was a push-comfort to read through final pages. #titletalk
A2: Right after my mom died I read Key To Extraordinary by @_natalielloyd The scene with the Talking Vines...I felt like my mom was there, telling me she was with me. #titletalk
I reach for the books of Jerry Spinelli whenever I’m having a tough time. His zeal for life in all its ups, downs, and sideways times is like an IV of optimism and hope. A couple sentences from him can cure my blues. A whole book gets my spirit soaring and singing. #titletalk
A2: Wonder got me through the death of my dog. Was reading it aloud to 5th graders and the Daisy scene was also happening in my real life. Couldn’t read, so my 5th grade student handed me a box of tissue & sent me into hallway while she finished. Empathy. ❤️ #titletalk
A1: Books can take you to a place that feels happier for you, they can help you feel less alone/see that others may feel alone, community reads that broach difficult topics. And comfort books offer a predictability in a world that is sometimes without it. #titletalk
A2: The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane- proof that we don’t always see the change that needs to happen in us, but we find it on our path through life. I needed that lesson when I first read it...and keep it close to my heart #titletalk
A2/I love the message of hope that appears in nearly every novel. MC's persist because they have hope. Even when the world goes haywire (dystopian #Scythe) or when there's loss (reality fiction #THUG). We realize that everyone of us is dealt challenges but can overcome.#titletalk
SO many students have connected with books about cyberbullying. Most recent ones are Holding Up the Universe, Butter, Truth About Alice, but there are thankfully so many. #titletalk
I was going through a tough time when Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows came out- my life didn't mimic what was going on in the book or w/ the characters,so it was actually an incredible escape! Sadly, it was the end of the series, so there was some sadness involved. #titletalk
A2 - I read The Sky is Everywhere just after my own sister passed away. Even though I was an adult with very different experiences, I could relate to Lennie. #titletalk
A2: Right now with my fathers passing, Stars Beneath Our Feet, Georgia Rules, Ghost Boys, they’ve all helped me with my processing and grief. #titletalk
A2 - I have turned to my friends in the pages of Harry Potter countless times (and also Jim Dale, audiobook GOD). Some books are like comfort food. #titletalk
A2: I was homeschooled until 8th grade. I spent a lot of time outside in nature. Hatchet by Gary Paulsen was a great find in my first year of school, and helped me realize there were others who felt comfortable in nature alone. #titletalk
When my son was diagnosed with ADHD, ASD, ODD, and Anxiety books saved me and him. I bought and read everything I could find that would let me understand him and parent him better. He, and the books, have made me a better reader, teacher, and learner. #exceptionalkids#titletalk
#titletalk A2: I lost my mom to cancer when I was 21. The year A Monster Calls came out, it brought everything back, but in many ways it also helped me deal with some things I had repressed for a long time. @Patrick_Ness
A1 Several people used Rudine Sims Bishop’s phrase - Mirrors, Windows, and sliding glass doors. Here’s a video where she explains the concept https://t.co/Llh5TRF4rS#titletalk
A2: I can't think of any specific title but reading in general is my escape I either read sad books to find my situation isn't as bleak as it could be or I am reading something uplifting. #titletalk
A2: As a T, and my Ss, Wishtree was the most impactful. So many of them have felt as Samir does, and so many have stood aside and done nothing. They stand up more, have more empathy for each other, from @kaaauthor’s book. #titletalk
A2: I often return to A Ring of Endless Life by @MadeleineLEngle when faced with grief; any page of Good Omens can make me laugh; @francescablock's books always fill me w/ wonder #titletalk
My dad was very strict and demeaning, the James Harriott series All Creatures Great and Small was his autobiography about loving animals and their healing relationships with people. That resonated so powerfully in me. Might be why I have a small ark! #titletalk
A2: Matilda stands out from when I was a kid. I felt so much like her. As an adult, there’s been many. Most recently, I’ve found myself (& comfort) in Smart Cookie and Stanley Will Probably Be Fine. Such great stories that many can relate to regardless of the struggle. #titletalk
A2: This book helped me through both student teaching and my 1st year of teaching. I was armed with great ideas and methods to ensure success on day 1 and beyond.
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A2: After my grandpa died, I was heartbroken, shattered, & empty. I found connection, solace, empathy, sympathy, catharsis, joy, & resurrection in Seamus Heaney’s poetry. His self-selected anthology Opened Ground was a saving grace. #titletalk
A2: My dad was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's at age 55. Immediately I turned to books for answers. Still Alice was first on my list. #titletalk
A2: one student read The Ethan I was Before by @AliStandish and said she cried in it a lot. One of the best books she’s read. I let her keep my copy! #titletalk
A2: #titletalk The Hate You Give helped me process a lot about what it means to grow up as an African American kid. I try to empathise with my friends but this book hit a chord and built my understanding in a way that it’s hard to in intercultural and interracial friendships.
A2 I can’t remember a time when I didn’t read. As an adult pre-kids I discovered Harry Potter and I still re-read or listen now, 18 yrs later whenever I need to know things will turn out ok. Good vs. Evil. Friendship. #titletalk
A2- I remember the books that sustained me during the stress of my first few years teaching. Will never forget losing sleep over The Hunger Games or the wonder of reading Jeff Smith’s Bone series for the first time #titletalk
A nonfiction book that helped me was Americanah by Chimimanda Ngozi Adiche. I could relate to her experiences as a woman growing up between two cultures. #titletalk
A.2 #titletalk A few years ago we had the Ferguson Riots here and I wanted to be able to talk about it with kids. Painting for Peace in Ferguson came out pretty quickly and was a good vehicle for conversations and healing.
