My second year of teaching was the first year that I was able to plan my curriculum from day one to day 180. I was thrilled! I planned out exactly which novels I thought my 6th grade ELA classes would resonate with and I chose the most modern books my school had available in the library. These past several years were not kind to teachers’ schedules, and as the school year progressed, I found my time available for teaching the first novel had been cut short. My teaching friends recommended I switch to a shorter book, one I had avoided because of its age: Hatchet.
We are able to rest in the peace that comes from knowing that we do not have to survive in this life alone and without help.
The reaction of my students to this thirty-plus-year-old book was astounding: they were enthralled. Student discussion was energized; they asked questions during the reading and made remarks that showed not just hearing, but comprehension. Even the students who hated reading the most would make excited…
