Thank you, Mr. Falker

By: Patricia Polacco

          Thank you, Mr. Falker is a very powerful and inspiring book. This book builds on the experiences the author Patricia Polacco experienced in Elementary School through the character Trisha in the story. The book shows the struggle that Trisha went through when it came to reading. Words and numbers to her looked like wiggly lines and were always jumbled. Trisha wondered why she could not read and was made fun of by the kids at her first school and then by the students at her new school in California. However, with the help and dedication of a new teacher, Trisha life begins to change. After he identified the problem, he worked with her academically and provides protection and comfort at school to her. At the end of the book we see that Mr. Falker did teach Trisha how to read and the significant impact it made on her personally was tear breaking.

Opinions: Patricia Polacco used her personal life story of struggling with dyslexia and showed the impact of it socially – both negatively and positively. With the help of effective teachers like, Mr. Falker, students are able to overcome these hurdles in their education. This is a very touching and emotional story! 

Classroom Applications: This book is a great autobiography to expose students to. This book can address how everyone does not learn at the same rate or way - so we must be accepting of differences. ( No teasing etc). The teacher could have the students write a letter to someone who has helped them achieve or overcome something in their life. (Makes students put themselves into her shoes - and writing skills)