Fish in a Tree Kindle Edition

This is a hart warning story of a dyslexic girl who feel alone in a room full of people and can’t read. Search what dyslexia is after reading

As a dyslexia teacher, this was a great book to read with one of my students! He finished the curriculum I teach so this book was easy for him to read and gave us more to talk about. A GREAT STORY! Turning your biggest weakness into your greatest strength or super power!

My 11 year old daugher had to read the book for a school homework, and she is enjoying the book.

For ten years, I led a book club for adult learners through Creek County Literacy. The adult students met with a tutor weekly. Once a month, tutors, students, and I would gather to discuss a book together. These adults were bright people who had struggled with reading and writing for a variety of reasons. At some point as adults, they had the courage to seek help. Admitting that they needed help was the first step toward becoming readers. Our book club meetings were joyful events that involved time together to talk about a book we had all read and to enjoy food together. What’s better than that?Recently, I read Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt. Reading the book caused me to think back on the times I spent with the adult learners and our book club. In Fish in a Tree, Ally, an elementary student, is constantly in trouble. She practically has a seat with her name on it in the principal’s office. The problem is that Ally, bright and articulate and talented in math an art, cannot read or write well.Sadly, no one has realized what Ally’s problem is. When she is called upon to write in class or to read aloud, she acts out. She might draw wild circles on her desk with her pencil, thus annoying the teacher and getting her sent to the principal’s office yet again. But going to the principal’s office is a better alternative in Ally’s mind that having to read aloud and have the whole class make fun of her.Ally looks at the copy of Alice in Wonderland that her beloved grandfather has given her and the book he used to read to her. She thinks to herself: “It’s like having a gift that’s locked in a glass box.”When her regular teacher goes on maternity leave, Mr. Daniels steps in as the substitute. He is a breath of fresh air. He calls the students “my fantasticos!” At the end of the first day, Mr. Daniels tells Ally that he knows about her troubled past. He encourages her with these words: “I just want you to know that I’m going to try really hard not to send you to the office. If we have something to deal with, you and I will deal with together.”Before long, Mr. Daniels figures out Ally’s problem and begins helping her cope with the dyslexia that has been holding her back and causing her to act out in school. Along with her own problem, Ally faces Shay, the class bully, and her sidekick Jessica. But Ally find allies in Keisha and Albert, two other students who also face Shay’s meanness.Fish in a Tree is must-read book for parents and children, especially any children who are struggling with an issue in learning. It is an uplifting story of perseverance and the kindness and help from a teacher.Lynda Mullaly Hunt maintains a robust website where readers can find a wealth of material. The paperback version of the book I read also has discussion questions and “The Sketchbook of Impossible Things” much like the one Ally herself keeps.

As a retired special education teacher I appreciated the sharing of Ally's experiences. I had many seminars and workshops to help me understand how children with difference can learn and be helped in their journey. Thank goodness for teachers like Mr. Daniels. I taught when there were still small self contained classes for children with specific needs - ADD, LD, Behavior Issues, Autism, etc, The powers that be decided this was damaging to their self esteem and inclusion was the way to go. After observing both philosophies at work, I firmly believe smaller self contained classes were the best environment for children with special needs to learn and to develop their sense of power, pride in learning and confidence. The children in grades K-3 hardly noticed and preferred the small class. They joined a typical class of music, art, and gym where they sometimes felt awkward but were able to belong to the larger who they were with at recess and on the bus. In the small class with a teacher and an paraprofessional the ratio was much better. Children received excellent attention and made a good rate of progress without feeling lost and stupid when comparing themselves to children in a regular education class where they suffered from low seld esteem. Anyway Fish in a Tree was a success story and I enjoyed the style.