Author: Melissa Quimby

Last month, we welcomed you to 4Q's Reading Community. This time, we'd like to share a bit about our community of writers! Here are some reasons why we think our writing community is special: "We have writing tools." -B Our literacy work at Brown School is anchored in the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project… Continue reading Welcome to Our Writing Community

Every June, I am curious to learn each reader's favorite book enjoyed in fourth grade. After watching and listening and recommending all year long, I am left wondering what the #1 title in their stacks of 30-40 independent reading books is. Last week, I invited my crew to take out their stack of monthly "Shelfies"… Continue reading An Unexpected Heart Flutter

My eyes that kiss in the corners and glow like warm tea are a revolution.--Joanna Ho https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFz0wktGr2k Author Joanna Ho reads her new picture book, Eyes That Kiss in the Corners. Lines We Love "I have eyes that kiss in the corners and glow like warm tea.""Her eyes are filled with so many stories; I… Continue reading Eyes That Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Ho

Last week, I listened to an episode of the Choice Literacy Podcast: Empowering Readers with Sara Kajder. I was struck by Sara's honesty as she shared, "Over the past few months, there are times when I've been alive as a reader and there are times when I can't give a book ten pages before I… Continue reading Miss Quimby’s Springtime Stack

Truth be told, I have not read many graphic novels, and I am making an effort to expand my reading life in that way. The graphic novel collection in my classroom library has dwindled over time. I have lost many beloved titles to former students. The bin that we do have always seems to be… Continue reading Graphic Novel Detectives

A month ago today, I enjoyed a virtual flower arrangement workshop from the comfort of my kitchen. I chose to use this experience as a topic for an information book--one that mirrored what writers were creating in the classroom. I showed up to our community meeting for Talk About It Tuesday with the headings planned… Continue reading Dear Young Writers, Your Audience Matters.

Halfway through the school year, I conferred with a reader who had reached a hurdle in his reading life. During independent reading time, I noticed that engagement was drifting away. His eyes were wandering, his head was down, or a conversation unrelated to reading had been sparked. After a few days of observations and redirection,… Continue reading Representation Matters

When I learned that Ways to Make Sunshine by Renée Watson would be released on April 28th, I tried convincing myself that I could wait until the summer months to indulge. At the end of April, it arrived on my doorstep unexpectedly - a birthday surprise! In other words, it was readily available for virtual… Continue reading Through The Eyes of a Fourth Grader: Ways to Make Sunshine by Renée Watson

2019 - Summer Stack Shelfies Around this time last year, we created a productive mess all over Room 104. Our summer reading anchor charts were pinned to the naked bulletin board, a sea of monthly "Shelfies" stretched across the floor, and readers were buzzing about books. Fourth graders were hard at work crafting Best Books… Continue reading Then & Now: Crafting Summer Reading Plans

The month of May began with lots of book mail. As always, my TBR list seems to be never ending. Though temporary, gone are the days of roaming bookstores to soak in that new book smell. Libraries are closed until further notice. Kindle reading is not my jam, and I struggle to make it through… Continue reading Virtual Indie Bookstore Crawl Leads to Summer Reading Stack!

Our world looks and feels different right now. Teaching and learning structures look and feel different right now. In this time of extreme uncertainty and countless cancellations, I can say the following with confidence: Reading is not cancelled!" Teachers and authors have banded together, all over the internet, to make sure students are reading, writing… Continue reading #ReadingIsNotCancelled

Math is all around us, and Bethany Barton takes us on an out of this world adventure in order to prove it! This adorable alien friend reveals how math pops up in space, when baking and even when reading and playing music! A space alien? What do YOU know about math?--bethany barton According to Brown… Continue reading I’m Trying to Love Math by Bethany Barton