tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87969453952412995262024-03-13T14:16:40.571-04:00Random Chalk Talk... where books, students, and teachers unite...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09473653187232046007noreply@blogger.comBlogger381125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796945395241299526.post-12261944568638419782017-01-10T21:32:00.001-05:002017-01-10T21:32:20.936-05:00The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley <div class="row" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">
<span itemprop="bookFormatType">Hardcover</span>, <span itemprop="numberOfPages">316 pages</span></div>
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Published January 8th 2015 by Dial Books</div>
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<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1453342842l/20912424.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1453342842l/20912424.jpg" width="211" /></a><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">A <i>Wall Street Journal's </i>Best Children's Book of 2015</b> </blockquote>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">An exceptionally moving story of triumph against all odds set during World War 2, from the acclaimed author of </span><i style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">Jefferson’s Sons</i><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;"> and for fans of </span><i style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">Number the Stars</i><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">.</span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">Nine-year-old Ada has never left her one-room apartment. Her mother is too humiliated by Ada’s twisted foot to let her outside. So when her little brother Jamie is shipped out of London to escape the war, Ada doesn’t waste a minute—she sneaks out to join him.</span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">So begins a new adventure of Ada, and for Susan Smith, the woman who is forced to take the two kids in. As Ada teaches herself to ride a pony, learns to read, and watches for German spies, she begins to trust Susan—and Susan begins to love Ada and Jamie. But in the end, will their bond be enough to hold them together through wartime? Or will Ada and her brother fall back into the cruel hands of their mother?</span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">This masterful work of historical fiction is equal parts adventure and a moving tale of family and identity—a classic in the making.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">Sometimes being placed into a new setting can be the worst thing in the world- or so it seems. Especially when you are young, there is a war surrounding you, you are different from everyone else because of something you have no control over, and your mother seems to not care about you. For Ada, the best thing that ever happened was when she and her brother were sent to live with Susan Smith. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">There are parts of war that we either don't think of or don't even have a knowledge of, and I have to say that this novel opened my eyes to yet another side of a war that I constantly find myself drawn to in reading and research- World War 2. </span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">I loved this story from start to finish. Ada is one of those characters that you fall in love with and root for throughout the entire book. I found myself gasping in parts, getting angry with her mother in other parts, laughing at the antics and lessons Ada had to learn (and her stubbornness- because I can completely relate) and in tears during other parts. It is well deserving of its Newbery Honor. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">History teachers this is definitely one that you should have in your library and would make a great Read Aloud while you are teaching this time period in history. This book deserves a place on every book shelf from elementary school to high school! </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09473653187232046007noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796945395241299526.post-52462561613874611582017-01-03T22:42:00.002-05:002017-01-03T22:42:30.453-05:00Prisoner B-3087 by Alan Gratz<div class="row tr_bq" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">
<span itemprop="bookFormatType">Hardcover</span>, <span itemprop="numberOfPages">272 pages</span></div>
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Published March 1st 2013 by Scholastic Inc.</div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">10 concentration camps.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">10 different places where you are starved, tortured, and worked mercilessly.</span><br style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;"></span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">It's something no one could imagine surviving.</span><br style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;"></span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">But it is what Yanek Gruener has to face.</span><br style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;"></span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">As a Jewish boy in 1930s Poland, Yanek is at the mercy of the Nazis who have taken over. Everything he has, and everyone he loves, have been snatched brutally from him. And then Yanek himself is taken prisoner -- his arm tattooed with the words PRISONER B-3087.</span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">He is forced from one nightmarish concentration camp to another, as World War II rages all around him. He encounters evil he could have never imagined, but also sees surprising glimpses of hope amid the horror. He just barely escapes death, only to confront it again seconds later.</span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">Can Yanek make it through the terror without losing his hope, his will -- and, most of all, his sense of who he really is inside?</span><br style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">Based on an astonishing true story.</span></blockquote>
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I would have majored in History Education if I hadn't needed so many foreign language classes. Seriously, I offered to wash my professors dog for a C in the class... it was bad. Due to my love of history, I love historical fiction. When it is based on true stories- count me in!<br />
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This beautifully written novel is stunning. By telling Jack (Yanek) and Ruth's story through his eyes, readers are able to get a birds eye view of what living durning the Holocaust. Especially what it was like living through 10 different concentration camps. Alan Grantz's writing captures readers attention and sucks you right in. You find yourself rooting for Yanek, crouching because you dread what is coming next, and cheering when the American troops finally come in to liberate the prisoners.<br />
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This book is a must read for my middle schoolers and is a great addition to any Social Studies curriculum. The first person point of view as well as the details of this deplorable time in history lend a hand to those teachers who are looking for a way to make history more personal. I was able to listen to the audiobook version of this and highly recommend it! It would be great to play some snippets from the novel during lessons!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09473653187232046007noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796945395241299526.post-50779904745128227792016-06-28T08:47:00.000-04:002016-06-28T08:47:57.263-04:00Happy Book Release Day Kate and Ranger! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JqQSEQG5juI/Vp1IRQd1OlI/AAAAAAAAHys/E3_6nOdz4tg/s1600/Reease%2BDAy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JqQSEQG5juI/Vp1IRQd1OlI/AAAAAAAAHys/E3_6nOdz4tg/s1600/Reease%2BDAy.png" height="136" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span itemprop="bookFormatType"><u>Ranger in Time: Race to the South Pole </u></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span itemprop="bookFormatType">Hardcover</span>, <span itemprop="numberOfPages">160 pages</span></span></span></div>
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Published
June 28th 2016
by Scholastic Press </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1451095506l/26570594.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1451095506l/26570594.jpg" width="131" /></a><span id="freeText9851295371216934071">Ranger, the
time-traveling golden retriever with search-and-rescue training, joins
an early twentieth-century expedition journeying from New Zealand to
Antarctica. He befriends Jack Nin, the stowaway turned cabin boy of
Captain Robert Falcon Scott's ship. They're racing against a rival
explorer to reach the South Pole, but with unstable ice, killer whales,
and raging blizzards, the journey turns into a race against time... and a
struggle to stay alive.</span>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This is book number four in Kate Messner's Ranger in Time series and you can finally get your hands on it TODAY!! I know one little boy at my house who is super excited to get it! Make sure to check out the series if you haven't (you won't regret it, I promise) and all of Kate's other amazing books! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Happy reading! </span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09473653187232046007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796945395241299526.post-73611568784291358542016-06-27T21:30:00.000-04:002016-06-27T21:30:00.730-04:00Fuzzy Mud by Lousi Sachar<div class="row">
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Published
August 4th 2015
by Delacorte Books for Young Readers </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1417725254l/23615710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1417725254l/23615710.jpg" width="214" /></a><span id="freeText7854567989432989371">From the author of the
acclaimed bestseller "Holes, " winner of the Newbery Award and the
National Book Award, comes a new middle-grade novel with universal
appeal. Combining horror-movie suspense with the issues of friendship,
bullying, and the possibility of ecological disaster, this novel will
intrigue, surprise, and inspire readers and compel them to think twice
about how they treat others as well as their environment. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span id="freeText7854567989432989371"><br />"Be careful. Your next step may be your last." </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span id="freeText7854567989432989371"><br />Fifth
grader Tamaya Dhilwaddi and seventh grader Marshall Walsh have been
walking to and from Woodbridge Academy together since elementary school.
