Disbelief, Book Joy, and the Next Big Thing

 

Last year, I was invited to a thing. A Teacher's Night out celebration. I didn't go. Figured it was some kind of scam. One of those things where you have to listen to a presentation and then they serve you some rubber chicken and give you a chance to spend some money on whatever it is that they were hawking - which might be anything from Jesus, to fire alarms, or investment contracts. Nope. I'm not interested. 

But this year...I went...still a bit suspicious. Was this for real? Free books. Free food. Live music. Drinks. And a chance to see my friends and folks that helped me get started in education (Becky Hopper!) and my students who are now serving (Abby Nichols)? I'd volunteered to read for this organization at Coronado Elementary - prek folks. And those of you that know me...I lasted 15 minutes in Kinder during my tenure as an educator. I just don't do littles. But reading books to them is another thing. Figured I could ham that up real good and then just leave with them all squiggly and happy with their new books. That seemed to be ok. I had a blast. So I went to the Teacher's Night Out event, too. 

Turns out - there were no presentations. No asks. No requests or alter calls. And there was cake. And Sticky Chicky, and Pondasetta, and Raising Caine's tea and lemonaide. And table fulls of books and bags all for the taking. And I was SO wrong about the organization. Book joy and access. Supporting teachers. Um...I can do that. 

So I am. Now it's my job. I'll be their Professional Learning something or other - but really - you'll just find me out there reading books to kids and giving stacks of them to their teachers along with best practices and lesson plans that make literacy and experience to remember. 

Wanna read with me? Text me for a chat or click here for more info:  https://theleadersreadersnetwork.org/ I think I may have decided what I want to be when I grow up. 

Book Joy: Big Feelings

 

Hulk has big feelings. So do I.

Y'all. Dr. Lisa Hill arranged for me to read aloud to this classroom. Every Kindergartener was receiving a book from The Leaders Readers Network. No big deal. A board book. Simple. I could put on a show. 

But. 

I sat down to read...and this little girl jumped up from the back of the classroom carpet where she was sitting near her teacher. She stood by my chair, beaming: "I love Hulk!" 

Oh. My. Heart. Delighted by her joy, I asked if she would like to sit with me to read. 

And we sat there together, me reading, and her making Hulk's big faces in the mylar mirror on each page of the book. 

And she simply couldn't contain her joy when I told her she could have my copy and that each of her classroom friends were also getting a book. 

Y'all - book friends are the best.