Although using these books in the classroom is very controversial, I am a big supporter of non-censorship when it comes to what children are allowed to read. I think the Harry Potter series is excellent because it allows readers to enter a different world in which magic exists. I think that is very important for children to be exposed to imaginative, fantastical literature because it turns reading into something wonderful, mysterious, and magical. That kind of attitude toward reading can make or break a child's educational experiences. That being said, I would definitely make sure that having these books in my classroom was compliant with school policies and make parents aware that they were in my classroom. I would keep these in my classroom library in grades 5 and 6, but I would not necessarily use them in teaching lessons.

I am SO excited about this week's top 5 Wednesday topic! I don't know about you, but any time that I read a book, I cast it in my head, haha. I'm 100% serious. And then when the actual cast doesn't match up, I get really upset! But here are my very favorite portrayals. Read on to see! 

 

I missed out on the last two Top 5 Wednesdays, so this is a catch up post! I missed last week's because I was in Florida and didn't bring my laptop, and I missed this week's because I just had a crazy day yesterday. But it's okay because I'm making up for it now! Read on to see my Top 5 Siblings and Top 5 Fictional Technologies. 

 

So much better than I was expecting. I would have liked to see longer scenes for characters who seemed to be important, then got nothing for their death.Except for the epilogue - no, I wasn't a fan. If they'd said George had twins and called them both Fred then I may have liked the epilogue more.

I've read some negative reviews the past hour. I don't disagree with what some of them are saying. I even have to agree sometimes. But I still can't give the series less than 5 stars. (They aren't bad anyway, so even if people don't associate the following things with them, I don't see how less than 3.5/4 stars is possible..)Why? Because it's comforting. Harry Potter is a part of me growing up. I've learned how to deal with things while I read the novels. Some streets in my hometown remind me of passages of Harry Potter, because I listened to the audiobook while I walked them. I cried my eyes out everytime someone died, I dealt with Harry's problems and it was so much safer for me, because it was just fiction. Does it make sense? His problems felt real, but at no point did I feel weak or as if I couldn't manage them. Harry Potter might not be a masterpiece of literature, but these books stand for something. There was no big shipping, no Team Harry or Ron or Malfoy. Somehow, the books are pure to me and remind me of times when I felt like that, too. : )And I think in twenty years I will still take the time to listen to Rufus Beck reading them and pronouncing the name 'Severus' wrong.