Wonder: A Blog Inside a Blog

Help Readers Love Reading: Wonder by R. J. Palacio

Thanks to my own middle skoo pal, Laura, I can share this ^ resource with you.   I have nothing to do with all of the hard work that went into this awesome site.   It's full of clips, links, songs and photos to help children visualize and understand the pop culture references in R.J. Palacio's Wonder.

What's Wonder all about?   Check out this book trailer:

Wonder has a broad appeal, and even though the main character is youngish, my 8th graders are enjoying his story right now.   When we talk about struggling readers, they are often open to a variety of stories, if you will provide the support they need to get through them.

I've been alternating my read-alouds with the book on CD.   So far we've only gotten through two parts, meaning two voices.   I'm not crazy about the voices that we're chosen to narrate, but sometimes my throat needs a break.   Now, I can use the resources this wonderful teacher has assembled to help kids get some of the references that are made in the book, most often by Auggie.   A good reader visualizes without thinking twice.   Others could use a little assistance.

Today we used paint chips to copy September's precept from the book.   Each child wrote on two paint chips.   They will hang one in a public spot.   My friends will help out by hanging the others.

What's September's precept?

"When given the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind." (Dr. Wayne Dyer)

(For the record, I am well aware that I could also use a little personal growth, so I'm keeping one of the less legible tags for myownself.)

Long after I was out of paint chips for our Random Acts of Inspiration, people still wanted to participate, so those folks are at the top of my list this go round.

Isn't it good to be reminded every now and then that we are all wonders of creation?

Random Acts of Inspiration/ Time to Diversify

Thanks to my amazing Facebook friends, paint chips inscribed with inspirational messages have been placed from sea to shining sea.   And there are still more chips yet to be revealed.

Here's the tag I placed at the Scottsboro, Alabama Home Depot.   It was penned by a student who made her way into my classroom from a meandering life path for sure.

There were many stellar, thoughtful photographic offerings from the volunteers who found our small town tags homes in the big wide world.   Thanks to all of the hands that set this project into motion.

People have contemplated taking on similar projects with their own dear children.   When it comes to being kind, there aren't too many bad ideas out there.

Perhaps some of the younger kids would like to participate in this guerrilla-style undertaking.   Pinterest pointed me to a page that has a few free doodled sayings that you can download as coloring sheets.

Does this mean you have to be in the crowd that likes to eat paste, demands shoestring assistance, insists upon extending bedtime deadlines and exudes 24-7 cute-as-a-buttonness?   No, everyone should grab your favorite colors and make something purty.   I'm partial to this one.   If you don't see one that fits your plan, design one your ownself.