THE BOOK WHISPERERS:
SJA would like to recognize the voracious readers of the seventh and eighth grade. Our reading program this year in the seventh and eighth grade was modeled after the “free reading” classroom that Donalyn Miller proposes in The Book Whisperer. Miller suggests that students become “fully engaged” readers when they are allowed to choose their own books. She holds that “the more control students have in their decisions about their reading, writing, and thinking,” the more prepared they become for “literate lives.” In the “Book Whisperer” model, students are given substantial class time to read, and they are asked to read across nine genres, including poetry, traditional literature, fantasy, science fiction, realistic fiction, historical fiction, mystery, biography/autobiography/memoir, and informational.
This academic year, students shared books in letters to the teacher, book reviews and book commercials. They connected to each other as they shared their experiences of their books through eloquent, moving, and often times entertaining book reviews and book commercials. The SJA seventh and eighth grade classes have become a community of readers, sharing books and recommendations. If you need a recommendation for your summer reading list, feel free to ask one of our SJA “Book Whisperers.” They will surely have a few suggestions for you!
Our goal this year has been for each student in the seventh and eighth grade to read 40 books. For the tomes of literature exceeding 350 pages, students were allowed to tally one book for every 350 pages. So, for reading so many books and for sharing a passion for books this 2010-2011 academic year I would like to recognize the following students.
Book Whisperer Awards Winners are:
Scott Duffy – 20 books
Tiffany Burzynski – 21 books
Madeline Fezzie – 24 books
Robert Burzynski – 25 books
Andrew Massarella – 30 books
Mikka Maja – 34 books
Shannon Gill – 35 books
Gabrielle Fazekas – 38 books
Lindsay Leake – 42 books
Rosa Ancaya – 44 books
Zachary Kiddy – 44 books
Ashley Beyer – 48 books
James DePadua – 58 books
Mitchi Maja – 67 books
