TP-Issue14.5

TEACH READ I NG & WR I T I NG “In these strange and uncertain times, readingfiction is a great way to allow themind to escape reality” who might be reluctant or want to avoid their work. While normally I would be able to pick up a book and engage the kids with a story, this hasn't been possible lately. Having you read your own novel, from your own house (all the way across the world!) has been an amazing experience for my students. It has helped to 'normalise' our remote learning, establish the idea that we're all in this together, and that they truly do exist as global citizens.” Pam Balistreri, a teacher in Apple Valley, Minnesota wrote to me and shared: “As a teacher, I am inspired by the way you have engaged my class and given them something to look forward to each day. The book is filled with cliffhangers and it continues to make my students want more. The children said that having an author read their own writing adds an element that they wouldn't necessarily get if they were reading it themselves. One www.teachwire.net | 45 teachers have been using it as part of their remote learning. In these strange and uncertain times, reading fiction is a great way to allow the mind to escape reality and grapple with emotions through a fictional lens. The world outside your front door might feel scary right now, but just imagine being Sherman Capote, trying to stop a world-ending alien invasion! While these are grave times indeed, I believe we need to find the small wins. I sincerely hope that amid all of the chaos and loss of this pandemic, I may have been able to inspire some students to make reading for fun a daily habit. It’s a tiny fraction of what teachers are doing each and every day, but I’m proud to do my bit to help. TP of the students even told me after the recording was complete that he has now been video recording himself reading aloud his choice book. He never liked to read aloud before and now he is reading his book chapter by chapter, inspired by what you are doing!” In every video, I give a brief shout-out to a student who’s reading along at home. Melissa Little, a parent in Powder Springs, Georgia, reached out to ask me to mention her son’s class. She said, “One of the hardest parts of everything being closed has been not being able to go to the library and finding new books to read. We used to go two or three times a week! Listening to you read has been a bit of joy every day. The book has very likable characters and a great storyline.” I believe that reading is a habit, and so doing the daily video is a way to role model that habit. I’ve been buoyed by how many people have been reading along with me, and how Jeff Norton is an award-winning author of books such as MetaWars,Memoirs Of ANeurotic Zombie andDinoKnights. He is readingAlienated: GroundedAt GroomLake chapter by chapter at bit.ly/unitedbybooks @thejeffnorton jeffnorton.com