Tags
Tipping Point of Wonder
Alexander always begins a request or question with this:
“I was just wondering. . .”
Another of his teachers picked up on this and we spent part of a morning planning session talking about Alexander’s approach. My colleague thought that this was probably the mark of an inquisitive young man. He thought that this sense of “wonderment,” even if a habit of speech was a pathway to deeper understanding. I thought it sounded like a “habit of mind.”
The Habits of Mind group define these as “those dispositions that are skillfully and mindfully employed, by characteristically successful people, when confronted with problems, the solutions to which are not immediately apparent.”
With Alexander and a working definition of habits of mind, I’d like to combine two books that the incoming Room 407 Readers are invited to read for their #summerreading. Incoming AP English Language and Composition students are reading Malcolm Gladwell’s The Tipping Point while the incoming English 11 students are reading R. J. Palacio’s Wonder.
Past NCTE president, Carol Jago, recently cited AP instructors who select Gladwell’s work. She predicts that his work might even appear soon on AP Exams. I think, that with the individuals and elements presented in his seminal title from 2000: The Law of the Few: Connectors, Mavens, and Salesman along with The Stickiness Factor and The Power of Context, Gladwell would delight in the knowing that his book has “tipped.”
With the excited response of Nerdy Book Club members, a Twitter hashtag, #thewonderofwonder, has taken off like the epidemics Gladwell explores. Led by book Connectors and book Mavens like John Schumacher, Colby Sharp, Donalyn Miller, and a host of “tweeps” using and retweeting the hashtag, Random House Children’s Books has gone back to take another look at Wonder. We now have an invitation to CHOOSE KIND, a website inspired by #thewonderofwonder.
Two words.
So Simple.
Irresistible really.
Most sticky.
Our culture is confronted with a problem. The issue of bullying continues to permeate conversations regarding school improvement and instructional practice. Solutions to this problem seem simple, yet the complexity of interpersonal communications and social interactions invite multiple responses which lead to singular solutions not being immediately apparent.
But a solution may exist within the realm of how we choose see one another, how we choose to relate to one another, and—ultimately—how we choose to treat one another.
CHOOSE KIND.
August “Auggie” Pullman shows us how to do this. I got to read Wonder back in September of 2011. August’s face—floating on a sea of light blue. A singular eye looking right back and me.
August Pullman saw right through me. I read through the multiple perspectives found within the book. I saw the various ways we confront the problem of interpersonal relations. I saw an immediate solution.
It’s the Law of the Few: a few teachers, a few librarians, a few nerds, a few book people.
A few Mavens. A few Connectors. The Power of Context.
This week, an incoming Room 407 Reader was reading Wonder. The reader posted at RAW INK Online: “I am over half way through Wonder. . .I Love This Book :)” I asked what it was about the book that was eliciting this response. Here is Amber’s response:
“ I work with The Special Olympics, so I see first-hand how people like Auggie feel about these things and how they are affected by these things. It makes it a little harder to not be critical of Julian and his crew but I understand their situation. The Halloween scene also made me very angry and it still does, but you have to give a little credit to Jack for stepping up and admitting to it. I also give credit to Summer for being so nice throughout this book and I see Via’s point of view and understand her little ‘lost bird” episode. This book really relates to things I actually deal with in my everyday life. . .I actually never want to finish it.”
I see a response mindfully composed. I see connection. I see the power of context. I see the beginnings of the power of the few. I also see a young reader who has already adopted a CHOOSE KIND approach to her extra-curricular activities.
The “tipping point of wonder.” It happens when a book affects a few readers and they take it that book to new heights. Not because of—or due to—their influence, but because of their love of and response to a book that Gladwell would describe as “contagious.” An updated version of The Tipping Point would be compelled to explore how a little guy like August could find his way through his first year of middle school to an online group of readers who would read, adopt, share out, and promote his story. Gladwell would have to take note of the #wonderofwonder movement that has permeated Twitter and now—thanks to Mr. Schu’s passionate and tireless promotion of R. J. Palacio’s work—on Time’s Square.
