Sunday, April 5, 2009
My Side of the Mountain
When I was in 4th grade, my reading teacher, Mrs. Enochs, read My Side of the Mountain to us in class. That was the first book that I remember a teacher reading to the entire class. As she read, I could imagine myself in the Catskills trying to survive on my own. I remember thinking how amazing it would be to live in a tree and have a pet falcon. That was an experience that left a great impression on me, and I would like to provide that same type of thing for my students. We have read a few books in class this year -- Poppy, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and The Invention of Hugo Cabret. My favorite of the three was definitely Hugo Cabret. After reading these three, I decided to share My Side of the Mountain with my students. Well, we are about a third of the way through it, and I can tell that it just doesn't have the same impact with them as it did with me. In fact, I took a quick "love it/hate it" poll with them, and over half the class said they didn't enjoy it at all. Now I wonder, "What do I do with that?" I believe shared reading should be enjoyable, so part of me wants to just ditch the book and start over with something else. However, a few of my students said they were enjoying the book, and it just doesn't feel right to leave them hanging. Perhaps part of the problem is that relatively few of my students have had personal experience out in the woods, whereas by 4th grade I had already spent a lot of time in rural Mississippi visiting my grandparents, and it was easy to mentally plop myself down in the middle of the forest. Anyway, I'm in a quandry about it. I'd love to know what you think.
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Mr.Butler ,
ReplyDeleteI think you should ask the class if some of them want to share why they didn't enjoy the book. Maybe they would like to share their feelings. Or maybe they just felt in a way that this book choice just didn't feel like it was a great choice after all.
Mr.Butler I was one of them who liked My Side of the Moutain. It was a fantastc book. If I become a teacher i will read that book to my students.
ReplyDeleteMr,Butler
ReplyDeleteI understand your story i didnt like it because somehow it wasnt my thing but i did like diary of the wimpy kid that was funny!!!!!!!!I like that other book you are reading its so funny i want to see if i become popular i hope i do so here it comes i am NOT popular no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
$$monkey$$,
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you. If people don't like it they should share their feelings with Mr.Butler. That goes for everyone too.
vanessa,Your telling your feelings how u like the book i like it and Mr,butler i am happy that u r telling yours too!
ReplyDeleteMr.Butler, I enjoy listening My Side of the Mountain it was fun listening how the boy got along leaveing in the forest.I like the book but some parts were
ReplyDeletekind of boring
It was so kind of you still reading my side of the mountain because I like the book.I am thinking to run away from home.No i am just kiding from runing away.
ReplyDeleteMr.butler I don't really like my side of the mountain because it was kinda boring I like funny books like diary of the wimpy kid.
ReplyDeleteannarockr461,
ReplyDeleteI know. It was good for me to tell my feelings. Everyone else should do that too.
mr.butler,
ReplyDeletewhat you route is so so so cccccccccccooooooooooooolllllllllllllllllllllllllyou are the coolest teacher I ever had in my life:]
$$monkey$$,Hey i like your name its cool and your comments are cool please leave a message back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<><><><><><><><><><><>=]=]=]=]=]=]=]=]=]=]=]=]=]=]=]=]=]=]=]=]=]==]=]=]
ReplyDeletemr.butler,
ReplyDeleteThat was really touching.
If you still hade your teacher she would be real proud of you.That you turnd out to read the same book she read to you.
mr.butler,
ReplyDeletei dont like my side of the mountin but you rock at the same time. i grather read how tobe prefect in three days.
Dear Mr.Butler,My Side of the Moutain was a ok book.It wasn't like Diary of a Wimpy Kid.It is just not that funny to me like Diary of a Wimpy Kid.It is a ok book to me it is just not a book that I like to read.It is just a good book for you but not for me.
ReplyDeleteMr. Butler,
ReplyDeleteI hope when I grow up and become a teacher like you I can read to my students this book. I hope they love as much I do now.
Mi Rincon En La Montaña me gusto por que es un libro bueno y cuenta cosas chistosas.
ReplyDeletey nos cuenta cosas de de un niño que es chistoso.
I like my side of the mountain is one of my favorite books. Whenever Mr Butler reads it I imagine myself in the woods. I can't believe some people dont like the book.
ReplyDelete