Children's literature for adults?

Dear reader,

One of my favorite activities is to read. I love to get absorbed in a book, and when I finish the experience, I find myself maybe seeing things just a little bit differently. Since I teach, I include children's genres in my vast diet of books and sometimes I come across one that changes my perspective. These characters I hold dear to my heart, as I try to connect to my own students in my classroom.

Many times I have students who have ADHD or have a difficult time paying attention, consequently affecting their ability to do well in school. Sometimes their minds are just so busy, or maybe just spinning around that they have completely missed the lesson. Instead of getting upset, I just take a step back and remember Joey Pigza, one of Jack Gantos characters. Poor Joey, he does not have an ideal home life, he is so impulsive that he tells his teacher that "I'll get back to you on that," but he has good intentions with a heart of gold. He loves to try to swallow a key and pull it out, until he swallows it one day. He had forgotten that the key was not attached to the string. Oooops. Reading Jack Gantos books has helped me understand ADHD by getting inside of Joey's inner self and realizing he is not a "bad kid." I recommend these books to my parents as well.

Sometimes, it is easier to bond and connect with our students, if we understand and be sympathetic with them. ADHD sometimes interfere with a child's ability to read or comprehend because they are unable to concentrate. As teachers, we need to adjust our lessons accordingly, and allow for a little more activity :) I love books because it allows me to experience a world that is completely different from mine, or connect to a world that is similar to mine.

-Maria Creighton