And showing MY age, reading My Friend Flicka and the two subsequent titles, told by a boy narrator and then his mom, helped me feel like maybe boys were okay on some level, and I was so blown away by the insight into maturity I got from reading thrgh Ken's mom's POV. #titletalk
A2: as embarrassing as it is, the Twilight series helped me during 6th grade when my grandfather had just died. I wasn’t really a reader back then, but they helped me escape from reality #titletalk#slis325
For all those who inquired, here is the list of LGBTQIA picture books I incorporated into my presentation. All books can be found on @amazon of your local library! Questions⁉️ Contact me! ⚠️Please SHARE!!⚠️ #LGBTQIA#WeNeedDiverseBooks@diversebooks@ncte@LGBTfdn
A2: As an educator, this past week was incredibly difficult and THE RABBIT LISTENED turned out to be the perfect read. My stress and nerves seemed to melt away and I found solace by @CoriDoerrfeld ‘s work. It’ll be my new go-to when times are tough. #titletalk
It really was. She’s a freshman in HS now and I saw her over the summer at our town days. Gave her a big hug and thanked her properly for it. Sweetest girl ever. #titletalk
A2: Those sharing the comfort & hope that #HarryPotter has brought them shld check out @hpsacredtext podcast, which gives me the same feeling while listening #titletalk
A2: some of the best books that I have read that have helped me through hard times are funny books about life’s normal events. For example, I love @JenHatmaker. She makes me laugh out loud, but at the same time, she causes me to pause. #titletalk
A2: Growing up in a single parent home I have always been super close to my grandparents. Books created countless bonding & memorable moments between us #titletalk
A2 Most recently, #Afterthefall by @dansantat. It came into my life just when I needed it most. It’s now permanently placed on my Nightstand and I read it frequently. #titletalk
A2 I was give an ARC of The Secret Life of Lincoln Jones a week after I had to admit my mom to a memory care facility. This book made me laugh, cry, and find peace at a very difficult time in my life. For my kids, it showed them that their feelings were okay. #titletalk
A1: Children need books to understand that they aren’t alone. So many books touch a place in a reader’s heart because it gives them hope when a character has come through the same difficulties they have and are stronger for it. #titletalk
A2, part 2: I also love knowing that books are always there for me. I can re-visit a guilty pleasure like Geek Girl, or challenge myself with a book from a different time and place, or find pleasure in a puzzle or a laugh in witty dialogue. It's the best gift. #titletalk
A2: When my mother was dying, I had just read Paula by Isabel Allende where she talks about not letting our loved ones die alone. It guided me in helping my mother. #titletalk#LitBankStreet
A2: @judyblume books provided comfort for me throughout adolescence. Think her books’ messages transcended bec they helped kids feel less alone (still do!). #titletalk
The Stand by Stephen King. May sound odd, but when I was an undergrad, that book helped me escape and realize no matter how tough it was for me, I was not in their shoes! #titletalk
My Side of the Mountain was the book that turned me onto reading in sixth grade. I imagined myself with Sam Gribley in the Catskill Mountains. I am forever grateful to Jean Craighead George for Sam's adventures! #titletalk
A2: Becky in Understood Becky would ask herself what her bolder cousin would do, and I sometimes used the same technique as a tween and teen--what would be braver, more confident best friend do? Very consciously from the kids' book! #titletalk
A2: I read Release by @Patrick_Ness after my relationship ended. It was a story of healing, of finding oneself, of self-generosity, and love. I needed it, and now, when shards of the past try to create new wounds, I return to pieces of the narrative. #titletalk
A2: I read Roald Dahl's Matilda in the 4th grade. It's still one of my favorite books. I don't know that it was a particularly tough time, but I identified with this girl who loved to read and felt like she didn't belong. Matilda's struggles made mine seem bearable. #titletalk
A2: with the hate that is spewed constantly from TV, radio, internet, LOVE has been a picture book I keep going back to to think about all the little things that are LOVE #titletalk
Books like Holding Up the Universe by @jenniferniven taught me the power of therapy and counseling. It's nothing to be scared or embarrassed of. It can help us, and our students, heal. #titletalk
#titletalk East of Eden was a novel I read on my own in high school and felt ‘smart’ because I figured it out and it connected: this is long before the internet, and teachers using book talks.
A2: I think that reading books that help you to process a difficult situation can count here too. The Hate You Give gave me a way to relate to a topic that I am removed from-and it changed me. #titletalk
A2: Sometimes I want a book to lift me out of a mood, but sometimes I just want to wallow in it. Important that we allow for that with our kids. Validation, empowerment. #titletalk
A2: My first real job was a touring company out of state. I was gone for long stretches of time and had one person I toured with. I couldn't afford to go home and so books were my joy. The Tao of Pooh was a huge help! #titletalk
A2. Before Morning by Joyce Sidman spoke to my experience of simultaneous grief, hope, longing and gratitude. Plus Beth Krommes’ illustrations 😍😍👏🏻👏🏻 #titletalk
A2 it’s the perfect book to remind us that we can find our wings and soar after battling significant adversity. It’s a remarkable work. Thanks @dsantat 😊 #titletalk
A2: Lost my mom in Sept. to cancer. Just read The Care & Feeding of a Pet Black Hole a few weeks ago. Helped me see my grief, care for it, & eventually let it go. I bawled my way through it & read whole chapters aloud to my sis. I already have an S to share it with. #titletalk
A2: This will be a different kind of book to share because it doesn't fit the picture book, middle grade, or young adult shares. When I read, Brene Brown's THE GIFTS OF IMPERFECTION, I had to stop many times as Brown spoke directly from the page to my own fragility. #titletalk
A2. Through much of my childhood & adolescence I identified as an athlete. When I was no longer able to play my favorite sports due to illness, I turned to books - they picked me back up & gave me new purpose/identity #titletalk
A nonfiction book that helped me was Americanah by Chimimanda Ngozi Adiche. I could relate to her experiences as a woman growing up between two cultures. #titletalk
A2 I can’t even list all the books that got me through my youth. The classics like Little Women was one or anything that could get my mind away from my house & the stress there. #titletalk
A2: As a lonely kid, The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe gave me hope that something magical might be just out of sight. It taught me to daydream with hope! #titletalk
Ah, so you read all the Chincoteague books ie Misty, and so on? I read every single horse book in our school library too! And then I wrote a historical MG novel called Island Horse abt a girl who goes to Sable Island! #titletalk
This makes me think of the @MadeleineLEngle quote, "I am still every age that I have been." Perhaps we are all every book we have ever experienced #titletalk
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and Starring Sally J Friedman as myself helped me imagine what it was like for my mom growing up in the late 30s early 40s. #titletalk
This makes me think of the @MadeleineLEngle quote, "I am still every age that I have been." Perhaps we are all every book we have ever experienced #titletalk
A2 As a child, FROM THE MIXED UP FILES OF MRS. BASIL E FRANKWEILER was like a talisman to me. If other kids could manage on their own, so could I. #titletalk
A2: Captivating by John Eldredge helped me through a tough time two summers ago. I still find myself going back to this book when when I need encouragement. #titletalk#slis325
Glory Be by Augusta Scattergood is my go-to book read aloud at the beginning of every year. The theme(s) of the story is even more important in 2018. {Change•Acceptance }
#titletalk
A2 Are You There God It’s Me Margaret was pretty pivotal for me, but so were Anne McCaffrey’s dragon books along with Robin McKinley & A Wrinkle in Time. Escape + kick ass females = awesomeness. #titletalk