But their routine is disrupted when bully Chad Wilson challenges
Marshall to a fight. To avoid the conflict, Marshall takes a shortcut
home through the off-limits woods. Tamaya reluctantly follows. They soon
get lost, and they find trouble. Bigger trouble than anyone could ever
have imagined. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span id="freeText7854567989432989371"><br /> In the days and weeks that follow, the authorities
and the U.S. Senate become involved, and what they uncover might affect
the future of the world.</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span id="freeText7854567989432989371">This book is a fantastic book for a Science class read aloud! Whether it is during an environmental unit or just to get class started every day, I know that Science teachers could do wonders with this one in their classrooms! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Louis Sachar knows how to scare kids all the while have them begging for more. You find yourself needing to keep going because you have to know what is going to happen and if they are going to survive. This novel will definitely keep you on your toes and wanting more. I had some students lined up ready for it because I kept gasping and being my normal crazy-reader self while reading this one, and they will tell you that they were the same way! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Happy reading!! </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09473653187232046007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796945395241299526.post-8581215390655148732016-06-27T21:02:00.002-04:002016-06-27T21:02:59.529-04:00Teacher blogs should come with a disclaimer....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Let's be real. There are so many amazing teacher blogs out there that it is a bit intimidating. Their classrooms and lessons all look so cute, they look so put together, and then there's me! Rolling into school on two wheels because one of the kids had a melt down, having that last minute lesson idea that I have to run in and get ready, and realizing on the way to school that I forgot to put on deodorant. Yes, that was one day this year!<br />
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One thing that I have learned to do though is to not compare myself to each and every one of them. Parts of me, yes, but as a whole I cannot and will not compare myself to someone who is not me. It is not fair to me and not fair to them either. Easier said than done, right. Here's what I mean....<br />
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Is my classroom going to look like all of theirs with the cute bulletin boards, super organized classroom library, and fun fonts everywhere? Ummm.... no! But, I can use some of their ideas and implement them into my classroom. We are not the same teacher and what they are able to get done in decorating their classroom, I may never be able to replicate. AND IT IS OKAY! Same goes for you.<br />
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Finding teachers on Instagram is almost as bad as Pinterest... I get lost for hours!! Anyone else? I have found that having a notebook where I can keep ideas that I see from blogs and Instagram has been a big help. I can go back and revisit them and implement them in my own way into my classroom when I want to or if I want to. Sometimes it may be an idea from a second grade teacher and I rework it to work for my middle schoolers.<br />
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Moral to the story- don't get overwhelmed and get down on yourself. You are a ROCK STAR teacher and just because you don't have it all together like some of these amazing teachers do in their pictures doesn't make you any less. I have a friend who blogs about her house, family, and amazing things going on in our community and I remember her telling me one day, "Jennie, you only see what is in front of the camera that I have cleaned. You don't see the disaster that is on the other side of the camera where the kids have their toys everywhere, the dirty dishes are still in the sink, and my desk is a mess. Pictures only show one side of things.... the side I want you to see!" Theses blogs should really come with a disclaimer. <br />
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So remember, they would be jealous of our rooms too because they are full of amazing kiddos who do amazing things. Even if we don't have all of our ducks in a row everyday! I guarantee you that they don't either and would readily tell us that! <br />
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Remember.... jot down some ideas to implement. Don't try to dive in and do it all. Challenge yourself to try two things a week for a while and see how that goes. Make sure that you are doing them with fidelity and consistency though and not just flying by the seat of your pants with them. These teachers are using these things in their classroom with consistency- that is one of the reasons it looks so good! Stick with it and remember- you don't have to do it all! With that being said, I wanted to share a few of my favorite blogs to check out! Sometimes Instagram can be a wealth of information and ideas too so make sure to check those out (you can even put your favorites on notice so that when they post on their blog and/or Instagram, you can find out immediately). <br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09473653187232046007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796945395241299526.post-40503430459652999812016-06-27T19:38:00.001-04:002016-06-27T19:38:59.425-04:00All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely<div class="row">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span itemprop="bookFormatType">Hardcover</span>, <span itemprop="bookEdition">First Edition</span>, <span itemprop="numberOfPages">316 pages</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Published
September 29th 2015
by Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1444506678l/25657130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1444506678l/25657130.jpg" width="213" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span id="freeText10027284140788351773"><em>Rashad is absent again today.</em><br /><br />That’s the sidewalk graffiti that started it all…<br /><br />Well,
no, actually, a lady tripping over Rashad at the store, making him drop
a bag of chips, was what started it all. Because it didn’t matter what
Rashad said next—that it was an accident, that he wasn’t stealing—the
cop just kept pounding him. Over and over, pummeling him into the
pavement. So then Rashad, an ROTC kid with mad art skills, was absent
again…and again…stuck in a hospital room. Why? Because it <em>looked</em> like he was stealing. And he was a black kid in baggy clothes. So he must have been stealing.<br /><br />And that’s how it started.<br /><br />And
that’s what Quinn, a white kid, saw. He saw his best friend’s older
brother beating the daylights out of a classmate. At first Quinn doesn’t
tell a soul…He’s not even sure he understands it. And does it matter?
