Chalk + Ink: Season 1; Episode 11

Interview with Third Grade Teacher and Novelist,
Jody Little

Welcome back to Chalk and Ink: the podcast for teachers who write and writers who teach. Meet third grade teacher and novelist, Jody Little. Jody is the author of the novels Mostly the Honest Truth and Worse than Weird.  Jody's honesty and dedication to both of her crafts are an inspiration.

In this episode, Jody talks about the importance of reading novels with sad scenes so that we develop empathy for one another, givings students the opportunity to joy write and the necessity of compartmentalizing writing time from teaching time.

One of Jody's teaching breakthrough moments was when she realized her students didn't like writing and wondered why that was. After reading Joy Write by Ralph Fletcher, she decided to dedicate her Friday writer's workshop to greenbelt writing. That meant for those forty minutes her students weren't constrained by narrative, opinion, or expository writing structures. For those forty minutes, students could write whatever they wanted in whatever format they chose. After making this simple change, students not only looked forward to writing throughout the week, their writing improved in all subject areas. My copy of Joy Write is in the mail.

Want to know more about joy writing? Read this post on Two Writing Teachers to find out how another teacher incorporates joy writing or greenbelt writing into her day and the impact it has had on her students. 

Back to Jody, she also shares a breakthrough moment in her writing as well. She talks about how her first novel, Mostly the Honest Truth, wasn't selling. So, she spent a month writing forty-to-fifty pages of scenes that happened before her novel's plot began. Then, she weaved in flashbacks throughout the novel to highlight these scenes and changed her main character's reactions to certain situations based on these scenes. After that, she had a feeling her novel would sell. And she was right!

Here are five books Jody thinks every upper elementary classroom should have:

1) Ways to Make Sunshine by Renee Watson

Jody teaches in Portland, Oregon which is where this book is set. So her students loved all the references to familiar places. People say that Renee's character, Ryan Hart, is the new Ramona Quimby. So if you're a Beverly Cleary fan, be sure to check this book out. My favorite Renee Watson book is Some Places More than Others. Our Project Lit Book Club started the year off with this book and it was a big hit.

2) Efren Divided by Ernesto Cisneros

Jody recommends this book for fourth grade and up. Efren is another Project Lit title that our book club read this year. My friend and fellow author, April Jones Prince, said Efren reminded her of Ann Braden's fabulous The Benefits of Being an Octopus, which is also on Project Lit's list of wonderful books. Finally, congrats to Ernesto! Efren Divided is the 2021 Pura Belpre winner. Click here to listen to Chalk + Ink's interview with Ernesto.

3) Genesis Begins Again by Alicia D. Williams

Jody thinks this is a super important book to put in readers' hands, especially today. Genesis, the main character, has to find a way to overcome colorism in order to learn how to love herself. I'm looking forward to interviewing Alicia on Chalk + Ink in May.

4) Wishtree by Katherine Applegate

Jody says Wishtree is super fun and loves how the story is narrated from the tree's point of view. I agree and so does our Project Lit Book Club. This is another title we read this year.

5) Before the Ever After by Jacqueline Woodson

Jody says this book is devastating yet beautiful and states that absolutely no one writes verse like Jacqueline Woodson. The book is about a young boy, ZJ, whose father is a professional football player, who suffered many concussions while playing football.  I haven't read this one yet, but it's waiting for me at my public library.

If you're interested in more book recommendations from Jody and/or me. Be sure to check out teachersbooksreaders.com Jody blogs on the first of each month and I blog on the sixteenth of each month.

Happy listening!