Books like ORBITING JUPITER, TOUCH BLUE, and right now an ARC of Chris Crutcher's LOSERS BRACKET have helped me understand my sons (adopted through foster care system) with them. get through some really hard times #titletalk
Novels permit us to have “epiphanies of the other” that might otherwise be impossible. Empathetic, non-transactional relationships are made possible by reading. This is the power of fiction. #titletalk
A2: My first year of teaching a student gifted me Hunger Games. My dormant reader self that had been sleeping through college reawakened all because of a student and I never looked back. #titletalk
A1 I’ve repeated this countless times but I fully believe it. Books are windows, mirrors and sliding doors for all of us. They give us perspective, understanding, reflection, & opportunity. For kids in hard times, a book might be the light that shows them the way out #TitleTalk
More for myself right now, but I have had students who have lost parents so it may be one I pass on so we can discuss losing a parent together. #titletalk
A2: the divine secrets of the YA YA sisterhood is my go-to book when Im havinga tough time. I relate to Vivi amd the strong female relationships in the book #titletalk
I repeat read Island of the Blue Dolphins a lot during some difficult family years. I think the predictability of events, that she survived...I think I needed that. Where the Red Fern Grows was the comfort book that followed. #TitleTalk
A2: Finding it impossible to express my thoughts... impossible to understand... so difficult to cope... #TheHateUGive by @angiecthomas got me cognitively through a difficult time. And gave me perspective. And allowed me to think through the important conversations. #titletalk
A2 - I can also remember having to stay in bed for the first trimester of my first pregnancy, and books got me through the day. I think I read the Shogun series. #titletalk
A2: I love rereading Wild by Cheryl Strayed when I need a pick-me-up. Her courageous journey of self-discovery after losing her mother is inspiring. #titletalk
Oh, wow. My dad read me this book about 50 years ago. So many memories. I remember the actual cover and how much I loved him reading a chapter to me every night. :) #titletalk
Daily book talks help me introduce a wide variety of topics to students. I base my book talk choices on what I learn from reading conferences. #titletalk
Oops.
A1: I recently posted over on Instagram about how I wish #funnygirl by @FuseEight had been around when I was 10. I loved it as an adult and all my students are passing it around now #titletalk
A2 Reading The War That Saved My Life by @kimbbbradley was a book that was such a comfort to me. It helped to see the absolute warrior that Ada became in battling her own fears and feelings of being unloved. Powerful book! #titletalk
The Morning Miracle by Hal Elrod was recommended by a colleague. Little did she know that it came @ a time when I was in a funk. Rejuvenated me & is now a text that I access. One of my fav takeaways is "personal success will never exceed personal development" #titletalk
A2: Several yrs ago, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane taught a group of 3rd gr that in the end good trumps evil and love wins. The kids were dealing with a friend’s brain tumor diagnosis. #titletalk
In order to know how to introduce tough topics, we need to know our students better than our curriculum. We need to see what THEY need, and go from there. #titletalk
A1: Books that have comforted me in hard times proved to me I wasn't alone, even when it often felt like it. This is so powerful for kids (and adults) alike. #titletalk
A2: after the birth of my first child, the Eragon series helped me escape and brought me back to standing. Books have ALWAYS been my escape and my catharsis #titletalk
It’s funny how we seem to encounter the book that we need at just the right time! Weirdly, James Joyce’s “Portrait of the Artist” came along at the right time for me + really helped me with some crucial life decisions. Who would have thought, right? #titletalk
A2: Orbiting Jupiter was beautiful and devastating. It's perfect example of a book you'd give a child who wants to really feel something. Great choice! #titletalk
A2 looking for help on this one... most hard topic books I’ve shared in the past were with 5-8... now I’m K-4 and I’m not as confident that I’m doing it ‘right’ as I was before. #titletalk
This is always a challenge. For me, I follow my students' lead. I may introduce the book, but I invite them to do the thinking/feeling/talking. #titletalk
A2: When I was in 4th grade, my grandmother passed away unexpectedly. I family friend gave me a book about Heaven and she wrote me a note inside. It helped me through a tough time that I did not understand. I still have this book and cherish it dearly. #titletalk#slis325
A2: Ditto! Not only does this one help me over and over, but I've had the students I read it with in the beginning of the year repeat the message back under many circumstances. It was just what we needed. #titletalk
A3: What I consider a hard topic, can be one of my student’s real life experiences. I have no right to withhold a child’s own story or one that will help another build empathy. Instead, I teach kids to check in with themselves to know if a book is working for them. #titletalk
This is always a challenge. For me, I follow my students' lead. I may introduce the book, but I invite them to do the thinking/feeling/talking. #titletalk
A3/Students appreciate honesty. They know as soon as it's not honest. Hard topics need to be confronted head on. But with empathy. With reason. Give kids an honest answer for what they ask. They'll ask if they need to. #titletalk
A3 looking for help on this one... most hard topic books I’ve shared in the past were with 5-8... now I’m K-4 and I’m not as confident that I’m doing it ‘right’ as I was before. #titletalk
A3 - it is always better to be straight forward. Sometimes a hard hitting book is not what a kid needs and we don’t want them to be blindsided. If there is intense content teachers should disclose #titletalk
A3: I’m open, truthful, & willing to communicate when sharing books that deal with difficult topics. It’s important to know my audience; it helps me frame my thoughts. I don’t omit or downplay content, but I do talk things through with my Ss. They deserve honesty. #titletalk
A3: We must recognize that sometimes kids don't want to read books that reflect their pain or challenges. They want an escape from it for awhile. #titletalk
A3: Lots of pre-teaching and scaffolding for all abilities. Ensuring that the content of the book is at a students developmental level is as important as making sure the book is at their comprehension level. Allowing for classroom discussion and reflection time. #titletalk
A2: The work of @donaldmiller - specifically #BlueLikeJazz and Through Painted Deserts: Light, God, and Beauty on the Open Road - were incredible reads... wonderful for those on a path of reflection and searching for some of the BIG answers. #titletalk
A3: I do a bi-weekly Bathroom Book Blurb called “In-starts-Ments” that include short descriptions of the book along with the picture and the author. Tons of students come to the library for the “bathroom” book. #titletalk
Yep. I have ugly cried more than once and I’ve read it many times. There are so many feelings that pop up when I read it due to a specific experience with a loved one. #titletalk
A3: It depends on your students. Relationships must come first. If I see a need, I’ll find the right book to help that child. If I didn’t turn a relationship though, I may never have seen the need. #titletalk
Q3: I like to ask the kids what’s going on in the world and their thoughts. This helps me generate an idea of where their mindset is, what they want more knowledge on, and go from there. I have found one door opens several #titletalk
A3: I also want to be careful not to impose my views on my kiddos. So, my introductions can be extremely minimal. I much prefer to let them lead. #titletalk
A3 I usually book talk it like I would any other book and then share that those who have experienced _____ or have wondered about _______ may enjoy the book. #titletalk
A3: with my HS students i only do it casually or when Im doing a book talk. For that age, i feel like they need to stumble upon it. If i need to, i may also gently nudge them toward a book #titletalk
#titletalk This is one of the reasons I no longer do whole class novels. You never know how a child might react to a book. Maybe it’s not one they can handle at the moment.
