My critique group suggested I volunteer in a school. So I applied. It’s been a crazy experience. When the assistant principal and teachers saw my interest in helping children read – and I wanted to be with my books’ target audience, 3rd graders, they suggested an idea. They would like to pull out accelerated readers. Would I like to work with them. Sure, I said. But I am not a teacher.
I got some great ideas from my daughter (who teaches middle school) and Keely Parrack (who runs reading programs.) So every week for 1 & 1/2 hours or more I run the Reading Willows 3rd Grade book club. The students feel very special to be pulled out of class for a book club.
I absolutely love them. We’ve finished our first books, Because of Winn Dixie, The Landry News, and The Sign of the Beaver. Now we are starting Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko.
