Banned Book Week

Today was the first school day of Banned Book Week. After mulling around many scenarios, I settled on the following:

I pulled many books off of my classroom library shelves that have been challenged currently or in the past. Displaying these on the top of one of the shelves, I asked the students, when they came in, to try to figure out what all of the books had in common. As I made my way to the front of the classroom, I picked up various library books off their desks. One student said, "But Miss. Now, I don't have ANYthing to read." I quietly explained that her book would have to be placed with the others, and I apologized "sincerely."

Then, I compiled their observations and ideas into one list projecting the ideas as the students offered them. Some examples were:

• They're all great books.
• They all have violence.
• They all have a protagonist like PonyBoy in The Outsiders.
• They're all made of paper (I just love the higher order thinking in that one.)
  

Finally, when it seemed as if their ideas were exhausted, I projected the list on the board. Then, I wrote, "Happy Banned Books Week." Puzzled looks abounded. "What???" "I don't get it."

So I explained, "All of the books on the top of that shelf are books that have been banned somewhere in the US. Because of that, I'm pulling all of the books off our classroom library shelves, and, then, I'll have to start working on our school library."

First, each class I had was silent. Then, they erupted. "This stinks!" "Well, if someone don't like a book, they can just put it back!" "That's gay! Those are all the books I like to read!" "But The Outsiders is there, and we haven't finished it..."

I amazed myself at being able to pull it off for as long as I did---close to five minutes in each class. When I realized I might have a major revolt on my hands, I pulled them back together and explained why I did what I did.

Such a simple, but powerful, approach. The students talked about it all day long. They were still suspicious that we might not finish The Outsiders when they came back for their second half of their ELA block, but I assured them that we would read a banned book together in honor of Banned Book Week.

Our 8th grade American History teacher is just beginning the American Revolution, and he is excited about the tie-ins to freedom and liberties that we enjoy as Americans.

This first day hints at a great week of learning in Mrs. G's classroom.