I just read Fish in a Tree. Our class will be involved in this book during our class read aloud.
The title based on this quote from Albert Einstein:
“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”
Einstein, who was kicked out of school, was told he wouldn't amount to anything because he learned differently. Fish in a Tree's protagonist, Ally learns differently, too. School has been a struggle for her, she gets made fun of by other students who call her "slow," and she thinks she's stupid. When her teacher takes time off to have a baby, Mr. Daniels steps in to sub, and the brilliant story takes off from there.
Students, you will connect with Ally, especially if school has been a struggle for you, especially if you think reading is not your thing, especially if you might be afraid to write. I connected with Mr. Daniels. I strive to see the genius in everyone, and truly believe that everyone can learn and succeed, but that they take different roads to get there. For me, this book was as much about teaching as it was a fantastically written, relatable story. I absolutely loved it.
