Blog 3: Series & Miller’s book

For my first series book I chose The Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. So far, I have really enjoyed the story and I believe it will be a great read! One of my favorite parts of this book is how Snicket treat young children as mature, smart individuals. For example, the oldest member of the siblings, Violet, takes on the role of an engineer, with a bright mind always thinking of new inventions. The second, Klaus, is an avid reader who has a niche for science. Even Sunny, the baby, who can’t really speak or comprehend much, seems so be intelligent for her young age, always seeming to be more aware then we assume. By creating the central characters as strong, independent and intelligent individuals, it gives children someone to look up to, and shows them admirable characteristics for them to possibly embody. I also love how Snicket adds vocabulary excerpts as a learning tool to help children expand their vocabulary. Personally, I prefer books that are somewhat a challenge, to stimulate my mind and keep me interested in the story. I feel like this would be a great book for children seeking to excel their current reading level, and I can think of hundreds of lesson plans involving this series!
As for Miller’s book, I love her relatability and her teaching style. She understands children have chaotic lives and sometimes cannot find time outside of school to read. So she works with their schedules and points out times in their day when they can squeeze in at least 10 minutes of reading. She discusses how when teachers assign reading for class, it discourages children from truly retaining the information, and instead they skim- read, only trying to find answers. I feel that Miller not only understands the importance and vitality of reading, but also what tools children need to become readers. I am really looking forward to hearing more of her ideals, and learning how to become a “wild reader”.