The whole thing was caught on camera, anyway. But when the school—and
nation—start to divide on what happens, blame spreads like wildfire fed
by ugly words like “racism” and “police brutality.” Quinn realizes he’s <em>got</em>
to understand it, because, bystander or not, he’s a part of history. He
just has to figure out what side of history that will be.<br /><br />Rashad
and Quinn—one black, one white, both American—face the unspeakable
truth that racism and prejudice didn’t die after the civil rights
movement. There’s a future at stake, a future where no one else will
have to be absent because of police brutality. They just have to risk
everything to change the world.<br /><br />Cuz that’s how it can end.</span></span></div>
</blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span id="freeText10027284140788351773">If you had told me when I was in high school that in just a few short years we would see racial tension seeping back into the forefront of society, I can honestly say I would have laughed at you. I grew up in the South which means that (unfortunately) I am no stranger to racial tension. Though many could clearly see the line between races, I was oblivious. My parents raised us that way- we are all the same no matter what. No matter our gender, race, religious preference, or whatever else may separate us. My husband and I are raising our children with the same mindset, but now we are having to explain why some are being treated differently because of those same things. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span id="freeText10027284140788351773">One of the main ways these conversations can begin with our children both at home and at school is through literature. This book is one of those that will begin (and has begun) amazing conversation and opened the eyes of many. Told from two perspectives, this novel deals with the issue of racism in a way that brings emotion to the forefront all while making the reader truly explore their own inner workings. Which side are you on? Rashad's or Quinn's? Would your minds be changed if the races were reversed? </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span id="freeText10027284140788351773">This book needs to be in every library. I will say that this one will be for some of my more mature 8th graders and above, but my younger students aren't quite ready for this.It doesn't mean I won't pump it up and recommend the heck out of it. Hopefully they will go talk to their parents and get them to buy it! This book is a crucial read and everyone should take the time to read it, reflect on it, and begin conversation about it. </span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09473653187232046007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796945395241299526.post-76092421793068669022016-01-13T12:36:00.002-05:002016-01-13T12:36:24.459-05:00A Day that Changed America: Earthquake! (April 18, 1906) by Shelley Tanaka<div class="row">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span itemprop="bookFormatType">Hardcover</span>, <span itemprop="numberOfPages">48 pages</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Published
July 26th 2004
by Hyperion </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1183183463l/1388609.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1183183463l/1388609.jpg" width="170" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span id="freeText9694113281591523903">On a Peaceful Spring
Morning, Disaster Strikes San Francisco. On the early morning of April
19, 1906, the city of San Francisco was struck by a devastating
earthquake that crumpled buildings, cracked water mains, broke gas
pipes, and sent kerosene lamps flying. Fires quickly engulfed most of
the city, leaving exhausted civilians to fight the flames with well
water, sewer water, and old rags. Despite valiant rescue efforts,
estimates place the death toll at around 3,000.</span></span></span></div>
</blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span id="freeText9694113281591523903"> Fantastic non-fiction book to add to your collection! This book brings to life the earthquake that struck San Francisco in 1906 through first hand accounts, pictures of the destruction, stories, maps and pictographs and much more. Readers are able to see what San Francisco was like before and after in the various neighborhoods from Chinatown to the outskirts. I love that there are also pictures of the artifacts that have been preserved so that you can see the damage that was done. It was fascinating to see how the people adapted to life immediately after the earthquake and subsequent fire. Cooking on makeshift stoves in the street just to survive? Wow. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span id="freeText9694113281591523903"><b>Lesson Ideas:</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span id="freeText9694113281591523903">This book is broken into easy to read sections which would make it an easy read for students and teachers to use as a resource too! The pieces of the book can be broken apart for students to get a feel for what was going on at the time and then report back to the class (jigsaw method). </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span id="freeText9694113281591523903"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span id="freeText9694113281591523903"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This would also be a fantastic piece to use to show the culture of this part of America in the early 1900's. The pictures, graphics, maps, and other resources make for great conversation starters! </span></span></div>
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<span id="freeText9694113281591523903"> </span> </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09473653187232046007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796945395241299526.post-54240256200804456122016-01-13T10:55:00.002-05:002016-01-13T10:55:38.958-05:00Reading Bucket Lists! <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uspr8hUuVr8/VfyKyFT37qI/AAAAAAAANSE/wy53WZyVcQ4/s640/Slide01.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uspr8hUuVr8/VfyKyFT37qI/AAAAAAAANSE/wy53WZyVcQ4/s640/Slide01.png" height="240" width="320" /></a>All teachers (no matter the subject area) have dealt with the students who don't like to read. We hear all of the excuses, we (mostly) patiently wait on the students to go through the reasons they can't read, and so much more. As a teacher of those who struggle with reading, I used to hear this daily. Did you notice that "used to" in the sentence? This year has been a game changer for me with my kiddos and their reading and I attribute it all to The Reading Bucket List!<br />
<br />
<br />
Hope King at Elementary Shenanigans and Adam Dovico (both of whom have taught and are currently teaching at <a href="http://www.ronclarkacademy.com/" target="_blank">The Ron Clark Academy</a> in Atlanta, GA) started spreading the word about something they were doing that was inspired by the work of Donalyn Miller's <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4732276-the-book-whisperer?ac=1&from_search=1" target="_blank">The Book Whisper: Awakening the Inner Reader in Every Child</a>. I was immediately hooked! So when the day of teh periscope rolled around, I was glued to my phone!<br />
<br />
<br />
You can read all about how the Reading Bucket List works on Hope's blog <a href="http://www.elementaryshenanigans.com/2015/09/the-reading-bucket-list-big-reveal.html" target="_blank">here</a>, but basically the students are challenged to read 60 genres throughout the school year! I know some of you are thinking, "60? There aren't 60 genres!" Well, take a look at how Adam and Hope broke the box that we have been limiting ourselves into smithereens! It is amazing. I don't want to take their thunder away and they are both full of great ideas, so go check it out there!<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XoksERvW_k8/VpZyZOP1kCI/AAAAAAAAA-0/FACPIHp1fKc/s1600/IMG_3621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XoksERvW_k8/VpZyZOP1kCI/AAAAAAAAA-0/FACPIHp1fKc/s200/IMG_3621.JPG" width="150" /></a>I will show you a glance into my classroom with it, though. My students were hesitant at first because they were intimated by the number of genres. We are half way through the year and my students who didn't read a book (not a single one) last year have already read 20 or more genres! They love the challenge of finding something within the genre that matches the criteria, showing their friends what they are reading, and seeing what I am reading. I have my Bucket List posted outside my door and my students and all of the students in my school are able to look and see what I have been reading. I haven't been grading this, only promoting literacy. I may change that next year. Adam and Hope have done a great job of including in the resource pages for students to collect book titles and more, but since I had already started my year, I just maintained what we were already doing. (I already had a "Genre" column on my book list for my students and this is how they are keeping up with which ones they have read).<br />