A3: I love the strategy from @KellyGToGo about giving kids time to reflect in writing before we discuss the messages/themes of tough topics in books. #titletalk
A3: I often just share the book and let the Ss guide what happens next. Maybe not the best idea, but I find they know what they need and we go with it. #titletalk
Q3: I select books that will support building classroom community and student relationships. Refugee by Alan Gratz is a recent book that's allowed my students to make connections with each other. #titletalk
A3: Well- first and foremost, kids have to have access to them and teachers need to have read them or at least be knowledgeable about finding the right books for tough times #titletalk
My 5th graders feel that I trust them and respect them when I talk with them about the tough topics! It is so important that we validate their feelings and thoughts on these tough topics. #titletalk
A3: I try to be proactive by thinking about possible questions or reactions my students may have. But the real learning happens when I follow students’ lead and go off of their reactions to a story. We need to provide a safe space for exploration and understanding. #titletalk
A3: I let the kids show me, with their response to the book, and take my cue from them. Sometimes they’re ready to get deep, sometimes not. Books about various kinds of inequality always resonate and lead to important discussions. #titletalk
Q.3 #titletalk This is why it is so important for teachers to be reading the books that they will put in the hands of their students. Having a relationship with students and knowing the books allows you to suggest books and let them talk back to you about it after.
A3: I collect books around a tough topic and book talk them together, helping students see a range of choices if they are ready to explore and think. I encourage organic book clubs so they have reading companions. #titletalk
A3: We must recognize that sometimes kids don't want to read books that reflect their pain or challenges. They want an escape from it for awhile. #titletalk
A3: Often those special books need to be in the hands of a special child experiencing some hardships. When a book instantly makes me think of a kid, I take time to give them a personal book talk. #titletalk
A3. It depends on the circumstance - at times, it's a full-class share, others it's a quiet conversation with a Ss I feel can learn/grow/heal/feel supported by a particular book #titletalk
A3: Since I am a librarian and I can't possibly know everything every student faces I just try to book talk as much and as often as possible. Surely one book that I mention will be exactly what one student is needing. Of course this means a lot of reading for me. #titletalk
A3: not q3 😂
But I agree with everyone too, honesty is so important AND knowing your kids. You definitely need to know if anything is needed to be brought to light first and foremost. #titletalk
A3: We need to put faith, trust, and responsibility with our young people that the "tough" story is going to make us better and lead to some deep learning and insight! #titletalk
A3: Share books w/o disclaimers or problematizing topics that would shame or detract readers who need them most from accessing them. It's all about knowing readers & helping them find the right books at right time #titletalk
Sometimes we can see what students need based on their behavior. When ignorance and intolerance is visible, my book talks reflect books that deal with those issues. #titletalk
A3: When I share books that explore hard topics, I make sure my students know that they have the safe space to share connections if that's what they need. They also need the option to keep their connections private if that's what they need. #titletalk
A2: I sadly can’t even remember which national tragedy had happened just before I read #mostpeople by @MikeLeannah, but I felt like I had to shout that book from the rooftops #titletalk
A3: When I know about big-time trauma in a kid's life, I can give them a heads-up if a read-aloud is going to go there. If they need to "get a drink" at any time, they can walk away. #titletalk
You’ve got to build relationships and truly get to know your kids. Let them lead! They’ll show you what books they need and what books they’re ready for.#titletalk
A3 Try to give some type trigger warning as to content of the bk. Also, remind them about letting go of books when they just don't work for them #titletalk
A3 Knowing books and knowing readers, introducing titles through book talks and through reader-to-reader conversations. Picture books and poetry are also powerful ways to open discussion with readers of all ages. #titletalk
A3: If our novel read aloud is about a tough topic, we'll read lots of picture books along side it. Helps them see things from lots of perspectives. #titletalk
A3: That's tough. My class is reading Towers Falling as our read aloud. So many tough topics- homelessness, prejudice, terrorism, 9/11 itself. I try to just take it as it comes and have open, age-appropriate discussion. Honestly, I think it's harder on me than them. #titletalk
A3: It depends on your students. Relationships must come first. If I see a need, I’ll find the right book to help that child. If I didn’t form a relationship though, I may never have seen the need. #titletalk
A3: How I share books/titles really comes down to one thing: relationships.
