This has quite possibly been one of the most practical books I’ve read in a long time…well, perhaps, ever! I am not known for reading practical things (excepting, of course, street signs), but this book has given me a great deal to think about. First off, I have already begun implementing some of his ideas in my classroom. Most notably, I am much more aware of my responses to students in the classroom. When they ask me to explicate (my term, not theirs), I find myself asking them to interpret first. I am finding students much more willing to engage in a discussion, arguing or backing up their classmate’s assertions, which is fascinating to me, as that was an experience I never got to have until college, really. It is also one of my favorite things about English, discussing in a non-threatening environment my own thoughts and opinions. The amazing thing is, I teach 6th-8th grade English! And yet some of these kids (even the ones who don’t necessarily have the best grades) are talking about texts in a very advanced manner–they just don’t realize it yet. It’s been a fascinating experiment the past few weeks, especially since all of my classes are studying Shakespeare. Who would have thought that a group of 6th graders could explain “Shall I compare thee to a Summer’s Day?” to me! And one of them even pointed out something I had never really noticed before. It was a discussion I was not so much leading as participating in, which made the kids feel more in control of their own educational experience.

While I do not agree with everything Blau says (part of my own “discussion with the text”), I have found a lot of his conclusions and observations very useful. I look forward to trying a full-fledged literature workshop very soon. This book seems to want everything that I myself want for my students–that they take charge of their own learning and begin to grow confidence in themselves as readers. This feels more like a book review than anythin else, but I really was fascinated by this book, and I look forward to trying more techniques in the near future!