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<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J3nBcVAkuXc/VpZzOfiYABI/AAAAAAAAA-8/54JlSRpnrgc/s1600/IMG_3625.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J3nBcVAkuXc/VpZzOfiYABI/AAAAAAAAA-8/54JlSRpnrgc/s200/IMG_3625.JPG" width="200" /></a>My kiddos have fallen in love with reading again because of this amazing resource! My librarian has even allowed me to post the genres in the Media Center for my students so that when they are in there they can double check what they need. Now we even have other students accepting the challenge because they have seen my kids reading such a variety! My faculty is going to be participating next year too! When our kiddos see that we are invested in it, they will take it and run. One of the things that is stressed in this by Hope and Adam and I point out to my students is that a variety of book formats can fit into each genre. They might not all be novels and that's okay! <br />
<br />
<br />
Check out the Reading Bucket List and challenge your students! It is never too late. Start with it tomorrow and scale the number of genres back. You never know, they could get them all read! <br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09473653187232046007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796945395241299526.post-62872184868384864442016-01-13T10:27:00.001-05:002016-01-13T10:29:02.600-05:00Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys<div class="row">
<span itemprop="bookFormatType">Hardcover</span>, <span itemprop="numberOfPages">344 pages</span></div>
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Published March 22nd 2011 by Philomel Books<br />
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<span id="freeText10026677703360898526">Lina is just like any other fifteen-year-old Lithuanian girl in 1941. She paints, she draws, she gets crushes on boys. Until one night when Soviet officers barge into her home, tearing her family from the comfortable life they've known. Separated from her father, forced onto a crowded and dirty train car, Lina, her mother, and her young brother slowly make their way north, crossing the Arctic Circle, to a work camp in the coldest reaches of Siberia. Here they are forced, under Stalin's orders, to dig for beets and fight for their lives under the cruelest of conditions.<br />
<br />
Lina finds solace in her art, meticulously--and at great risk--documenting events by drawing, hoping these messages will make their way to her father's prison camp to let him know they are still alive. It is a long and harrowing journey, spanning years and covering 6,500 miles, but it is through incredible strength, love, and hope that Lina ultimately survives. <i>Between Shades of Gray</i> is a novel that will steal your breath and capture your heart.</span></div>
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<span id="freeText10026677703360898526">There are few authors that could do wrong in my eyes, and Ruta Sepetys is one of these. Her writing is simply brilliant. I have to admit that I didn't know too much of the Lithuanian side of World Ward 2 until this book, but through Lina's story I am now completely in awe of what theses people lived through. I am sure my Social Studies teachers did a fantastic job teaching, but it just didn't sink in. Throughout this novel, I found myself laughing, crying, screaming and even praying! That is what good authors do. This book was simply profound. Lina is a character that everyone can relate to and will be rooting for. Her bravery is astounding and the way she tells her story is mind boggling. I loved this book from cover to cover and will definitely be reading it again. Absolutely stunning! </span><br />
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<span id="freeText10026677703360898526">Ruta Sepetys has an investment in telling this story because this is the story of her family. This video is a fantastic resource to introduce the novel and to tell the story of the Lithuanians from Ruta's research and from the people who lived through this.</span><span id="freeText10026677703360898526"> Her dedication to getting this story out and getting it right astound me! There are also teacher resources located on her website <a href="http://rutasepetys.com/books/between-shades-of-gray/" target="_blank">here </a>for teachers to use.</span><span id="freeText10026677703360898526"> Our students must know this story, and it is up to us to share it with them! </span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/12589530" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09473653187232046007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796945395241299526.post-8955806993249183812016-01-13T10:04:00.000-05:002016-01-13T10:04:09.782-05:00Henry's Freedom Box by Ellen Levine<div class="row">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span itemprop="bookFormatType">Hardcover</span>, <span itemprop="numberOfPages">40 pages</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Published
January 1st 2007
by Scholastic Press </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328867106l/315882.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328867106l/315882.jpg" width="156" /></a><span id="freeText13292350025751053026">A stirring, dramatic
story of a slave who mails himself to freedom by a Jane Addams Peace
Award-winning author and a Coretta Scott King Award-winning artist.<br /><br />Henry
Brown doesn't know how old he is. Nobody keeps records of slaves'
birthdays. All the time he dreams about freedom, but that dream seems
farther away than ever when he is torn from his family and put to work
in a warehouse. Henry grows up and marries, but he is again devastated
when his family is sold at the slave market. Then one day, as he lifts a
crate at the warehouse, he knows exactly what he must do: He will mail
himself to the North. After an arduous journey in the crate, Henry
finally has a birthday -- his first day of freedom.</span></span></span></div>
</blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span id="freeText13292350025751053026">This amazing picture book tells the amazing story of Henry Brown and his quest for freedom. This story, along with so many others, are the ones that show true American spirit. While telling the story, readers are treated to the amazing artwork of Kadir Nelson (AMAZING) which add utter magic to the story. This book is a fantastic read and one that can be used for a multitude of reasons. </span></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span id="freeText13292350025751053026">Lesson Ideas and more: </span></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span id="freeText13292350025751053026">- Teachers can use this book a Read Aloud to add to curriculum when teaching about this time period in American History. </span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4sbrApFD2gg/VenXhBfdzKI/AAAAAAAAA8U/3L4Hjj7WphI/s400/picturebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4sbrApFD2gg/VenXhBfdzKI/AAAAAAAAA8U/3L4Hjj7WphI/s400/picturebook.jpg" height="200" width="170" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span id="freeText13292350025751053026">- Check out <a href="http://www.gottoteach.com/2015/09/teaching-plot-with-picture-books.html" target="_blank">this great lesson</a> from Melissa at Got to Teach! that uses <u>Henry's Freedom Box</u> to review plot elements. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span id="freeText13292350025751053026">- This book is also a great piece for teaching the Notice and Note signposts or reviewing the signposts in context. </span></span></span> </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09473653187232046007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796945395241299526.post-60395381349940854752016-01-12T11:35:00.003-05:002016-01-13T12:14:54.185-05:00Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings: A Memoir by Margarita Engle<div class="row">
