Continuing Conversations About Literature Circles Summary

This book is full of very deep thought provoking things. From the themes of bullying to the themes of how divorce and adultery can affect young children. I think this book was a perfect example of what kinds of this to have in our own classrooms in the future. “Is it a text that relates to critical issues and experiences in readers' lives and provokes deep reflection, questioning, and discussion?” (Continuing Conversations about Literature Circles. Pg 279.2000)
In this day and age we need to make sure that students know what bullying is and how to prevent it. This book may not be the answer to preventing it, because the use of violence is most definitely not the answer no matter what. But it show students that they do not just have to lay

In short, skillful readers take ownership of their reading and construct meaning in active and careful ways.” (Continuing Conversations about Literature Circles. Pg 278. 2000) Skills are something that we as teachers need to nurture and grow starting from the seeds of interest that the students plant and adding the water of knowledge and engagement until that skill grows and grows and grows. We want our students to succeed in everything we give them so we as teachers need to give them the opportunities to grow that little seed. If you pile on too much water(knowledge) without giving them the chance to let it sink in and absorb on its own you risk drowning them. If you don't give them enough because you don’t think they can handle it you risk them drying out and losing interest in continuing. Now because our students aren’t actually plants that can’t water themselves we are allowed to let go and let the students control their own water intake, with us regulating every now and again. Let our students take ownership of their own reading, let them learn to love books on their own, without us pushing the too hard and them giving up