Rainbow Fish

Every day after lunch and recess our kids come into the classroom, and we have about 15-20 minutes of silent reading time (Leiselesezeit). Coming from teaching in the states, I love this precious time, because it's often taken out of the schedules for more "important subjects" like math and language arts. We also have 15 minutes in the morning to read out loud to our students while they eat a snack on the carpet. Again, valuable and important time that I try not to take for granted. 

I started putting the books that I read to them into a special box by my desk, so that during silent reading time they can take the books out and read them. It's especially great for my German speaking students, because they can look at the pictures, and read the English words for themselves that they already heard me read out loud to them. That's good language learning stuff (Plus they love to re-read the books)! It's fun for me to see that my excitement for books and reading is taking hold in them and that they are already building healthy reading habits. 

The other day, one of my German boys came up to me during silent reading (it happens often-my students love to tell me about the books they are reading), with one of the rainbow fish books in hand. I thought I'd share our little conversation with you, because it warmed my heart and reminded me of one of the many reasons why I choose to be here and why I love my students so much.

Student: Ms. Collins, rainbow fish is kind of like God.

Me: What do you mean?

Student: Well, he shared his scales with others just like God shares His love with us!