Blog Post 1 - "Shelf Love"

Hi! I'm Sasha Wallace. I'm a middle school language arts teacher who is known for getting even the most reluctant 8th graders to fall in love with Shakespeare & Bradbury. My classroom is decorated with novel study art projects and medieval armor. I believe in costumes and reader's theaters, in book tastings and scary stories with all the lights off, in nonfiction reenactments of the Titanic sinking or mock trials of Salem's wrongfully accused witches.

Some folks say, if you can dream it, you can do it. My philosophy is, if you can live it, you can read it.

And so far? This weirdness works. My students love waking up the texts, and I love watching them breathe new life into the classics. Atmosphere is so important. If you don't feel comfortable learning, you won't feel comfortable reading. If you aren't excited to be present, you won't be excited for adventures. Before we can even start talking about your next big read, we must have a serious conversation about your space. Take a look around. Where do you normally do your reading? How does it currently feel to you? What do you love about it? What is missing? If you don't have the luxury of privacy or autonomy, I encourage you to claim a wild space for your literary pursuits. Go picnicking in the park, bring a blanket to the beach, or perhaps snuggle up on the couch at the hipster cafe that sells kombucha and mushroom coffee. If your reading is limited to audiobooks on your commute, consider making it more comfortable with a plush headrest or a cold (non-alcoholic) drink in your thermos.

My space has recently evolved. Last year, it was decorated as a Tudor-style tea room with real china hanging from the timbering on the walls. Students had access to doilies, plates, cups, and kettles, and would make themselves chamomile tea with stevia or Earl Grey with honey during class. I have such fond memories of drinking tea with my rowdiest students, who would be calm by the third sip, and discussing Roald Dahl's "The Landlady" (after which, no one drank the almond tea for a month). Alas, Covid restrictions made continuing this loving tradition impossible and unsafe, so a change had to be made. I figured we were all wearing masks anyways, so I opted for my current layout: a Phantom of the Opera-themed dungeon & stage, with roses, curtains, carpets, and candles. I think my students are part-vampire, because they absolutely hate light.

[Always present is the Jordan Rosenberg Memorial Shakespeare Library, a collection gathered by a fellow Bard fanatic and educator who lost his life to Covid. May his memory be a blessing.]

Capital One always asks, "What's in your wallet?" Here at FLB, I want to know, what's on your shelf?

My classroom is my haven. I spend so much time there, I want it to feel like a home away from home. In the mornings, when I'm there before the birds and the sun is slanting through the gauzy white curtains and spattering onto my Monstera deliciosa plant, I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.

I apply this same energy to my personal library at home. My husband inherited two pink velvet armchairs from his grandmother, and they are so comfortable to sit in and read (especially when the cat decides your lap is worthy of her presence). I love to decorate my big, mahogany bookcases with concert stubs, snowglobes, lucky pennies, photographs, cookie tins (empty, of course), seashells, and other ephemera. It makes my little reading corner feel so cozy and reminds me of the places, both physical and page-bound, that I have wandered through.

Take a gander! Do you see any books we have in common?

Do you pepper your bookshelves with mementos and plants? Or do you color-code, like I do with thinner volumes?

Everyone goes into the new year with resolutions for self love, but don't forget, shelf love is just as important!

I challenge you to keep your books accessible, keep your titles legible, and keep your space inviting. If you're a teacher, and you have a classroom, decorate it. I'm not saying go Pinterest hard, but your students will appreciate the effort and will be more receptive to reading in a space that doesn't feel sterile. If you're a parent, find a space for reading to happen, be it a tiny nook or a large room, the garage or the tire swing, the park bench or the 6am Lynx bus in the back where the A/C is coldest. The more appealing it is to you, the more likely your kiddos will want to explore it! Activate their innate curiosity and make Marie Kondo proud.

I look forward to filling your space with the best books I know.

Love,

Sash