It's a Hobbit

When the students started reading Hobbit about a month ago, I had a few doubts about how they would take it. But now, as we've passed the mid-way point, I realize that those fears were largely unfounded. While the book can be challenging (content- and vocabulary-wise), it truly is meant for all ages, especially tweens and teens.

Personally, I had never picked up Hobbit or The Lord of the Ring series until it was time to read it with the kiddos this year. (I guess there are some perks for teaching middle school Language Arts/Reading, eh?) But it's very compelling, and in helping the students explore close reading strategies with it, I'm reading it closer too...and it is full of great characters, foreshadowing, lucky escapes, and more.

Sometimes good books sneak up on you when you least expect them to, and you spend some time wondering why you waited so long to read them in the first place. Thank goodness for times like those.

Speaking of books, tomorrow my school is hosting a book fair fundraiser, and teachers have been asked to do read alouds in the store. I invited my sister, so in our best voices we'll be reading "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" - should be a ton of fun!



Well, that's enough for today. I'll leave you with a unique version of "The 12 Days of Christmas" (see below) - it's worth the watch: