Too Loud Lily is the first book I’d like to share, not because it is my favorite, but because it is one of the most useful ones I have read to my students. A couple of years ago, I had an extremely loud student, Dina, who was always annoying her classmates with her high-pitched voice; I had tried every single idea that occurred to me in order to help her learn how to use her “inside voice” in class. Then I came across this book, which basically tells the story about Lily Hippo who did everything too loudly, and disturbed her classmates. Lily was devastated. A Drama teacher one day arrived and found Lily just the right spot for her to use her “gift” and shine in front of her classmates. While reading the story, the students repeated what everyone kept telling Lily throughout the story: “Not Too Loud Lily!” and they laughed really hard at what Lily Hippo was getting herself into. I stressed on the part where Lily was so happy to find that there was actually a place for her to be loud and charming. Later, I used the phrase: “Not Too Loud Lily”, whenever someone in class was being very loud, everyone would remember Lily, laugh a bit, and then keep it down. Even Dina eventually used the phrase herself when her classmates were being loud!
Whenever I read this story to my students, I encourage them to think about places they think it is useful to be loud, and I prompt my loudest students to take part in the discussions.
Okay, why don't I have this book in my collection? This sounds like an amazing book and would be great for me to read to my early child care learners in my in-home child care facility! I am envisioning my little ones truly enjoying and being able to relate to Lily the Hippo. This would be a great book to share in our circle time especially as the weather is changing from spring to summer and so do my little ones behaviors! Educating my youngsters on indoor vs. outdoor voices is a daily task and finding new, fun, educational and age appropriate ways to do that is always exciting. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThat's great, Rachel. Let me know how it works for you. I am interested to see the different interactions between teachers and students.Maybe your experience will give me another idea on how to read it to my students. Have fun!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Rachel. I can see a few ways I can use this book and will definitely get it. Thank you for sharing it with me. I look forward to learning about all the other books you share with your students. Being a new grandmother, there are a lot of books out there that I can buy, but it will be much easier learning what is actually used in the classroom. Coming from teaching middle school students, this is all new to me. Thanks again.
ReplyDeleteHi Reem,
ReplyDeleteDina sounds exactly like me, Dina! I am a loud person who loves to talk, I think I need to read that book myself. That sounds like a great book and it sounds like your idea to compare Lily with Dina was very clever. You found a way not to make her feel insecure or bad because of her loud voice. While teaching a gardening curriculum I had some children that were always very excited and wanted to be running around, I started using a paper sack and telling them that was the surprise sack. They were not allowed to open it or touch it. This of course opened their curiosity. After a week I told them that was where I kept my talents when they were not being used.When we were discussing and it was time to listen I told the child that was always running that he had very fast good feet but it was maybe a good idea to put them away in the bag until there was a proper place for him to use them. I grabbed the bag and pretended to place "his feet" there. When it came time for recess I gave them back. That solved the running around problem.
Thank you! -Dina Corral