For my Free Inquiry Project this semester, I will be exploring social media for professional development.
Author: akostiuk
“For students of every ability and background, it’s the simple, miraculous act of reading a good book that turns them into readers, because even for the least experienced, most reluctant reader, it’s the one good book that changes everything. The job of adults who care about reading is… to put that book into a child’s hands.”
— NANCIE ATWELL (2007), AS cited in Bright (2021)
One of my clearest memories about developing a love of reading came from around Christmas when I was six years old. My family was up in 100 Mile House visiting my Aunt and her family, and she gave me my first Amelia Bedelia book for Christmas. I LOVED that book and read it again and again all the way back to Creston on our 10 hour drive (definitely something I could never do nowadays!). I found the book to be absolutely hilarious and I remember being ecstatic to see that our school library had a ton of Amelia Bedelia books that I could read when I returned to school after winter break.
A year later, two young girls immigrated to our school from Germany. Neither of them spoke English. One of them was in my class and her sister was in my Dad’s class at the school. I was buddied up with them during our Buddy Reading time and shared my love for Amelia Bedelia books. I had forgotten this detail until they reminded me of it again years later. They said that they remember those early days of listening to these funny stories, not knowing a lot of English at the time, but being able to connect through the love of reading a story.
Have you ever looked up an author of a children’s book that you loved to learn more about them? As educators, it is important for us to take some time to do a little research on the books and authors we highlight in our classrooms. University of Alberta professor, Roxanne Harde, states the importance of children having access to Indigenous texts written by Indigenous authors in her article, “Putting First Nations Texts at the Center” (2016). Here are a few picture books by Indigenous authors that I love to bring into the classroom.
- Shi-shi-etko by Nicola I. Campbell & Kim LaFave
This story takes us through the perspective of a child getting ready to leave her family to attend residential school. Her deep connection to the land is rooted in her family’s way of life and she takes the reader through all of the special land connections she wants to remember. Connecting largely to place-based learning students can be encouraged to explore their own land relationships and make connections to places or things that are special to them.
- When I Was Eight – Christy Jordan-Fenton & Margaret-Olemaun Pokiak-Fenton, Gabrielle Grimard
This book takes the original story of “Fatty Legs” by the same authors and adapts it to suit a younger audience. It details some of the many horrors and hardships Indigenous children faced at residential school and one girl’s perseverance to learn to read inspite of it all. This true story makes some of the history of residential schools more accessible to younger students in an effort to build empathy and understanding of why this was wrong.
- My Heart Fills with Happiness – Monique Gray Smith
This book is written in both English and Plains Cree language to reflect the author’s ancestry. It highlights things that make someone happy that include activities, being with those we love, and connections to land. This short story fits into Social Emotional Learning and offers a starting point for students to delve into recognizing things that make them happy.
Rudine Sims Bishop has been a leading researcher and advocate around multiculturalism in children’s literature. Her guide of how literature can be used as “mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors” opportunities for students to build empathy when they read diverse picture books can be applied to this same focus on using authentic sources. Here are some of my current favourite books to promote diversity and inclusion.
- All Are Welcome Here – Alexandra Penfold & Suzanne Kaufman
This picture book is a great way to start off the school year by highlighting differences using pictures and how we can all come together in the same place respectfully. The story goes through the various activities students may engage in at school and shows everyone playing and learning together.
- The Day You Begin – Jacqueline Woodson & Rafael López
There will be times when you walk into a room and no one there is quite like you. This book reminds us that we can all feel like outsiders at some point in our lives. Awarded the Jane Addams Children’s Book Award for advancing the causes of peace and social equality, as well as other book of the year awards, this book offers a starting point for conversations about feeling different for a variety of reasons and a reminder for teachers who ask students to share what they did over the summer.
- Stepping Stones: A Refugee Family’s Journey – Margriet Ruurs & Nizar Ali Badr
This book is filled with the beautiful stone artwork of Nizar Ali Badr. The Foreward provides the interesting back story on how this publication came to be. This story can be used in many ways, but one of my favourites is using it to demonstrate the 3 Ways to Read a Book (read the pictures, read the words, retell the story) lesson by The Daily 5.
This survey has been taken and adapted from the textbook, Sometimes Reading is Hard by Robin Bright (2021).
How do you feel about reading?
I love getting into a good book! Whether it be an exciting novel or a beautiful picture book with a powerful message, I enjoy literature on a daily basis personally, professionally and with my young children.
What types of books do you like to read?
I always enjoy a good beach read in the summer months when there is a break from school and academic reading; mysteries and thrillers are exciting as long as they are not too gruesome! I am also passionate about finding powerful picture books, especially by Canadian authors!
List some of your hobbies and things you like to do outside of school.
I enjoy papercrafting (making cards and scrapbooking), cooking, reading and doing yoga. My favourite summer activity is going to a surrounding lake and my absolute favourite place is Kootenay Lake.
Who are your favourite authors?
Canadian authors!
Tell me a bit about the last book you read that you really enjoyed.
It was set in Quebec in a snowy village over Christmas. I enjoyed all of the Canadian references, the humour behind a city person coming to a small town, and the adventurous storyline. Another book I enjoyed last summer was set on a Canadian lake and I felt an instant connection to it because I grew up going to a family cabin each summer on a lake myself.
Tell me a bit about what you have been doing over the winter break. How have you been spending your time?
We stayed home over the break and enjoyed time with family and friends. We have created a backyard skating rink on our property and the boys are really enjoying skating on it each day now that we finally have some colder weather to keep the ice! We also had some time to organize several rooms in our house and that feels good to start off the new year.
What subjects or topics do you like to learn about?
Educational Technology, Literacy, and Environmental Education.
If you could read a book about one thing, what would that be?
An adventure/mystery set in Paris or the French Riviera.