Last week I was a teacher-preÂsenÂter at a young authors and artists conÂferÂence for a couÂple of days. TremenÂdous fun — the kids who come to these things want to be there and want to learn. They’re readÂers, writÂers, artists! They are an engaged, engaging, and exuÂberÂant lot, which I enjoy immensely.
I taught six sesÂsions on bringÂing conÂflict to your stoÂries — “MakÂing It Even Worse” was the title of my sesÂsion. ConÂflict is difÂfiÂcult for me to write, so I’ve had to figÂure out ways to approach is from the side…. But oh, the imagÂiÂnaÂtions of kidÂdos! They are masÂterÂful at creÂatÂing what a writÂing teacher of mine calls “increÂmenÂtal perturbations.”
At the beginÂning of each sesÂsion I asked them to introÂduce themÂselves with name and grade, and then tell me a favorite book of theirs and someÂthing about why it’s a favorite. I love askÂing kids those last two quesÂtions — I feel like I learn someÂthing about them very quickÂly. I also build my readÂing list. If they menÂtion a book I’ve read, I try to say someÂthing about why I like that book, too. If they menÂtion a book I’ve not read, I write it down.
They think this is fasÂciÂnatÂing — that I read the same books they do, and keep a list of books that they recÂomÂmend. One boy said, “This is a book for kids, just so you know….” And I said, “I know — those are the best books!”
What I learned from two days with third and fourth graders is this: They realÂly like series books. They enjoy readÂing all the books in the series, or at least attemptÂing to. They enjoy what I conÂsidÂer pell-mell action books — cliff hangÂers at the end of every chapÂter, so many increÂmenÂtal perÂturÂbaÂtions your head spins, conÂstant perÂil etc. They also enjoy less rauÂcous books, espeÂcialÂly if aniÂmals are involved — books like Charlotte’s Web, Mrs. FrisÂby and the Rats of NIMH, Pablo and Birdy, Black BeauÂty. They think these are best read out loud — a teacher of parÂent readÂing to them. They can be sharply dividÂed as to whether they like a magical/fantasy eleÂment to their books, though HarÂry PotÂter and the PerÂcy JackÂson series seems to rise above any objecÂtions to fanÂtaÂsy — they feel real, I’m told.
I love these kinds of book disÂcusÂsions with kids — the exchange of titles, the pasÂsionÂate opinÂions, the “…and if you like that, then you’d realÂly like ______!” It’s not only a great way to begin class, but also an easy way to put out there that books are things to be talked about.
As they left, many kids were feedÂing me more titles. “I bet you haven’t read this one…” they’d say. And they were so tickÂled if I had, or if I ran to put it on my list.
Such an easy fun thing to do: Ask the kidÂdos in your life what they’re reading….
What a good stratÂeÂgy, Melanie. And it’s always heartÂenÂing to hear that kids are still pasÂsionÂate about the books they are reading!