<span itemprop="bookFormatType">Hardcover</span>, <span itemprop="numberOfPages">208 pages</span></div>
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Published
August 4th 2015
by Atheneum Books for Young Readers
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<br />
<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1438581429l/23309551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1438581429l/23309551.jpg" width="210" /></a><span id="freeText8657369230049274337">In this poetic memoir,
Margarita Engle, the first Latina woman to receive a Newbery Honor,
tells of growing up as a child of two cultures during the Cold War.<br /><br />Margarita
is a girl from two worlds. Her heart lies in Cuba, her mother's
tropical island country, a place so lush with vibrant life that it seems
like a fairy tale kingdom. But most of the time she lives in Los
Angeles, lonely in the noisy city and dreaming of the summers when she
can take a plane through the enchanted air to her beloved island. Words
and images are her constant companions, friendly and comforting when the
children at school are not.<br /><br /> Then a revolution breaks out in
Cuba. Margarita fears for her far-away family. When the hostility
between Cuba and the United States erupts at the Bay of Pigs Invasion,
Margarita's worlds collide in the worst way possible. How can the two
countries she loves hate each other so much? And will she ever get to
visit her beautiful island again?</span></blockquote>
<span id="freeText8657369230049274337">This beautiful memoir gives us a glance into the life of a child living in two worlds and trying to find herself in the midst of a world that is in chaos. Hearing from the first person narrative gives the reader a new perspective on a crisis that is sometimes overlooked. I loved this book from cover to cover and will definitely be using it in my classroom as not only a mentor text for poetry, but also in conjunction with my Social Studies teachers lessons when it comes time. I love the idea of taking pieces of her life as we are working through the historical context. Having a first person perspective through the events will definitely bring a new piece to our classrooms! Absolutely stunning piece! </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09473653187232046007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796945395241299526.post-53437916479186761232015-12-31T12:48:00.000-05:002015-12-31T12:48:45.899-05:00Notice and Note: Strategies for Close Reading by Kylene Beers and Bob ProbstPaperback, 273 pages<br />
Published: 2013<br />
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In <em>Notice and Note</em> <strong>Kylene Beers</strong> and <strong>Bob Probst</strong>
introduce 6 "signposts" that alert readers to significant moments in a
work of literature and encourage students to read closely. Learning
first to spot these signposts and then to question them, enables readers
to explore the text, any text, finding evidence to support their
interpretations. In short, these close reading strategies will help your
students to notice and note. <br /> <br /> In this timely and practical guide Kylene and Bob:<br />
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<li>examine
the new emphasis on text-dependent questions, rigor, text complexity,
and what it means to be literate in the 21st century </li>
<li>identify 6 signposts that help readers understand and respond to character development, conflict, point of view, and theme </li>
<li>provide 6 text-dependent anchor questions that help readers take note and read more closely </li>
<li>offer
6 Notice and Note model lessons, including text selections and teaching
tools, that help you introduce each signpost to your students. </li>
</ul>
<em>Notice and Note </em>will
help create attentive readers who look closely at a text, interpret it
responsibly, and reflect on what it means in their lives. It should help
them become the responsive, rigorous, independent readers we not only
want students to be but know our democracy demands. </blockquote>
<br />
<br />
There are some books that we as teachers swear by, and this is mine. This book was a total game changer for me as a teacher and my students as readers. The signposts presented in this amazing book are easy to understand and even easier to teach thanks to the amazing way this book is set up. Kylene and Bob walk you through their teaching of the signposts in real classrooms, give solid, usable examples for you to implement in your lessons and set it up so that all you have to do is get into your classroom and get to work!<br />
<br />
It is so easy to get lost in strategy books to me, but this one was the easiest yet! I loved the honesty from both authors and the realness of the book. Hearing what other teachers had to say about how they implemented the strategies and how students felt about each of the strategies was great. Since I implemented these strategies in my classroom in the Spring of 2013, I have seen a tremendous increase in my students reading and comprehension abilities, skills and have even seen my particular readers (we don't call them "reluctant readers" anymore) turn into avid readers! It has been amazing!<br />
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There are even Literature Logs that students can use when learning about these strategies where they can read, write, and respond right on the text. Each signpost begins with a page for students to take notes on, a description of the strategy, then Kylene and Bob walk you through each strategy using text examples from relevant, high-interest novels. My favorite part is that you get to sit in on the conversation right there on paper and see how the strategy is used! This year, I used these for the first time and my students loved being able to write in them. They will definitely be purchased again next year! <br />
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<br />
These strategies are used for fiction texts, but just a few months ago, this gem was released for the non-fiction texts. The same concept of applying signposts while reading will be implemented through these strategies and some are even similar to the previous signposts (which will make it easier to remember for my students I am sure!). I am currently working my way through this one so that I can implement it in my reading classroom after our Winter Break! My kids are even super excited about it!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Helpful Tip:</b></span><br />
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I took both of these books (and quite a few others) to Staples and had them spiral bound!! HOLY COW Y'ALL! This was a total life saver for so many reasons. Not only can I flip through pages a whole heck of a lot easier, but for those books that you have to (sometimes... not often) make copies of, this makes it easier to flip around and not have all of that black space! Best $3 I have ever spent!! You're welcome!!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09473653187232046007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796945395241299526.post-56722927837719205292015-12-31T12:02:00.001-05:002015-12-31T12:18:53.895-05:00The Little Snowplow by Lora Koehler, Jake Parker (Illustrations) Hardcover, 32 pages<br />
Published: October 2015<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1429034041l/25241552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1429034041l/25241552.jpg" width="200" /></a><span id="freeText11952341892427617718"><b>Big trucks may brag and roar, but small and steadfast wins the day in this cheerful story with timeless appeal.</b></span><br />
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<span id="freeText11952341892427617718">On the Mighty Mountain Road Crew, the trucks come in one size: BIG. That is, until the little snowplow joins the crew. None of the other trucks think that the little snowplow can handle the big storms, but <i>he</i> knows that he can do it—and just to be sure, he trains hard, pushing loads of gravel, pulling blocks of concrete, and doing plow lifts to get ready. But when a blizzard arrives, will the little snowplow’s training be enough to clear the streets and handle unexpected trouble? Taking its place beside classics such as <i>The Little Engine That Could </i>and <i>Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, </i>this tale of a plucky little plow will find a clear path to readers’ hearts.</span></blockquote>
