The Book Whisperer

by Donalyn Miller

[HekArtemis]

A really good book, it's great to know that there are teachers out there who think this way and do what they can to give their students a better experience with reading books than most of us might remember experiencing ourselves in school. Not all teachers are able to make the changes Miller makes in her class, because of state/country rules. And not all teachers want to make such changes or believe that they would work, or sadly even care. But at least some of them do, and that is a good thing.

As a homeschooler there is a lot here that spoke to me because I already felt the same way, but there was also a lot that I hadn't thought about before and made so much sense. Unfortunately there is also a lot that just cannot translate to the homeschool environment. I am in no way complaining about the things that don't apply to my situation, to be clear. I am just making note of it, especially for other homeschoolers who might read this. You will get a lot from this book, there will also be a lot you already know. But there will be times that you have to keep it firmly in your mind that home is not school and so some of the things that Miller cannot do with her students, we can do at home. Don't start questioning certain choices you've made on the basis of how a teacher is limited by teaching only one subject for a small amount of time each day. Why would I say that? Because yes, for a bit there I was beginning to wonder how she could see so much wrong with things like extension activities while homeschoolers often thrive with unit studies... was I missing something? Yes I was, we teach across subjects, she teaches one subject and is limited in her time with her kids each day while we have no limits. We can do things she simply cannot do. Don't doubt yourself because of the constraints she is under.

This book absolutely increases my sympathy for those teachers who can see the things that are wrong with the educational system and can't do anything about it. It must be so hard to have no choices. To see things harming your students learning, but not be able to stop it from happening. What a mess.