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My 7th graders handed in their one-pager book reports today. One of my reluctant/resistant readers had chosen to read The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness. He was so proud earlier this week when he finished the book (it is 496 pages long!). Two other boys (also reluctant/resistant readers) read The Hunger Games. They were talking about their books, how they ended, and whether or not they were going to read the rest of the series.

Today at dismissal they were talking about it again. D, who read TKNLG, said, "I'm going to read the next two books for my next book reports." Then he saw me, "Mrs. Stotz! When is our next book report?"

"May," I replied. "We'll take the month of May for the next one."

D nodded and turned to his buddies, "I'm going to read the second one then."

We just concluded our Second Annual Read-A-Thon fundraiser and for the second time the grand prize for the 5-8th graders was a limo ride to the local Scholastic Warehouse with money to spend on books. Two students from each grade got to go. I was one of the chaperons last year; it was so much fun! This year the 5-6 English teacher got to go because she pretty much organized and ran the read-a-thon herself. I was delighted that she got to have that experience with the kids, including two of her own children who were top winners for their grades. My 8th graders returned, jumping up and down with excitement.

"Mrs. Stotz! We got you presents!" The two of them proceeded to pulled books out of their bags and pile them in my hands. "We pooled our money to buy these for you! And this one, we read the back and it sounded like one you would like!"

I was so touched by their joy, their thoughtfulness, and their love. I've already started The Other Side of the Island by Allegra Goodman, and so far, they were right. I'm enjoying it!