The End of Winn-Dixie

My kids love read alouds. They do not object when I drag them all to the carpet next to me. I do this for easier class management, but also because I really like having them close. I like watching their facial expressions as they listen to me read or listen to another classmate reflect on an idea from the book. I like them close because I wish I could somehow wrap them up in my love so they will feel secure and safe enough to share and take risks. It is safe to say that I love read alouds as well.

For the past 5-6 weeks we've been reading Because of Winn-Dixie. I love this story because there are so many layers to the characters' feelings and actions. It's also a very sweet and at the same time sad story-one it seems the students can really relate to. We finished the book yesterday. I couldn't help but feel sad it had ended-and it seemed that the kids agreed. Afterall, they had been so endearing in their responses to the text. I hadn't yet read read many chapters when all of a sudden 9 or 10 copies of the book popped up around the room. A little cheer would sprout up each day when I announced it was read aloud time. Kids without their own copies would cluster around those that did. A real sense of community could be felt as students readily shared books.

My favorite part of the past weeks' read alouds were the discussions after. Their work in Reading Workshop really transferred over-they were voluntarily using the conversation moves we had taught them. As each chapter would come to a close, I would open with, "Thoughts about this chapter?" One would share. Another would then say, " I want to agree with what ____said." This student would then say more about that thought. Or another would say, "I agree with ______ and I want to add _____." Or, "I have a new thought." Each day I would gravitate between getting the goosebumps from their responses and feeling sentimental at their sweetness and earnestness. They began to use new words in their vocabulary, such as vulnerable, empathy, and melancholy. It felt like more than just a comprehension lesson, it felt like life lessons.

As I held onto the book after our final Winn-Dixie conversation, I couldn't help but hope this momentum will continue as we begin our next story.