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This adorable book reminds us not to judge a book (or in this case, a snowplow) by its cover. While the other big trucks mock him, the little snowplow doesn't let that deter him as he prepares for what he knows he is capable of! The illustrations in this book along with the story itself are definitely catching. The story itself is one that we all need to remember- don't judge and in the same sense, don't give up on your dreams!<br />
<br />
Super cute book with a heart-warming message!<br />
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<b>Mentor Text Suggestion:</b><br />
This book would be ideal to use to teach or review the Notice and Note signpost Again and Again. <br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09473653187232046007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796945395241299526.post-40753531407953237492015-12-31T05:00:00.000-05:002015-12-31T11:45:50.571-05:00Counting Lions: Portraits from the Wild by Katie Cotton, Stephen Walton (Illustrations) <br />
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Hardcover, 40 pages<br />
Published: October 2015<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<br />
<span id="freeText16041466141494261867">Exquisite charcoal
drawings of ten endangered creatures—lions, elephants, giraffes, pandas,
tigers, chimpanzees, penguins, turtles, macaws, and zebras—startle the
viewer with their size and astonishing detail. A poetic text notes each
creature’s particular qualities and behavior, while providing a quiet
counting exercise and a reminder that these animals must be cherished
and protected.</span></blockquote>
<br />
<br />
<br />
This exquisite book takes readers from one lion all the way to ten macaws all the while enchanting us with the art work, poetry, and knowledge. The book is HUGE (it is considered an "oversized" book) and allows the reader to really experience the art along with the beautiful words on the page.<br />
<br />
Another of the amazing parts of this book are the last few pages which give the reader more information about each of the species being counted and their danger of possible extinction. Both of my children poured over this book (we laid it out on the floor and truly experienced it) and it prompted them to go look for the animals and research more about each one. That alone thrilled my nerdy heart!<br />
<br />
This book is a fantastic addition to a home or classroom library! <br />
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<br />
<br />
<b>Ideas for the Classroom:</b><br />
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This book is ideal for the Science classroom when talking about endangered species and habitats. Students will be able to get a glimpse into the life of the species through the pages and gain additional information through the final pages. After this introduction, teachers could break the class into pairs or small groups and have each one research further the species they are assigned. Using technology such as Google Earth to locate the animal could also be a lot of fun! Check out <b><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Google-Earth-Worksheets-100-ORIGINAL-IDEAS-58604" target="_blank">this amazing pack</a></b> on TeachersPayTeachers from <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Meridian" target="_blank">Meridian </a>which has an Endangered Species activity using Google Earth already created (along with some other cool ones).<br />
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Students could also research an endangered species not featured in the book (the teacher may want to come up with a suggested list) and have your class create their own book using <u>Counting Lions</u> as a model. Have the students complete their research, write their poems, create their own art, and compile them all into a class book. If you can, give each child in the class a copy of the book. Staples and Office Depot both bind books if your school doesn't have a binding machine. Partnering with the art teacher would also be fantastic with this project so that they can analyze the book from an art standpoint and help the student with their art. Cross-curricular collaboration is a fantastic way to show your students the importance of all classes and to support each other!<br />
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Happy reading! <br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09473653187232046007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796945395241299526.post-9713074385274533692015-12-31T02:00:00.000-05:002015-12-31T11:45:27.244-05:00Saint Anything by Sarah DessenHardcover, 417 pages<br />
Published May 5, 2015<br />
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<br />
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<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1414680105l/23009402.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1414680105l/23009402.jpg" width="132" /></a><span id="freeText3840609555276765227">Peyton, Sydney's
charismatic older brother, has always been the star of the family,
receiving the lion's share of their parents' attention
and—lately—concern. When Peyton's increasingly reckless behavior
culminates in an accident, a drunk driving conviction, and a jail
sentence, Sydney is cast adrift, searching for her place in the family
and the world. When everyone else is so worried about Peyton, is she the
only one concerned about the victim of the accident?<br /><br />Enter the
Chathams, a warm, chaotic family who run a pizza parlor, play bluegrass
on weekends, and pitch in to care for their mother, who has multiple
sclerosis. Here Sydney experiences unquestioning acceptance. And here
she meets Mac, gentle, watchful, and protective, who makes Sydney feel
seen, really seen, for the first time.</span><br /><span id="freeText3840609555276765227">The uber-popular Sarah
Dessen explores her signature themes of family, self-discovery, and
change in her twelfth novel, sure to delight her legions of fans.</span></blockquote>
<br />
<span id="freeText3840609555276765227">It is no secret that I loooooove Sarah Dessen (GO HEELS!!!). This is her newest and I was so glad that I got to see her again at my conference and catch up. Seriously, she is the coolest person ever! This book definitely did not disappoint. Sydney is living in the shadows of her older brother Peyton and the mistakes that he has made. While he is away serving time, she is forced to come to grips with who she is, what her life has become, and how she will move forward. Being a teenager is hard enough, but add on a brother in jail, his best friend who gave even me the creeps, a mom who totally doesn't get it (in ANY way, shape or form), and a family who ends up being Sydney's saving grace, and you fall into the story and find yourself wanting to wrap your arms around Sydney and help her figure out life however you can. </span><br />
<br />
<span id="freeText3840609555276765227">The honesty and raw emotion that I felt while reading were a true testament to Sarah's writing and her ability to suck you into a story and become invested in the character's lives. While being a teenager is tough on most all of us, it is often hard to realize that no matter which side of the tracks you are on or what your life is like, we all experience trials of all shapes and sizes. </span><br />
<span id="freeText3840609555276765227"><br /></span>
<span id="freeText3840609555276765227">Like Sarah Dessen's other novels, this one will suck you in and take you on an emotional roller coaster while having you beg for more. And I have to say, the ending is perfection. The last like... wow. Enjoy! </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09473653187232046007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796945395241299526.post-3539896700588974462015-12-30T23:00:00.000-05:002015-12-30T23:00:06.578-05:00Nelson Mandela by Kadir Nelson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hardcover, 40 pages<br />
Published January 2013<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span id="freeText8099430819295665586">One day when Nelson
Mandela was nine years old, his father died and he was sent from his
village to a school far away from home, to another part of South Africa.
