Donalyn Miller's Blog, page 14
August 30, 2009
The More Things Change
August 24, 2009
Just One More Book
I recently spent a wonderful morning chatting with Mark Blevis from Just One More Book, discussing the need for reading time, read alouds, and funding for libraries and books. Listen to the podcast.
August 17, 2009
Parenting: A Field Guide
My recent radio chat with Dr. Patricia Anderson from Parenting: A Field Guide aired today. Download the podcast and enjoy our discussion about books, children, and reading.
August 14, 2009
The Fate of Reading
Educational tweeters and bloggers across the Internet are sharing this impassioned post from Sandra Stiles, a middle school English teacher. Dismayed by a new reading program implemented in her district, which limits the books students can read and marginalizes "pleasure reading" to an at-home activity, Sandra has taken a stand.
"I decided to become a teacher to teach students. Not to teach them to hate reading. I will do as usual. Against the district I will modify my program and teach them ab
August 9, 2009
The Dog-Eared Days of Summer
I enjoyed a wonderful summer. Traveling around the country promoting The Book Whisperer and teaching staff development, I appeared in eight cities, gave ten interviews, stopped in thirteen airports, rode in twenty-two airplanes, and read sixty books (lots of reading time on those planes!). Talking about books and reading with hundreds of teachers and zealous readers from Pennsylvania to Chicago to Portland, let me assure you that the book is not dead, enthusiastic reading role models exist in ou
July 26, 2009
Every Reader Tells a Story
When I was five years old, my mother banned me from reading in bed with my flashlight because I burned my ear one night falling asleep with the bulb against my cheek. Two weeks later, Mom discovered me asleep in the dry bathtub, clutching my pillow and my book. Undaunted by the flashlight ban and driven by my desire to read, I crept into the bathroom and read with the door closed. My mother, recognizing how much reading meant to me, bought me a reading lamp and a stack of books to go with it. I
July 4, 2009
Celebrate Reading Freedom
On this Independence Day, I am grateful for my freedom to read what I want. My fundamental right to write or read any book, blog, news article, or Twitter feed—no matter how controversial, thoughtful, or ridiculous—is not commonplace for all citizens around the world. When we choose our own reading material and encourage children to do the same—we exercise our rights as Americans. Celebrate your reading freedom today!
I have exercised my right to read this summer. With the extra time the vacati
July 1, 2009
Donalyn Miller TV Appearance
Editor's Note:
Donalyn Miller will be appearing live from San Francisco on ABC's "View from the Bay" on Thursday, July 2 at 3PM PST.
To watch the program, check out this link:
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/channel?se...
June 22, 2009
Summer Rerun-- The Tale of Two Tables
Reading Kate Messner's passionate post In Defense of Summer Reading Freedom reminds me of my similar post last summer, The Tale of Two Tables. What are your thoughts on required summer reading?
June 15, 2009
Tillmon County Fire
After reading, last summer, Pamela Ehrenberg’s first novel, Ethan Suspended, which explores themes of prejudice, loyalty and tolerance through the eyes of Ethan, a young man who moves in with his grandparents in their declining neighborhood, I eagerly dove into Ehrenberg’s latest book, Tillmon County Fire. 
Set in a remote part of Appalachia, the book unfolds through the alternating perspectives of several teenagers who live in this rural community: Rob, the openly-gay newcomer; Lacey, the invi
