A caring reader

"Caring" is one of the IB learner profile attributes.
"Caring" is part of our class vision.
"What does it mean to be caring?" is a good question to ask from the students.
"What does it mean to be a caring reader?" is a question I asked my students one day. It took us several days to answer. First we made a list of what we could care about as readers - about the books, about the story, about oneself, and about other readers. On the following days we explained and elaborated on each choice. After we had the descriptors the students chose what to illustrate.On mornings as soon as they arrived, before the lessons, they drew and colored, decided to revise, and started all over. For a moment I thought we would never get the posters ready. Finally we put the texts and pictures together and now they are on the wall in the hallway next to the Literature Circle cupboards. The goal is to live up to these descriptions.

After organizing our class library together with the kids I hoped that they would remember what a challenge it had been and would be committed to keeping it tidy. Last week I collected 21 books missing their home. With the help of three students who arrive early each book found its right basket and shelf.

This one is easy to follow when you are reading Kate DiCamillo's  "The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane." We have been through a roller coaster of emotions together with Edward and other characters.

We have returned to the "100 things about me as a reader" lists and one of the fourth graders has reached 67 on her list. Knowing oneself as a reader  allows to think of ways to grow and improve. Several students are still learning how to choose the just right book.  Some students are so engaged that their challenge is to stop reading to be able to do anything else. All students ordered some books through the "Scholastic" book order.

Our DP teacher read the first line and thought she should bring the poster up to her 11th graders. having peace and quiet for reading is hard to achieve even with DP students.
Caring about others is most obvious in Literature Circles. We had our initial meeting of Literature Circles last week. I am looking forward to the discussions.

We have a list of what "caring" sounds and looks like on the playground.
Next we will discuss what it means to be a caring writer, a caring mathematician, a caring classmate, and researcher. Not all of these discussions will end up with pretty products. Sometimes it is enough to keep the word in our minds and reflect on how well we make it come alive in every day actions.