Thursday, June 7th, 2012.
Directly across from The Hard Rock Café.
CHOOSE KIND.
Alexander: I like your habit of mind. “I was just wondering. . .”
I’ve always thought that “wondering” is most powerful gerund. “Wondering” is not sure if it wants to be a verb or a noun. But “wondering” knows what it wants to do. Perhaps:
- wondering’s anything done by a few that accomplishes something magical for many.
- wondering’s the connective stuff that brings people like August Pullman and readers together.
- wondering’s what compels one reader to share a title with another reader.
- wondering’s a skill—one that can be learned.
- wondering’s not only mindful, but wondering’s a mind, full.
- wondering can be a habit.
- wondering can help us begin to see a path through a problem with which we are presented.
Will sharing Wonder with our reading communities invite a better sense of what it means to be human in the context of others trying to determine what it means to be human?
And is all of this really made possible by a few readers with the context of a problem that has no immediate solution? Can one book create an epidemic of empathy that could sustain a movement whose simple, sticky message asks us to work against the flow of a culture that presents the problem?
Can we see the balance between what we read and how we choose to live?
Can we see potential in the tipping point of wonder?
Can we CHOOSE KIND?
I was just wondering.
Paul W. Hankins teaches English 11 and AP English Language and Composition at Silver Creek High School in Sellersburg, Indiana. He is the kind of book nerd that recognizes when people are reading on their porches in older neighborhoods around Jeffersonville, IN and Louisville, KY. He has been known to slow down to see if he can recognize or read the covers of these books. One time, it is said, that Mr. Hankins once stopped at a Disney World poolside to discuss books with two older readers. These kinds of habits delight his wife, Kristie, and his two children, Noah and Maddie. The family dog, Mia, is eternally devoted. The cats, KitKat and Butterfinger are neutral (is this the right word? I mean they cannot have more kittens).
Nerdy Book Club 
Oh, but if we could. So simple, as you say. I’ve never understood why not. It feels good just to say it. How not to act it? Choose kind. Half way thru Wonder I feel possessive and envious and proud of the writers who can write a book such of this. Maybe one day… Beautiful post, Mr. Hankins, but no surprise there. You are the embodiment of Choose Kind.
Thank you, Gae! I finished WONDER for the third time yesterday afternoon and that last part of the book still gets me. I think it always will. This kind of scene is also found in a wonderful little Bollywood film, LIKE STARS ON EARTH. Gets me. Every time. Everyone should experience this (no spoilers) at least one time in their life. I did. Once. And it was WONDER-ful.
Love this post, Paul, and love Wonder beyond what is rational to feel about a book. Shared this one with my students at the end of the school year. It was magical.
It’s a special book that has some real stay power as far as I am concerned. There is a lot of exploration within the character that can be done when he commits some of the same infractions that we chastise the others for. . .like when Summer asks him to never be mean to her again. August? Mean? Or the growth of August in the course of one year. What he adopts as his own. What he dismisses or moves away from. Wonder’s a super book for classroom sharing. I would dare anyone to challenge it’s adoption publicly.
Classroom and school sharing. I knew right away I wanted to push for Wonder to be the first grade-level or school-wide read I’ve experienced since starting teaching.
What amazing connections and wonderings you bring to this post! If more people made wondering a state of mind, what a great thing that would be. The words, “Choose Kind,” say it all. Thanks for such a wonderful start to my Sunday. Beautifully worded post.
Thank you, Karen. I knew I wanted to do this post, so I asked Colby when we could get it on the calendar. This was last week. So, when he said, “How about next Sunday?” I knew that I had to hustle and get this finished. No way I was going to let the opportunity pass. Wonder is too important.