By REALLY knowing the person(s) that I am recommending the books to, I'm able to honestly suggest the right titles... SOME books we should ALL read but relationships help us with the others. #titletalk
The War that Saved My Life Is an incredible book! My students who are so interested in war were mesmerized. What are other books about war that are appropriate for 3,4, 5th? I have so many who want to read more bks about war. #titletalk#LitBankStreet
A3: If it's for a class, we read and discuss. The discussions matter. If it's a survivor book, for one student who needs it, I might say, "Here. This is one of the books that made me a warrior." #titletalk
A3: Trust young people to know when they are not ready, uncomfortable, or don't want to read a book & respect their choice. GIve them Choice. #titletalk
Love this! She really does speak to you. The first time she said, "Reader", I got chills and felt like she had turned to me. Still do. My Neverending Story moment. #titletalk
Yes! Never underestimate students! They’re pretty sophisticated + navigating + performing identities in the same world we are. They’re looking for literature that’s relevant, they want something meaningful + they want adults who invest in the conversation with them! #titletalk
A3: Access and the act of “checking out the book” can be the most difficult part for a student. Building a relationship of trust or a student check out station can help give student anonyminity and privacy in their choices. #titletalk
Sometimes we can see what students need based on their behavior. When ignorance and intolerance are visible, book talks and book club titles are there to help teach. #titletalk
A3: We must recognize that sometimes kids don't want to read books that reflect their pain or challenges. They want an escape from it for awhile. #titletalk
A3: Listening to students is such an important first step. Ss can guide us to understand whether they need a book that helps them escape or a book with a character facing similar challenges. #titletalk
A3: We must recognize that sometimes kids don't want to read books that reflect their pain or challenges. They want an escape from it for awhile. #titletalk
A3 First, I think it's important that we've read the book ourselves before booktalking. Tough topics in books are sometimes best included in a text set with a variety of other selections. We have to know our students, too, and be prudent about timing. #titletalk
A3: Lots of book talks - you never know what might appeal to a reader. Also, lots of conferences and knowing each reader, so I can make individual recs. It helps to know student families, but generally, if it's a great book, I trust Ss to see that greatness #titletalk
A3: I often use current events as a guide, knowing that books give students comfort during difficult times. I tell students that our world is filled with different people and circumstances. Books provide a necessary lens. #titletalk
A3: Share books w/o disclaimers or problematizing topics that would shame or detract readers who need them most from accessing them. It's all about knowing readers & helping them find the right books at right time #titletalk
A3: I try to be proactive by thinking about possible questions or reactions my students may have. But the real learning happens when I follow students’ lead and go off of their reactions to a story. We need to provide a safe space for exploration and understanding. #titletalk
A1: The author @WalterDeanMyer1 spoke that “books were his escape, his friends.” I’ve taught 13 years in a high poverty/crime/struggle area and after hearing him say that it was the kerosene I needed to ignite my mission to get books in the hands of my Ss. #titletalk
A3: If somebody asks you for a recommendation, you MUST be honest and straightforward. They came to you... so they want the REAL you to make the suggestion. #titletalk
A3: Picture Books Can Do This: Concerns about the author aside and focusing only on the message of the book, we shared THE DARK in #Room407 this week. Important to remember the purpose of the dark for it's relationship to the light it can reveal and share with us. #titletalk
A3: Kids often ask me for recommendations. If I know about something a kid is struggling with or going through I will nonchalantly book talk a related title along with 2-3 others. They often choose the one I was hoping they'd pick :) #titletalk
A3: After a book that triggered me so badly last year, I’m more upfront with kids about storylines that might do the same. I’ll say, this book is tough. We put TWs on posts, I think kids deserve to know what they’re getting into. Only they can decide if it’s too much. #titletalk
A3 I try to give them some context first & allow for questions & discussion as we go if needed. To avoid pushing my own ideas, I ask them a lot of questions too. #titletalk
A3: Also, teaching kids how to find “read-alike lists” or books titles that have been compiled by expert librarians and teachers that might speak to a topic they want to read about #titletalk
A3: I feel like our students know a lot of what is going on in the world. They want to know more. They want to understand. Books help us walk there together. #titletalk
A3: Sharing books are the way I show love to someone. This is why building relationships is so important. If you’ve connected with a student, sharing a book that explores a hard topic will be a natural progression in the relationship. Trust and truth. #titletalk
Q.3 #titletalk This is why it is so important for teachers to be reading the books that they will put in the hands of their students. Having a relationship with students and knowing the books allows you to suggest books and let them talk back to you about it after.
Q3 I talk about my experiences as a reader. I share quotes I love, e.g. right now I'm reading ALL'S FAIRE IN MIDDLE SCHOOL. So much big truth about how hard that age is. I keep writing down page numbers that I can't wait to share with kids. #titletalk
Q2: When Bad Things Happen To Good People is a book I’ve revisited several times. I read it for the 1st time at 17, after I met my mother for the first time. She left when I was a newborn, and that book was a turning point for me in grieving what should have been. #TitleTalk
At the high school level, we’re reading + thinking about critical articles that help contextualize our reading. We never want to forget that the best readings happen in context! #titletalk
Love Shel Silverstein! His poems were silly, but came with the hidden message that we are all different & that's good! #titletalk
19 Shel Silverstein Quotes That Definitely Shaped You Growing Up https://t.co/r0HywedlN4 via @jaypugz
A1: The author Walter Dean Myers spoke that “books were his escape, his friends.” I’ve taught 13 years in a high poverty/crime/struggle area and after hearing him say that it was the kerosene I needed to ignite my mission to get books in the hands of my Ss. #titletalk
A3: Share books w/o disclaimers or problematizing topics that would shame or detract readers who need them most from accessing them. It's all about knowing readers & helping them find the right books at right time #titletalk
It’s good to know I’m not alone. I think I need to read more books that aren’t quite MG. Ones that deal with hard stuff that’s more developmentally appropriate. #titletalk
Q3 I do lots of book talks and then just leave them on the rail for kids to pick up. I pay attention to who picks up what books and try to use the books to have conversations with kids. #titletalk
I feel like I could answer most questions people ask me by just saying, "picture books". They feel like the central nervous system of my classroom. #titletalk
A3: I book talk them like I would any other book but add a disclaimer at the end noting the tough topic/situation the book explores. I want students to know exactly what they will be reading. #titletalk
Same here! Now, when I order books, it's always at least a pair if not more. There are so many benefits with kids choosing to read together, so I want them to have every opportunity #titletalk
Q3 I do lots of book talks and then just leave them on the rail for kids to pick up. I pay attention to who picks up what books and try to use the books to have conversations with kids. #titletalk
A3: Sometimes it's important that we use our expertise and just put a quality work in the hands of another person.