In Johannesburg, Mandela saw fellow Africans who were poor and
powerless. He decided then that he would work to protect them. When the
government began to keep people apart based on the color of their skin,
Mandela spoke out against the law and vowed to fight hard in order to
make his country a place that belonged to all South Africans.<br /><br />Kadir
Nelson tells the story of Mandela, a global icon, in poignant verse and
glorious illustrations. It is the story of a young boy's determination
to change South Africa and of the struggles of a man who eventually
became the president of his country by believing in equality for people
of all colors. Readers will be inspired by Mandela's triumph and his
lifelong quest to create a more just world.</span></blockquote>
<br />
Kadir Nelson has a way of not only empowering us with his words but leaving us in awe of his artwork. This is one of my favorite books not only because it is about one of my heroes, but also because the artwork is worthy of hanging on my walls. As with all of his books, I find myself staring at the art long after I have finished reading the words on the pages.<br />
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With the issues that our country is facing today, Nelson Mandela's story is a way for the door of conversation to be opened. Not only is this book written to tell us the story of Mandela's life, but also what he stood for and fought for. The last two pages give us more detailed information about Mandela's life, his marriage to Winnie, life in prison, and his life after (including his presidency).<br />
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I have to brag a little because I was able to meet Kadir this past November at the NCTE Convention in Minneapolis and had his sign my book! He is a quiet force to be reckoned with. I did not feel worthy. <span id="freeText8099430819295665586"> </span><br />
<span id="freeText8099430819295665586"><br /></span>
<span id="freeText8099430819295665586">This book is a must read for all ages! </span><br />
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<b><span id="freeText8099430819295665586">Ideas for the classroom: </span></b><br />
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<span id="freeText8099430819295665586">When teaching the Civil Rights Movement, use <u>Nelson Mandela</u> as a read aloud to compare and contrast what was going on in South Africa and in the American South. Have the students discuss and create a Vin Diagram in small groups. Meet together with a class and expand your Vin Diagram to include recent events of racial discrimination that have occurred in present day America. Present articles for students to complete close reads with to research these events. <a href="https://newsela.com/" target="_blank">Newsela.com </a>is a great resource for articles which also allows to you level the articles for your students (hello differentiation!). </span><br />
<span id="freeText8099430819295665586"><br /></span>
<span id="freeText8099430819295665586">Students could then write a research paper, paragraph, or blurb comparing and contrasting each of these. You could also assign certain students to compare/contrast specific events. You know your students, so adjust your lesson accordingly! </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09473653187232046007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796945395241299526.post-78729874227372758642015-12-30T20:56:00.000-05:002015-12-30T21:56:05.509-05:00Smile by Raina TelgemeierHardcover, Graphic Novel, 224 pages<br />
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Published February 2010 <br />
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<span id="freeText16802467168042066346">Raina Telgemeier's #1 <i>New York Times </i>bestselling, Eisner Award-winning graphic memoir based on her childhood!<br /><br />
Raina just wants to be a normal sixth grader. But one night after Girl
Scouts she trips and falls, severely injuring her two front teeth. What
follows is a long and frustrating journey with on-again, off-again
braces, surgery, embarrassing headgear, and even a retainer with fake
teeth attached. And on top of all that, there's still more to deal with:
a major earthquake, boy confusion, and friends who turn out to be not
so friendly.</span></blockquote>
<br />
<span id="freeText16802467168042066346">Though this book is in our school library and has made its way into my classroom library (I am sure that someone left it and it found a new home in one of my baskets, haha), I haven't read it until now! My sweet cousin Mandy gave it to my daughter for Christmas, so naturally I snapped it up and read it before she could! </span><br />
<span id="freeText16802467168042066346"><br /></span>
<span id="freeText16802467168042066346">Raina Telgemeier's graphic novel gives us a glimpse of what her childhood was like at such an important time- middle school and the beginning of high school. I have my own (dreaded) memories of that time period and I could totally related to the need to fit in, living through something which you think will be the complete end of you (I fell off the back of a golf cart when I was in 8th grade and scraped the side of my face off.... seriously, it was bad), first love, physical and emotional changes and so much more. Looking through Raina's scope into her life was refreshing and is definitely something that preteens and teens as well as those of us who are a little further from that can relate to! </span><br />
<span id="freeText16802467168042066346"><br /></span>
<span id="freeText16802467168042066346">This is definitely one that I will be recommending to a few of my students who may be having an interesting time transitioning and finding themselves. I loved <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13436373-drama?ac=1&from_search=1" target="_blank"><u>Drama </u></a>by Raina Telgemeier too and will have that post back up soon! For now, enjoy your reading and add this one to your list! You won't regret it! </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09473653187232046007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796945395241299526.post-39934687799857135032014-08-07T12:30:00.000-04:002014-08-07T12:30:00.795-04:00Your New BFF... Class Dojo!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.classdojo.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://www.csmonitor.com/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/content/2013/1129-mod-class-dojo/17545285-1-eng-US/1129-mod-class-dojo_full_600.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Class management is something that every teacher struggles with. Some don't like to admit it, but it is okay... we all struggle and that's okay! I am going into my 11th year teaching (when did THAT happen) and I can honestly say that classroom management is the weakest link in my chain, therefore it is the one that I have to constantly strengthen to ensure that my chain doesn't break. