Two steps forward, One back?

So after Diana told me she needed a new book, we did some searching. We put in titles into Amazon and tried to get other recs. I also showed her the library website.  We sat together at my computer. While we were doing this, this other student came over to me and asked if Jessica Blank had written other books. I said, I wasn't sure, so I put her into Amazon. Turned out she had. I was feeling especially giving that day, so I said, should we order it? The student got excited, and I clicked order on Amazon. Diana was sitting there the whole time and I think was really shocked that I would buy books with my own money for kids.  A day or so later she came in with a piece of paper of the title and author of a book she wanted. It was a non-fiction book about a gang leader turned "straight" I think. I didn't look too closely to be honest.
So I bought that for her. I think she felt really special.

She's read quite a bit of it too.

What that whole interaction said to me was mostly reminders:

• Teaching is about relationships. Knowing your students, making them feel special, having time to sit with them to look for books.
• reading is about interest. My main learning of this unit, finding a book that is "just right" on so many levels
• creating the time and structures around reading
• having projects and work that keeps kids accountable, not just reading logs. Currently we're doing a book review project. Character salon worked well for that.
• Some kids still won't read unless you tell them you have to read these pages.