I establish a sense of community in the fall, carefully picking authors and literature, and I always try to plan enough time for a good discussion. It's terribly frustrating for children to have to break the spell. I now have a better sense of when to entertain comments and what comments or questions seem appropriate to pursue. My students have always known that their questions mattered, but now I look to them to discuss their questions and observations. They offer each other responses and ideas and then we talk about who agrees or disagrees and why.
Children are deep thinkers and they make surprising observations and decisions.
I believe that helping children develop envisionments empowers them as thinkers and gives each a chance to shine in the classroom. On a recent Friday, I read Tough Boris , by Mem Fox. The text is poetic in its simplicity, and the illustrations are inviting and colorful depictions of pirates. The children were up on their knees with curiosity and filled with wonder at the powerful and surprising ending. Our discussion could have gone on longer, had it not been time for gym.