The Book Whisperer

by Donalyn Miller

Thomas.

  Time: expanding classroom reading ; reporting accuracy of reading logs; required for whole-novel teaching practices; setting aside personal reading

  To Kill a Mockingbird (Lee)

  Townsend, Atwood H.

  Transactional theory of reading

  Trinity Meadows Intermediate School

  Tripping Over the Lunch Lady (Mercado)

  TumbleTalkingBooks

  Twain, Mark

  U

  “Ultimate Library List”

  Underground readers

  University of Colorado at Bolder

  V

  Validating reading choices

  Vega, Denise

  View from Saturday, The (Konisburg)

  W

  Washington Post

  Weaver.

  Websites for reading recommendations

  Wednesday Wars, The (Schmidt)

  Weinbrenner, Susan

  Well-Wished (Billingsley)

  What Really Matters for Struggling Readers (Allington)

  Whispers sections

  Whole-class novels: alternative teaching methods for; impact on literacy ; rethinking approach to

  Wilder, Laura Ingalls

  Wilkinson.A.G.

  Winter’s Tale, A (Helprin)

  Wordsworth, William

  Wrinkle in Time, A (L’Engle)

  Writing

  Y

  Yellow Brick Roads (Allen)

  Z

  Zimmerman, Susan

  Acknowledgments

  Writing a book is hard work, and not only for the writer. My greatest hope is that this book is worthy of those individuals who provided unflagging support to me during the process. We share one vision—our commitment to children and the goal of inspiring and motivating them to read.

  First, I must thank my publisher, Jossey-Bass. I accepted their offer to publish this book because their earnest belief in helping teachers and students shone like a beacon from every person I met. Leslie Iura, Paul Foster, Dimi Berkner, and Christie Hakim championed the book from the beginning and gave me a great deal of leeway while writing it. I appreciate their confidence. Discovering Paul’s love for Where the Red Fern Grows was an added bonus! Thanks also to Julia Parmer, Pamela Berkman, Carolyn Uno, Carrie Wright, and the rest of the editorial and marketing teams who worked in the trenches to bring this book to publication.

  The dedicated team at teachermagazine.org gave me my start in 2007 when they hired me to write an “Ask the Mentor” column and later offered me “The Book Whisperer” blog. The seeds for this book were planted at teachermagazine.org. I am grateful to Virginia Edwards, Mary-Ellen Phelps Deily, and Anthony Rebora for their support. I also appreciate the many readers of the blog whose comments make me think and who inspire me with their teaching knowledge and consideration for the students in their classrooms. Thanks also to Jen Robinson, who regularly links to my blog on her own outstanding Web site.

  To call Elizabeth Rich an editor misrepresents her contribution. Elizabeth brought me to teachermagazine.org, advocated for my work, and eased my fears about writing this book when she agreed to edit it. Every line has been filtered through her shrewd judgment and instinct for storytelling, and this book is better for it. Never afraid to push me when she thought I could do more, Elizabeth taught me how to be a writer, to look for the turtles, and to see a bigger vision for this book than I first thought possible. Thank you, E, for being not only interested, but interesting. You are more than my editor; you are family.

  This book would not have been possible without my principal, Dr. Ron Myers. Ron is the epitome of an instructional leader—dedicated to his own professional growth and that of his staff. He always says, “It is about the kids, not the adults,” and never allows us to lose sight of the reason we are in education—to improve the lives of children. From reading drafts, to opening his home, to writing the afterword, Ron has been a tireless promoter of this book. Ron, even though you are a University of Oklahoma fan and tell corny jokes, I will work for you as long as you will let me.

  When Susie Kelley loaned me her copy of Mosaic of Thought all of those years ago, she put my feet on a path to better teaching. Susie is the most generous person I know, giving freely of her books, her ideas, and her friendship. Watching her teach and talking to her about instruction is like taking a master’s class every day.

  I am grateful to Heather Freeman and Mellie Joiner, who snuck me in to meet Janet Allen, and introduced me as an author. Also thanks to Debbie Brooks, assistant principal extraordinaire, who calls me “friend,” and means it. I appreciate the many administrators and teachers of Keller Independent School District who supported the creation of this book.

  I never believed I could write a book until I participated in the National Writing Project. Thanks to the leaders of the North Star of Texas chapter at the University of North Texas: Leslie Patterson, Carol Wickstrom, Janelle Mathis, Joan Curtis, and Terisa Pearce. Special thanks to Carol, who read my book and provided advice. A shout-out to my fellow teacher consultants, who cheerfully asked me how the book was going each time we crossed paths, and especially to Audrey Wilson, Kerri Harris, and Jennifer Roberts, who kept me from getting a big head about it. You ladies are the teachers I want to be when I grow up.

  Thanks to Alexandra Leavell, who taught me the difference between research-based and research-proven, and who convinced me that I could present at the National Council of Teachers of English conference. I am also grateful to Jeff Anderson, who paid it forward by sharing his experiences as a teacher and writer, and never considered me a stalker.

  My husband Don knows more about teaching reading than any spouse should. He read every draft numerous times, ironed my work clothes for eight months, brought me dinner at the computer almost every night, and told me that he wished he could have been in my class. The knowledge that we will totter off into old age together, happily reading our beloved books, makes me smile from ear to ear.

  I am blessed with two remarkable daughters, Celeste and Sarah, who reminded me that I needed to spend time playing dominoes and watching movies with them in order to stay sane. Thanks, girls, for sacrificing so much Mom time.

  A special thanks to my mother, who taught me how to read and, in doing so, gave me everything—my education, my career, and my life’s passion.

  I am indebted to the marvelous students I have taught over the years. Thanks to all of the parents and students who agreed to be in the book, sent me pictures, and cheered me on. Your words and accomplishments deserve to be heard.

  About the Author

  DONALYN MILLER is a sixth-grade language arts and social studies teacher at Trinity Meadows Intermediate School in Keller, Texas. In her quest to spread reading freedom, Donalyn teaches staff development presentations on campuses and in conference rooms across the country. Her articles and essays appear in national publications such as Library Sparks Magazine. In “The Book Whisperer,” her blog for teachermagazine.org, Donalyn shares her ideas and strategies for teaching reading and inspiring students to read.

  Donalyn lives atop a dragon’s hoard of unread books she calls “the Miller Mountain” with her husband, two daughters, and granddaughter. In her spare time, Donalyn travels, visits old friends, and daydreams—all inside the pages of her treasured books.

  About the Sponsor

  EDUCATION WEEK PRESS is the book publishing division of Editorial Projects in Education (EPE), home of the independent newspaper Education Week and other highly regarded print and online products. Among those products is teachermagazine.org, a Web site devoted to news and information for K-12 teachers and the home of Donalyn Miller’s blog “The Book Whisperer.” In addition to her blog, Miller’s popular column “Ask the Mentor” on teachermagazine.org inspired this book. EPE is a nonprofit organization based in Bethesda, Maryland; its other entities include the EPE Research Center, edweek.org, Digital Directions, the Teacher Professional Development Sourcebook, and TopSchoolJobs.org.

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  Donalyn Miller, The Book Whisperer