I love Wonder. I work with students who are deaf and hard of hearing but some of them also have other disabilities and so Wonder truly spoke to me. When it comes down to it, it is a book about compassion for others and that speaks to the human spirit. It doesn’t matter who you are, I believe you can find something in Wonder that you can relate to. I’m sure many people have at least one person who sticks out in their mind as someone who bullied them – and that might just be a person who was always rude and snide – there is a whole spectrum of what it means to be a bully. If we can all remember how it felt to be treated by the bully and find strength in Auggie’s story, then how can we not Choose Kind? Be true to yourself, care for others, live your values.
It a simple message. Why couldn’t CHOOSE KIND be as sticky as JUST DO IT? It requires a cultural shift, one that could include little affirmations and celebrations.
WONDERful post, Paul. So excited to see this book reach and touch so many readers. Back in February after reading Palacio’s testament to KIND, I was WONDERing what would happen if every student in my middle school could/would read this book. I guess I will find out in the fall. Every 5th-8th grader will read this book! I cannot wait for a CHOOSE KIND environment to permeate the hallways and classrooms next year. “Can one book create an epidemic of empathy that could sustain a movement whose simple, sticky message asks us to work against the flow of a culture that presents the problem?” I’m betting on it.
And please keep us posted about how this goes this year, Deb. I know we’d all be interested in hearing. It would be neat to see a group form in regard to using the book in the classroom and reading communities this year. I sense that many of us are planning over the summer how Wonder fits within our coursework. A book that drops in January gives us time–as teachers–to read the work before the end of a school year, plan during the summer, and adopt/implement in the fall. Shhh. . .don’t tell the publishing houses this. . .we may have stumbled onto a major marketing schematic here.
I’m about to begin Wonder today. I can’t wait. I’ve heard such good things about it for so long now. It’s a book the world needs.
I am such a big fan of wonder. Not the book (well, okay, YES, the book), but even more so, I’m a fan of the idea of wonder. The concept of wondering. A few years ago, our religious ed program put up signs around the school with single words on them trying to evoke thoughts and emotions from our students during Lent — things like “love” and “pray” and “reflect.” “Wonder” was placed just outside my door. I kept it there all year, so as soon as my students exited my room, they were reminded to wonder. It’s so important. Perhaps almost as important as choosing to be kind. I wonder what the world would be like if more people combined the two. . .
Simple responses to CHOOSE KIND include WHY NOT? and COULDN’T HURT!
Our son says that the lesson his father and I taught above all was CHOOSE KIND, not exactly in those words I am sure. And it is tough to always choose kind in this world of ours, but it is worth it! I live in hopes that books such as Wonder that can, and do, have such impact will find their way into our collective minds, our schools, our homes, our communities. Two words…big actions. So worth it!!! Then, we can all walk in one procession.
Thank you for this ‘wonder’ful post!
I love it. Thank you for sharing your thoughts here, Sally. I am excited to see these readers come back in the fall. Of course, I will have those who never picked it up. And I will rely upon those who have to bring these readers into the fold.
I love that you connected Gladwell with Wonder, so right. I read about it first from either Jen or Katherine (two of the book gurus), bought it, read it & then bought copies for my colleagues. I figured that was the fastest way to spread the wealth of Palacio’s message to all our students. I continue to be alarmed at the number of news items written about bullying in our schools & the programs coming out when all we need to do is to “choose kind”, but also as educators find out why some students do not. I wrote a blog post in a fervor about this wondering. Thank you for all these connections and the picture-wonder-ful!
I was so excited to be a blurb on the ARC of WONDER. I’m small potatoes for the actual release, but I got to say something early about this wonderful book.
Paul,
So much of what I wanted to say has already been expressed by the Nerds above, but I do want to thank you for showing the power of reading middle-grade books with upper-level and advanced students. Far too often, I think that advanced teachers feel they can only use works of “high culture.” Appreciating artistic merit and understanding the power of compelling literature is what makes those advanced classes so WONDERful. So thank you for reading “curriculum” from multiple perspectives as well.
