Talking texts with teachers #3

A short interview with Erin Wamala from Genazzano FCJ College about the best texts she's taught, including one that works perfectly for a group of mixed ability.

Erin Wamala is a teacher-librarian with over 20 years’ experience in bookselling and publishing. Throughout her career, Erin has been a judge for the Children’s Book Council of Australia Awards, the Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards, the Australian Book Industry Awards and the Prime Minister's Awards. She has been a member of the Melbourne Writers Festival Board, is a regular reviewer for Books + Publishing and is a contributor to the Kids’ Reading Guide. Erin has a passion for matching books to readers and enjoys nothing more than chatting to kids and their carers about books they will love. She is the owner of The Kids’ Bookshop and currently works at Genazzano FCJ College.

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What is the best text you've ever taught, and why?

This is a good question! I’ve only ever really “taught” lit circles for Years 5-6, but over the last couple of years I would say that the best has been Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper. The girls go into it with, usually, very little knowledge of what it is like to live with a disability, and this book really puts them in the middle of the story. It’s also very emotional and lots of young readers don’t know what it’s like to read a book that can make you feel so much that you cry. They ALWAYS love it.