Building on our work in Read Aloud this week (see Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday posts), I read Jacqueline Woodson’s Each Kindness. Students are very familiar with the story; we’ve read it multiple times at the beginning of the year.
Students were asked to take on the voice of one character. They wrote in their notebooks as I read, stopped and asked: what do you think and feel.
Their choice of character split down the middle. Those who chose Maya had similar reactions, a mix of hurt and confusion. The Chloe choice showed differing responses.
Asking students to be the character; to write in the voice of the character has moved their writing about reading. The difference in reactions to the Chloe character maybe due to the various ways students interpret her through their personal lens.
The following is a found poem based on six students responses.
I am Maya.
Who is this person?
Why is this girl getting away from me?
I think she doesn’t like me; isn’t happy with me.
Feel lonely cause they
didn’t want to be my friend.
Can’t ask they’ll say no
I will not tell the teacher
Hate this place, left out
Feeling scared.
People are whispering
they’ll reject so I just play by myself
Left out
and I want to go.
I am Chloe
why is she so shy?
should I smile back?
should I be her friend?
why next to me
eww I don’t like her
she has poor clothes
Disgusted
she’s poor
has no friends
I never want to be her friend
laughing because she was sitting by herself and
has a pretty party dress but looks like
second-hand store
Why am I being so mean?
Should I say sorry?
Should I play with her? She is nice to ask.
Why am I being so mean
Should I compliment her
Her dress is pretty but it’s used.
Maybe it’s new.
Why won’t she come over
Where did she go?
Should have been kind.
why didn’t I smile back?
Why was I so mean?
When will she come back
Want to smile back
be nice to Maya.
Tomorrow’s the last day in our picture book series. We’re reading One Green Apple.
Thank you, Anna, Beth, Betsy, Dana, Stacey and Tara of Two Writing Teachers blog for hosting the Slice of Life March Story Challenge. Read other bloggers slices here. 
To Read To Write To Be 