In the words of a very bright friend of mine, "people don't always want what they need" and it is - sometimes - up to us to give people what they need. #TitleTalk
Absolutely! This was just as true when I taught 7th grade as it is now that I teach 3rd. Picture books are AMAZING and anyone who says they’re not complex hasn’t read one lately. #titletalk
I feel like I could answer most questions people ask me by just saying, "picture books". They feel like the central nervous system of my classroom. #titletalk
A3: I love to read books about hard topics even if I haven’t experienced it myself. I will use excerpts as mentors to spark interest, book talk it honestly, but I won’t push it on anyone beyond privately recommending it to a student. #titletalk
I also thought this book was charming, and even though the "awkwardness of middle age" is everywhere in fiction, this book still felt brand new #titletalk
A3: We also must know our students. What types of books are they looking for? What questions do they have? What have they read that has piqued their curiosity? If a student asks for a certain type of book, I’m usually willing to get it for them. #titletalk
As both a high school English teacher and a picture book author (working on a MG ms), I'm pretty much in love with Sunday nights due to #aplitchat and #titletalk
Do you know this one? A wordless picture book about anxiety. Incredible visuals.. can’t wait to share it in my classroom. Read alouds and book talks helps students know we see their struggles. #titletalk
Yes. As I introduced my kids to #classroombookaday, I talked to them about windows and mirrors. Now, they often describe a book using the same language. <3 #titletalk
A3: I try to empower kids to stop reading books that are too much for them w/o feeling like a failure, as well as remind kids that a book that isn't a good fit for them may be perfect for someone else. Every reader is different and should be valued. #titletalk
A3: We also must know our students. What types of books are they looking for? What questions do they have? What have they read that has piqued their curiosity? If a student asks for a certain type of book, I’m usually willing to get it for them. #titletalk
Windows, mirrors + sliding glass doors are always important. How do we expect students or ourselves to develop empathetic relationships with others if everything we read is about people exactly like us or always comforting? Sometimes relatable is problematic! #titletalk
A paraphrase of something I have shared before that seems to fit here. Our would-be readers won't see or read one hundred percent of the books we don't know, don't shelve, and don't share. They'll find them when we do all three. Books are a refuge. We are a resource. #titletalk
Do you know this one? A wordless picture book about anxiety. Incredible visuals.. can’t wait to share it in my classroom. Read alouds and book talks helps students know we see their struggles. #titletalk
Kids want:
1. greater freedom (right now)
2. to be challenged
3. to do something good for people that they care about
4. to be connected to others
5. to have fun
6. to overcome things that threaten us
That's how I introduce the books, @donalynbooks. "This book can..." #titletalk
A3: We also must know our students. What types of books are they looking for? What questions do they have? What have they read that has piqued their curiosity? If a student asks for a certain type of book, I’m usually willing to get it for them. #titletalk
I feel like I could answer most questions people ask me by just saying, "picture books". They feel like the central nervous system of my classroom. #titletalk
Yep. One of the most important things to keep in mind for differentiating and serving all students is creating entry points that are accessible for ALL students. Picture books are so often the tool to turn to. #titletalk
#titletalk
A3: I sometimes recommend the book specifically to a student when I know that the character was in a similar situation to theirs or display it with my other recommendations/picks (with a brief synopsis).
A3: I just usually put them out there. Students want to read these books. They are hungry for them. If I book-talk it, someone always checks it out. Talking about these books gives or students permission to delve into these tough subjects. #TitleTalk
reading stories before sharing them= so important. I picked up an adapted Little red hen book, where she decides to not share at the end (I like the version where the animals help clean since they didn’t cook) those messages matter but it did lead to a good discussion #titletalk
Yes. It can be nice to share Grace Lin’s discussion about it as well as Rudine Sims Bishop’s own video explaining the terminology. She includes sliding doors too. #titletalk
Yes! Audio books, too! I have so many kids that wanted to read Land Of Stories this year that just couldn't do it on their own. Reading with their ears and eyes at the same time solved that problem. #titletalk
A3: Give a little background, read or share the book, and then go with the flow of the kids' thoughts and questions about it. Second graders are smart! #titletalk
#titletalk A4: So many of the titles I was thinking of have already been mentioned: Love, After the Fall, Come With Me, A Monster Calls to name a few. I know there are more.
My all time favorite book about homelessness and about being kind because you ever know what another person is going through: HOW TO STEAL A DOG by Barbara O'Connor. #titletalk
I've pre-ordered this title (just now) because you were here, friend. And you shared a book with me. I couldn't ask any more from you or be less grateful that you are here. In this chat. In this space. Always sharing. Thank you, Penny. Thank you. #TitleTalk
A3: I collect books around a tough topic and book talk them together, helping students see a range of choices if they are ready to explore and think. I encourage organic book clubs so they have reading companions. #titletalk
There are so many that's difficult. I have full length lists for my doc students to choose from based on culture and type. My newest recommendation is The Good Braider. #titletalk
A4: I am 100% all in on Amal Unbound. It is such an important book. I hope everyone in this chat preorders a copy before they go to bed. YOU. NEED. THIS. BOOK. https://t.co/TBr4tuFEvn#titletalk
I really recommend #readyplayerone especially before the movie comes out. Really interesting future dystopia but with a great uplifting ending #titletalk
Kids want:
1. greater freedom (right now)
2. to be challenged
3. to do something good for people that they care about
4. to be connected to others
5. to have fun
6. to overcome things that threaten us
That's how I introduce the books, @donalynbooks. "This book can..." #titletalk
A4: Just finished reading Crenshaw by @kaaauthor today. It is such a good fit for readers who have experienced financial strain in their family's lives #titletalk
A4 I absolutely love EXACT LOCATION OF HOME by @KateMessner Divorced parents, homelessness, first crushes, this book has so much. I haven't pushed it but I keep it on display face out. #titletalk
ALL'S FAIRE IN MIDDLE SCHOOL is a graphic novel. Great for kids who are struggling to be who they are and still be accepted in ms (I didn't love all the renaissance faire stuff at beginning, but LOVE the 2nd half. #titletalk
I love when ss assert their freedom of choice & decide for themselves to read or not to read, as well as engage in convos abt what they're ready for. This is what readers do! #titletalk
