We are a community of learners

This, the first full week of school, was a week spent building community.  From kindergarten through grade 5, we discussed what it means to be a community of learners and shared ways that our space can be a safe and supportive environment for all learners. 

I created a poster with the question, "How can you help make our library a learning community?"  I also made a poster with some of the big ideas about being a community: listen to others; support your peers; contribute your ideas; take risks; and, do your best work.  After our discussion, we finished with students adding their voice to posters, about our learning community, that will hang in the library. I hope I started a conversation that the students will finish and own. We are on the road to becoming a community of learners.

How to start this great discussion?  With a great book of course!

I happen to have a galley of Tea Party Rules, written by Ame Dyckman and illustrated by K.G. Campbell.  My review of this book gives you some indication of how much I love it, 1980's bridesmaid dresses and all. Without any spoilers -- there's a bear, there's a girl, there's a tea party, AND there are rules.  

I read the same book all week long, from kindergarten to grade 5. (Now, I prefaced with the 4th and 5th graders that the book was geared to younger readers, but that they would enjoy it as well, and enjoy it they did.)  

Each grade level and classroom experience and reaction was unique, but there were some common moments, make that guffaws and groans, during this tea party.  I loved seeing the 4th and 5th graders let go of any preconceived notions or societal strictures about being too old for this kind of book and to witness their eyes light up just as much as the younger students and see them elbow and nudge those close to them to share a humorous moment. It was all so much fun, right up to the final page.  

After reflecting on the story, I explained that I didn't want to think about having rules in our library, but that I wanted to think about how we could be a community for all learners, a space where both the girl and the bear could be learners. The ensuing discussion was awesome. 

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I want to talk about some of the other aspects to this book that make it great for teaching.

We spent time using our visual literacy skills to read expressions and body language and to make predictions.

We spent time practicing reading strategies like making predictions and activating prior knowledge.

We spent time practicing recalling information in the text. "Rule number one was?" When we got to rule number four, it was a group recall event...I read the text, "Cub couldn't believe it."
And then, added my own text, "Tea Party rule number one, he was..." and the students answered, "clean."

The group gasp that accompanied the next page was awesome!

The last thing I will tell you about this book is that is allowed me to share my own story of dressing my real live cat in my teddy bear's dresses. I loved reliving those memories.

What a week it was! is it really only the 8th day of school?

Tea Party Rules

I don't care how busy your social calendar is, 

do not miss this tea party!

In Tea Party Rules, Ame Dyckman and K.G. Campbell have created an engaging and funny story that imparts some serious wisdom. 

You can skip my review below and go straight to Goodreads'. If you'd like to partake in my rainy day fun, read away!

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I'm going to a tea party and I need a fancy outfit!  (Tea party means fancy dress party where I come from.)  This might not be easy, I head for the hills, literally and figuratively, in the summer and move in with my parents, who live in the mountains on the side of a former volcano (if you walk out the front door, there are only two ways to go - up or down).  

So, here I am in my childhood home, looking for just the right dress...

Maybe this one!  

I wore this back in the 80's (can you guess?) as a Maid-of-Honor in my sister's wedding.  

Yes, she loved me, honest.  

It was just the style.

Maybe the one!

 I made her wear it three years later.  

Yes, I loved her, too. 

It was just the style.

One of my mother's dresses?  ...and a hat?

Now I need a friend!

I've invited my mother's teddy bear -- for which my daughter has made a nice brown suit because he is very old and his fur is just not what it should be any more.  His name is Teddy.  I have also invited Leppie, another of my mother's stuffed animals.  

These two animals were well loved by my mother and her three sisters.

I gathered two of our old chairs...and the china...and some cookies and tea. All set. READ.

Tea Party Rules 

by Ame Dyckman and K.G. Campbell  

is awesome fun!

A lovely and perfectly-set tea party awaits, in a garden of course. This well-staged tea party, set by a young girl, includes a doll and her bear. Unexpectedly, the tea party is crashed by an uninvited guest, an uninvited guest who smells some very yummy freshly-baked cookies when out wandering the forest.

This poor intruder does not know what he is in for - cookies and tea are yummy, BUT tea parties have rules and lots of them. What ensues is a funny, wonderful romp that culminates is the best fun of all.  Tea Party Rules has an ending sure to surprise and please.  Sometimes tea party rules become tea parties rule!  

I'll join in the fun!

Ame Dyckman once again reminds us that unexpected things, like guests and friendships, are often the best.  Ame's books also remind us to break out of our mold and be open to life around us. 

K.G. Campbell's light and whimsical illustrations and color palate capture a summer tea party perfectly.  He brings the reader right into this wonderful scene and helps ensure he or she stays on the inside of the joke -- all you need to do is look at the expression on the bear cub's face.  

This is going to be one fun read aloud.