Wonder by R.J. Palacio

                                                         I am reading this book as a read-aloud to my class right now. Last year was the first time I read the book, and I absolutely fell in love with it. It contains such powerful life lessons. The message to "accept yourself and others the way they are" is such a powerful one. The entire fifth grade class is being read this book as a read- aloud except my teammate. He has a girl in his class with a facial deformity. He asked the mother what she thought he should do, and she said she would prefer it not read to the entire class. She was afraid her daughter would feel as though the spotlight was even more on her. I understand her concerns, but if she just read the book herself, she might have a change of heart.

 I can't wait until next year when I will start the year off by showing this Animoto first thing as a way of introducing the book. The opportunity for discussions are immense. Especially since the first day of school is the first chance for the students to get to know one another , I also use it as my chance for the students to get to know me. I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in 2000. My treatment requires me to take a half a day a month where I receive medication through an IV. I tell them this on the very first day because not only do I want the students to know I trust them, but also that it's important to practice the "Golden Rule." Treat others as you would like to be treated is really important to me, and I'm sure to others as well. If I didn't share my medical history with them, they wouldn't even know anything was wrong. I'm not in a wheelchair and don't even have a limp. They see that I have two healthy boys and can do everything that other teachers do.