One of my kiddos commented: "Love is always there- even in our darkest times when we can't see it." That just hit home for all of us in class. I cannot recommend Love enough. It is my current favorite. #titletalk
A4: How It Went Down, The Seventh Wish, American Street, Orbiting Jupiter, House Arrest, LIly & Dunkin, Lost in the Sun, If I Ever Get Out of Here #titletalk
Goodbye Days, Wild Bird, A Long Way Down, The Secret Life of Lincoln Jones, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, What Flowers Remember, The Night Diary, Ghost Boys, #titletalk
A3: I have found picture books to be the best way to tackle tough topics in the classroom. We need more books that tell the TRUTH and are developmentally appropriate. #titletalk#slis325
I have a lot of students dealing with mental illness and trauma this year. Turtles All the Way Down, Every Last Word, Challenger Deep, We Are Okay, and A List of Cages have all been helpful to at least one student. #titletalk
OMG YES!!! I could preach for hours about audiobooks. I cannot think of something that has been more powerful than audiobooks for my kids this year. Talk about leveling the playing field and providing equal access. #titletalk#audiobooksforall
A4/Books where the MC is an underdog. So many students see themselves as underdogs. Harry Potter, Ahimsa, Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus, The Thing With Feathers, Ghost, Wishtree, #titletalk
A4: "Fish in a Tree" by @LynMullalyHunt and "Out of my Mind" by @sharonmdraper 👍🏼👏🏼 Students can see themselves in this book and imagine, or make connections to reality, with the characters. #titletalk
A4: The Girl Who Threw Butterflies, Falling Over Sideways, Under a Painted Sky, Locomotion, Warp Speed, Millicent Min - Girl Genius, Out of My Mind #titletalk
Just finished Amal last week! Couldn't put it down as I was so invested on what was going to happen! Such a new topic for me, my mind has been opened #titletalk
A4: I have just read The Hate U Give and Dear Martin which I found gave me new perspectives about current topics students are facing and discussing. #titletalk
A3: as a librarian, I read as much as possible & build as diverse a collection as possible. Celebrate all different readers and reading experiences, no judgement. A diverse collection hopefully hits the varying needs of many kids #titletalk
A1: Books can be a change of scenery without ever leaving home! Books both provide comfort, reminding children they are not alone, while also providing an escape from reality. #titletalk
Students who loved All American Boys are now reading: The Hate U Give, The Stars Beneath Our Feet, Dear Martin, Long Way Down, I Am Alfonso Jones, and The 57 Bus. #titletalk
A4: Finding Perfect, Lily and Dunkin, In Sight of Stars, Love, Georgia Rules, Be Kind, The Big Umbrella, Waiting for Normal, Far From the Tree, What Girls Are Made Of #titletalk
A4. After Tupac and D Foster, Tupac's The Rose that Grew in Concrete & Lurlene McDaniel's books were solace to so many of my middle schoolers. #titletalk
For all those who inquired, here is the list of LGBTQIA picture books I incorporated into my presentation. All books can be found on @amazon of your local library! Questions⁉️ Contact me! ⚠️Please SHARE!!⚠️ #LGBTQIA#WeNeedDiverseBooks@diversebooks@ncte@LGBTfdn
A4: I read The Goldfish Boy and this year my students did Book Clubs with books related to characters with Social struggles. It was interesting seeing the empathy for others increase. #TitleTalk
Books helping my students right now: American Panda by @gloriacchao, Beartown by Fredrick Backman, the Speak graphic novel by @halseanderson, The Nowhere Girls by Amy Reed #titletalk
A4: It depends. In the past week, I've given Jackie Woodson books and I've given Will Grayson, Will Grayson (love this book so much). Each child is an opportunity. #titletalk
A4: There aren't enough characters in the Twitter universe to properly answer this question! But...LGBTQ: Rainbow Boys series, Boy Meets Boy, Parrotfish, Better Nate Than Ever, George, Will Grayson, Will Grayson. #titletalk
We just finished Morrison’s Song of Solomon in Humanities. We always read the last chapter together + man, my students + I always get teary-eyed. Beautiful writing, but also super important messages about social geographies, authenticity + the need for mercy. #titletalk
A4: In the vein of One For The Murphys, about foster families- which is amazing- I would also suggest Freaky Fast Franks Joe and Boy On The Porch #titletalk
Mel Tregonning's SMALL THINGS. I pre-ordered. Looks like it is available on March 1. Some of our #TitleTalk friends get to see these books super early. This is why I am here. I learn so much from being a part of this conversation each month. I found a book here tonight!
A4: Wolf Hollow is a book that addresses bullying at its worst. Would be a way to open a discussion with students about how it could have been handled differently with a better outcome. #titletalk
Sometimes we need to reread some true treasures that our students will love: Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, Salt to the Sea, Winger, Gabi a Girl in Pieces, and Refugee. They are loved for a reason. #titletalk
A4: Turtles All The Way Down by John Greene, I know why the Caged Bird Sings, Speak, Eleanor & Park, Artistotle and Dante discover the universe...so many good YA/ HS titles! #titletalk
A3: Knowing Ss is a must when sharing books with hard topics. It's relationships that let you have the conversation, before and after reading! #titletalk
A4: Alex Sanchez’s novels, anything by @AdamSilvera, Harry Potter, The Hate U Give, Dear Martin, The Fault in Our Stars, all things @JasonReynolds83, @loversdiction books/stories, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, A Monster Calls, Seriously...I’m Kidding @TheEllenShow#titletalk
A4: I love reading Wonder with my kids. Demonstrating the power of kindness and the importance of not going along with the mean kids just to be popular. 4th grade can be a tough time in and of itself. #titletalk
A4: so many great books to share! Forever or a Long, Long Time, The Train I Ride, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets to the Universe, Midnight Without a Moon... #titletalk
A4: I think Pax and Wild Robot would make such an interesting pairing. I happened to read them back to back when they first came out and so so many thematic connections. #titletalk
A4: A great novel about an Aboriginal teen going through Chemo treatment and the environmental issues that his reserve has to deal with in relation to the oil sands. It paralles a story of two hawks trying to survive in nature with the oil sands #titletalk
A4: For grief: Ethan I Was Before, Stars Beneath our Feet, Matylda, Bright and Tender, The Thing About Jellyfish, Lost in the Sun, Maybe a Fox. #titletalk
The War that Saved My Life by @kimbbbradley helped one my students this year who was born with a clubfoot. She never imagined a book that she would see herself in. #titletalk
A4: One for the Murphys @LynMullalyHunt and The Boy Who Carried Bricks @Alton__Carter have helped my students deal with their own experiences in the foster care system AND helped their peers empathize with their experiences #titletalk
In reply to
@colbysharp, @LynMullalyHunt, @Alton__Carter
A4: @JSonnenblick’s “Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie” was a favorite when I was in middle school. A great read for students who have family members or friends with cancer #titletalk
