Teaching Character Development with Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

These past few weeks, I have been enjoying winter break.  Well in a way.  Most of the time my mind has been racing with the upcoming semester when I will be student teaching and taking over a class.

I am very excited, but yet a bit nervous too.  I have read countless blogs giving advice about classroom management or project ideas.   

From all the teachers that I know (including two of my own elementary school teachers), I have eagerly asked for any advice that they could possibly give me.

Also I have been spending quite a bit of time thinking about where I would like to teach next year, whether that means scouring the district's websites or filling out applications or updating my resume...again.

However, in the busyness of everything, I have had a few quiet moments to read a good book.

This particular book, Because of Winn-Dixie, I actually read out-loud as my mom and I were traveling up to see the rest of my family.  It is a very quick and easy read, but a book that captures one's heart.

(please note that I wrote these first few paragraphs a few weeks ago; now I am immersed with school work. Today, though, was a snow day of sorts, and I feel like writing instead of doing work...it's productive since it deals with children's literature that I can bring into the classroom).

The book is about a girl, Opal, who moves to a new town.  As she begins to realize how much she misses her friends from her old school, an ugly dog finds her...in the grocery store Winn Dixie of all places.

Naturally, everyone becomes frantic that a dog is frolicking around the fresh produce.  The raggedy dog comes running up to Opal and simply smiles at her, and she knows that the dog needs her.

To avoid any further action among the upset adults, this young girl says that this dog is hers and he must have followed her inside the store.  Because people are skeptical, Opal calls the dog by the first name that comes to her head: Winn Dixie.

And Winn Dixie comes.

Through the summer, Opal and Winn Dixie meet and get to know a wonderful cast of very unique and unforgettable characters like Opal's dad that she thinks of as the Preacher because he is so engaged with his sermons or like Otis, the pet shop helper who plays his guitar to calm the animals or like Miss Franny Block, the old librarian who tells exciting stories of the past.

Because of Winn Dixie, Opal learns about herself and what it means to love those around her.  At the center of the story, Winn Dixie's quirks and antics come to life.

Not only does this dog make the story go forward, but the reader falls in love with Winn Dixie as if the dog were his or her very own dog.

Though I have always wanted a dog, I have never experienced that privilege; however, reading this book, I got the idea of what it might be like.  More importantly though, this book is about relationships between family and friends.  It truly is a beautiful story that I would absolutely recommend for all.

Since I am in a teacher preparation program, as I have been reading many children's books lately, I have carefully considered how I could one day use this book within my classroom.

Not only is this an excellent book to read for pleasure, but I believe that it would also be a wonderful read out-loud (of course there was that one part that I started crying when I first read...must make sure that doesn't happen in front of the kiddos) or a literature circle book.

For language arts, it could be used to teach characteristics of realistic fiction or character development.  A writing get-to-know-you project that could also go along with this book could be to write ten things that the students know about someone or about themselves just like Opal does to remember her mother.

Because of the rich characters and the interwoven plot-line, this would also be a great book to have discussions whether book clubs or whole class.  I think the children would have thoughtful things to say.

This could also be a wonderful way to incorporate social studies into a larger portion of the day.  One of Miss Franny Block's stories deals specifically with her grandfather during the Civil War--perfect tie in to American history.

However, on a more subtle level, this book also discusses social classes, diversity, and differing perspectives of people.  There is just so much one could do with this book!

So not only is this book pleasurable to read, I believe that it could teach children so much about reading, writing, and social studies.  Perhaps in future classrooms (not this semester) I will certainly try to incorporate this book into my curriculum.

Now that I have had my dose of writing, I should probably go and do my real work.