i heart read alouds

I knew I would love reading out loud to my class. On roadtrips, I'll read novels aloud as a form of entertainment (that is, in between playing Celebrity and the license plate game).

The teachers and I have been taking turns reading a chapter book to the class. It is currently my turn. It was hard to choose what book to read. It's not easy anticipating what book will light the little fires in these little bellies. Between what I could find in the library, my vague memory from my own early reading career, and the upcoming holiday, I decided on The Chocolate Touch.

There is nothing more rewarding than reading to a group of kids and looking up at their faces as they listen. Seeing the kids leaning 5 inches closer toward me; having 26 sets of eyes bugging out; noticing when the room will collectively hold their breath during climax moments of the story; knowing that the students who have a tendency to roll around on the carpet and disrupt other are sitting like criss cross applesauce statues. The love to make predictions on what happens, and they go whine (endearingly) "awwwww" when the end of the chapter comes and I stop for the day.

It is hands down my favorite part of the day.