Oh yes. . .High Culture. . .meaning “I have read this book and I have put together a binder with all of the resources and the quizzes. It won’t matter what you found in the book because I have it all right here.” Middle grade and Young Adult inclusion (not replacement) help to even the playing field and allow the lead learner to do what the second word in the title entails. Learn along with our readers. . .do we invite young readers to advise us?
I have not yet had a chance to read Wonder, but the more I hear about it, the higher on my list of must have books it goes. I can’t wait to get a copy and read.
You want me to bring you a copy? I’d be glad to. . .make sure to talk up this book at IUSWP this summer.
Next year, the entire fifth grade, and maybe 4th, too, will read Wonder. I put it in my principal’s mind the instant I finished the book. In my ten years teaching, we have never had a school-wide read. What a book to start with!
I read Wonder aloud to my fifth graders this year. The impact was amazing. We had many discussions about how Auggie’s story changed how we thought about ourselves and our classmates. I can’t wait for next year when I can talk about this with everyone.
This weekend I finished The Lions of Little Rock. I think this would be an incredible companion to Wonder. Auggie’s story tells us to Choose Kind. Marlee’s tells us that it’s not enough to choose. Sometimes we must roar–not just to celebrate and encourage kindness, but also to confront Julians and speak out whenever it is needed.
Reading Little Rock, I though a lot about Mr. Browne’s first precept, “Given the choice between being right and being kind, choose kind.” I thought about the difficulty in having compassion for everyone–Auggies and Julians, Marlees and Reds. That’s hard to do. I thought about how being right is not necessarily always kind, but being wrong is never kind.
Thanks, Paul, for your post. I’m sending it to my principal now.
Wait. Does your principal know my principal? Thank you, Adam.
I loved this book. Then I read it as a read-aloud to my dozen advisees (4th and 5th graders). They loved it. Then I said to my team, “This book should be our common reading over the summer, so all students arrive in the fall having read it and are ready to discuss it.” They hadn’t read it, but trusted me. I am so excited to discuss this book with students this fall.
One of the things I love about this book, which is a “growing edge” for students in 4th and 5th grade, is just how your impression of something can change when your perspective changes. (Very “Rashomon!”) My students were so upset with Jack at Halloween, but then when Auggie forgave him, they were able to do the same. And there’s even a hint in Julian’s prefect at the end that there might be more to him than meets the eye. 4th and 5th graders are so quick to categorize and judge, without realizing that we can all change. It’s not only a matter of “choosing kind” to begin with, but the choices we can make at any moment. A bad decision can be followed up with a good one. I am thrilled with this book and what it can lead to at my school.
And please keep us all posted on what Wonder does within your school. I’m excited to see what our friends share out as their learning communities return this fall!
Mr. Hankins,
I read WONDER when it was released because Mr. Schu recommended it. I remember driving in the cold rain to buy it, and I read it that very night. I’ve recommended it to every teacher in my school. For my students, I want a CHOOSE KIND world.
There’s no possible way I could eloquently compliment you enough for this thoughtful post. Everyone here has done that so much better than I could. But I can say: thank you.
Thank you so very much. And. . .for you and all of our friends here at The Nerdy Book Club, I’m Paul. Always Paul. Have a wonderful day. And I do wish the same for all of our students.
My entire middle school, all 5-8th graders and teachers, will be reading Wonder next year as an all school novel. I can’t wait. I adore this book and think it has so many powerful questions that we can pose to our students and so many powerful precepts, like CHOOSE KIND.
Way to go, Tammy. Please keep us all up to date with what happens while you share WONDER within your learning community. It is so exciting to hear all of these teachers sharing out. . .
Pingback: It’s Monday, June 11 – What Are You Reading? | Children's Literature Crossroads
Paul, I can’t tell you how energized and inspired I am by your Wonder project. I’d like to initiate a school-wide read at my high school next year and am digging around looking for resources/ research that support school-wide reading programs such as yours. Any thoughts? I lucked out and found an article in JAAL, but it’s been slim pickings since then. ..thanks!