Miss Little's Gift: Teachers that Inspire

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Miss Little's Gift
By: Douglas Wood
Illustrator: Jim Burke

Publisher: Random House Children’s Book
Copyright: 2009

Genre: Nonfiction, Special Needs

Grade Level: 1st- 4th

Brief Synopsis: Douglas is the youngest, smallest, and newest student in his second-grade class, and he doesn’t like reading. He doesn’t like sitting still. And he doesn’t like Miss Little, especially when she makes him stay after class day after day, forcing him to sound out lines and blobs and squiggles when he’d rather be throwing a football. Luckily Douglas likes the pictures in the book Miss Little has chosen for him, pictures that remind him of the lake his family visits every summer. Award-winning author Douglas Wood — the boy in the story — alludes to scenes from The Little Island, the first book that enticed him to read, in a tale that will resonate with many children with ADHD. It is also a heartwarming ode to a special teacher whose gentle persistence changed one little boy’s life forever.

About the Author:
Douglas Wood- he has been called Minnesota’s “renaissance man” — author, artist, musician, naturalist, wilderness guide. As a writer of books for children and adults he has almost two million copies in print, including the classics Old Turtle and Grandad's Prayers of the Earth. Among his many honors and awards have been the Christopher Medal, ABBY Award, International Reading Association Book of the Year, Minnesota Book Award, Midwest Publishers Association Book of the Year, Parent's Choice Award, Barnes and Noble Star of the North, and Story Telling World Award.
Doug's Spring 2009 release, Miss Little’s Gift, is the story of Doug’s difficulty in learning to read, and of his most inspirational teacher.
As a musician, Doug writes music featuring vocals, 6- and 12-string guitars, piano, fiddle, and banjo. He has four recordings currently available.
In performances and speaking engagements across the country, Doug continues to reach audiences of all ages with his superb blend of storytelling and musicianship, personal warmth and light-hearted humor, and the rare ability to lift the human spirit.

Jim Burke- he illustrated many celebrated picture books including Jane Yolen's Naming Liberty, and is the author-illustrator of Take Me Out to the Ball Game.  Jim Burke lives in Beacon, NY with his wife and their young daughter.

Themes: - Learning about ADHD
- Finding Ways to learn and cope with ADHD
- Trusting in a teacher to guide you in the right direction
- Learning to find the joy and excitement in reading

Pre-Reading Activities:
- Ask students what they know about ADHD.  Read the author's Note to the class from the end of the book and discuss.  From this get into what a memoir is.  Mini-lesson on memoir and fill out a note sheet on memoirs and file them with all notes taken about book genres.
- Ask students of times that they have struggled in school.  This will help the students relate to the character while reading.

Post Reading Activities:
- Have students write a letter to a teacher who has inspired them in some way.  They will include; explain at least 3 reasons why they inspire you, who they are and when they had you, explain what you are doing with your life now.  Send all letters out to their teachers of choice.
- Throughout the reading ask students questions for clarification because they may not be getting the underlying message right away. 

Reflection: This book was nonfiction, but it told the story of the author's childhood of dealing with ADHD in school.  I like that the story was about someone who has left a lasting effect on his life because most students also have a person in their life like this.  This pictures in the book help tell the story of his struggle with reading.  We need to also think like this teacher and not give up on struggling students, even if you have to put in the extra effort too.

Links:
Book Info.

Douglas Wood's Bio.