A4: A few favorites include: The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen & A Road to Paris by Nikki Grimes. Both include themes of overcoming challenges but in very different ways #titletalk
A4: Long Way Down by @JasonReynolds83 has been a great book recommendation with some of my challenging boys. One was even "conferring" with another to see if he was actually reading it! #titletalk
Sonia Sotomayor: A Judge Grows up in the Bronx, Two White Rabbits, Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote, The Tenth Good Thing About Barney, Love That Dog, My Name is Yoon, LOVE, How Many Days to America? #titletalk
A4: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Between the World and Me, Orbiting Jupiter, Love by @mattdelapena, Dear Martin, T.H.U.G., Release, Winger, At the Edge of the Universe. #titletalk
Being in middle school, it's hard b/c some of these titles fall beyond our range. I struggle sometimes with that because they are important books. #titletalk
A4 Soooo many! Just finished Mr. 60%. Have to mention Refugee, The Hate U Give, Not After Everything, All the Bright Places, Holding Up the Universe & let's not forget Bridge to Terebithia, So B. It & Out of My Mind - guess my theme is empathy #titletalk
A3. As a principal I prominently display children's books (half of my office space) This include title's that address hard topics. When teachers stop by my office they are use to looking for new titles or new suggestions from me and I proceed from there. #titletalk
A4: Counting by 7’s, Lily and Dunkin, Pashmina, Escape From Aleppo, How to Disappear, All’s Faire in Middle School and Posted are all books that I have read recently that I think will speak to kids in difficulty #titletalk
totally agree. I was thinking about that when one of my MS T friends was asking about One of Us is Lying. Great story but too mature for MS we all concluded. #titletalk
A4: A book that hit me SO hard was The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami - absolutely an introspective journey into the difficulties of life's minutia as well as the big truths of relationships. #TitleTalk
The Summer of Owen Todd by Tony Abbott is a MG novel about child molestation and sexual abuse. Main character has to decide whether or not to tell what's happening to BFF. Hard topic, well written story #titletalk
I hope kids'll be intrigued by my newest picture book whch addresess #bullying: What Happens Next. Comes out in 2 weeks! 2 study guides are available: one for gr 1-3 and one for 4-6. Do you think study guides help teachers introduce subjects-bks? #Titletalk
Love this book. The musicianship is just right - and that's the easy part. The family guilt and ache and love all mixed - that's magic and it's so well-done #titletalk
A3: When exploring hard topics, leaving room for discussion and realizing that no answer is "right" is important. Students are more willing to share thoughts when conversations are honest and open. #titletalk
A4: Real Friends by @haleshannon really connected with me when I read it. Wonderful recommendation for kids trying to fit in and needing encouragement to know they don’t have to be like everyone else to be amazing. #titletalk
A4 - I recently read Thunderhead (#2 in scythe series)- a great “escape” text but full of things to think about. Another favorite from @NealShusterman is Challenger Deep #titletalk
#titletalk A4: That is so hard to answer because it depends on the issue. So I will say that right now, Moxie is on the top of my list for my mom friends - and that was before a group of outraged high school students took change into their hands.
Just read When the Beat Was Born with my 6th grade ELL Ss - they loved it because it mentioned that DJ Kool Herc came to the US when he was just a little older than them - and then of course we played music too. #titletalk
A4: SO MANY! THUG, Ghost Boys, Amal Unbound, The True Story of Mason Buttle, Wishtree, Stargirl, Finding Perfect, The Ethan I Was Before, Georgia Rules, Orbiting Jupiter, A Monster Calls, the list goes so on!! #titletalk
A4: AHIMSA by @soups25 has allowed my MG friends to see themselves as potentially powerful in public life; SAVE ME A SEAT by S. Weeks and G. Varadarajan addresses MG friendships and bullying with clarity and care #titletalk
I put these books in my MS classroom because some of my students are dealing with these things, even if I wouldn't wish that for them. And others are able to explore ideas and develop empathy. I read adult books in MS. I'd never require them, but won't ban them either. #titletalk
I'm obsessed with it. I want everyone to preorder a copy, so that @penguinkids is ready for it. Teachers are going to LOVE this book. Kids are going to love this book. Amal Unbound is the bomb. #titletalk
In reply to
@frankisibberson, @teachreadrepeat, @penguinkids
A4: Some PBs . . . The Rabbit Listened by @CoriDoerrfeld, The Journey by @Frenci_San , A Different Pond by Bar Phi, A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip Stead, The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend by @dsantat. I could go on and on . . . #titletalk
A4: Harry Potter in all situations. But seriously, it depends on the questions that need to be answered. Far from a Tree, Moxie, Dear Martin, Long Way Down, How to Disappear, One for the Murphy’s, The Running Dream... #titletalk
Sadly (for me), I missed #titletalk tonight. But I reviewed the tweet stream & I'm blown away by the reading/ teaching wisdom that participants shared. Not only does this group love their books, they clearly love their students. I'm awed & inspired by this virtual gathering.
A3: I am straight forward about the issue we will tackle. Then, I give students the option of reading something else or leave the room when they are uncomfortable.
#titletalk
I can't stop talking about Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by @Dusti_Bowling. Aven is a true treasure that will make an impact on all readers. #titletalk
A4: EVERYTHING by @johngreen. He possesses an unparalleled ability to write for us all. His works are that of life: complex, touching, unexpected, exciting, pervasive, and powerful. #titletalk
A4 Hello Universe, Far From the Tree, Spinning, Everything That Is Beautiful Is Not Ruined, I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter, Saints and Misfits, Love Hate and Other Filters, How It Went Down, The Inexplicable Logic of My Life. #titletalk
I feel graphic novels like Smile, Roller Girl, All's Faire In Middle School, Sunny Side Up, etc are turning kids into readers and changing their lives! #titletalk
A4 currently like Refugee by Gratz and Wishtree by Applegate for encouraging conversation and love that they both work great for discussing literary standards around point of view and perspective #titletalk
A4: Through short stories, Deborah Ellis, connects all kids around the issue of sitting and what it means to different genders, ages, cultures, and choices. #titletalk
A4. My kinders were delighted and astounded by some of the women featured in She Persisted. That the women were real made a dramatic difference to them. #titletalk
We all need to preorder!!! If we want these types of books to exist we need to show publishers that we are willing to put our money where our mouth (tweets) is. Amal Unbound needs to debut on the NYTs list. COME ON TEACHERS! We got this. #titletalkhttps://t.co/UxoLqLPKfN
Thanks @colbysharp and @donalynbooks for another fabulous #titletalk Thank you everyone for your great ideas and titles! I am once again leaving inspired! Have a great week!