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Last year, I was at wits end. My classes weren't bad. They just were on the cusp of being a little too big for their britches. Anyone else have a class like that? Okay... put your hands down now. Luckily I have many amazing teacher pals and when I was talking to one of these ladies one afternoon she asked if I had ever tried Class Dojo. At this point, I had heard about Class Dojo but hadn't really looked into it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I went home that night, and I fell in love and knew that this was just what I was looking for!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Class Dojo is an easy, FREE way for you to monitor and boost student engagement in your classroom with just the click of a button! Students can create their own avatars, monitor their behaviors on their phones or devices, and parents can even log in daily to check on how their child was that day! How great is that?! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The best way I learn is to get in there and play, but before you do that here is a cheat sheet of information for you about Class Dojo. (If you click on the picture it will link you to this sheet so that you can print it.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7CMa5ltRwKUV3NndWZwMms3Vlk/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XVbCOaeMg4U/U-GK5b9Yp5I/AAAAAAAAA20/5lVzMkV_86U/s1600/dojo+4.png" height="237" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So now it is time to create an account and go play! Make up your "fun" class and then play around until you get the hang of it. There are videos on the site as well as forums where other teachers have given their ideas and input for using it in the classroom. Our best resource is each other... so go to your colleagues and see what they are doing! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Here are some great resources to help you get started with Class Dojo in your classroom, and the best thing is... they are FREE too!! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2Y2ZGHk9-pg/U-GLg60dDZI/AAAAAAAAA28/mOtVzfw3mYw/s1600/Dojo+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2Y2ZGHk9-pg/U-GLg60dDZI/AAAAAAAAA28/mOtVzfw3mYw/s1600/Dojo+1.png" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Do-you-Dojo-462101" target="_blank">Do You Dojo? by Texan Warrior</a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v2KQgEw20-Q/U-GLnsZOL1I/AAAAAAAAA3E/E4bRFLxIuWw/s1600/Dojo+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v2KQgEw20-Q/U-GLnsZOL1I/AAAAAAAAA3E/E4bRFLxIuWw/s1600/Dojo+2.png" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Class-Dojo-Weekly-Behavior-Tracker-779822" target="_blank">Class Dojo Weekly Behavior Tracker by Jed Dearybury</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gJiy2q9wuxQ/U-GLtLwWbfI/AAAAAAAAA3M/Ivy7bwSkKMM/s1600/Dojo+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gJiy2q9wuxQ/U-GLtLwWbfI/AAAAAAAAA3M/Ivy7bwSkKMM/s1600/Dojo+3.png" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Class-Dojo-Resource-Pack-836797" target="_blank">Class Dojo Resource Pacy by Mrs. Possum's Classroom </a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There are many different ways to incorporate Class Dojo into your classroom so don't feel like you have to do it like everyone else! Be creative and make it work for you! Have fun and let the pinging begin!! </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09473653187232046007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796945395241299526.post-40629731086537939322014-07-23T06:30:00.000-04:002014-07-23T06:30:02.589-04:00The Great American Dust Bowl by Don Brown<div class="row">
<span itemprop="bookFormatType">Hardcover</span>, <span itemprop="numberOfPages">80 pages</span></div>
<div class="row">
Published
October 8th 2013
by HMH Books for Young Readers
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1364259233l/16158179.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1364259233l/16158179.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1364259233l/16158179.jpg" width="209" /></a><span id="freeText10065255869329384849">A speck of dust is a tiny thing. In fact, five of them could fit into the period at the end of this sentence.<br /><br />On
a clear, warm Sunday, April 14, 1935, a wild wind whipped up millions
upon millions of these specks of dust to form a duster—a savage storm—on
America's high southern plains.<br /><br />The sky turned black,
sand-filled winds scoured the paint off houses and cars, trains
derailed, and electricity coursed through the air. Sand and dirt fell
like snow—people got lost in the gloom and suffocated . . . and that was
just the beginning.<br /><br />Don Brown brings the Dirty Thirties to life
with kinetic, highly saturated, and lively artwork in this graphic novel
of one of America's most catastrophic natural events: the Dust Bowl.</span></blockquote>
<span id="freeText10065255869329384849"> </span><br />
<span id="freeText10065255869329384849">What an amazing graphic novel!!! Not only were the illustrations fantastic, but the information was presented in such a way that you learned so much without even realizing it. I love learning new things, and this book left me wanting to research more about the Dust Bowl and the impact it had on our country. Definitely a great addition to my classroom library!</span><br />
<span id="freeText10065255869329384849"><br /></span>
<h2>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span id="freeText10065255869329384849">Teaching Ideas:</span></b></span></h2>
<span id="freeText10065255869329384849"></span><br />
<b><span id="freeText10065255869329384849">For Science:</span></b><br />
<span id="freeText10065255869329384849">This book is a great way to discuss plate tectonics, the environmental impact of the Dust Bowl, and the recent Dust Bowl impact from 2012 and other droughts. Students will be able to learn about the environmental impact from the Dust Bowl on daily life of both humans and animals alike and could do further research on what implications a Dust Bowl of that size could have on today's society. </span><br />
<span id="freeText10065255869329384849"><br /></span>
<b><span id="freeText10065255869329384849">For Social Studies:</span></b><br />
<span id="freeText10065255869329384849">This is a great book to discuss life during the Great Depression and what impact the Dust Bowl had in the lives of Americans. This would be a great book to begin a research project on the life during the Depression for the different parts of the United States as well. </span><br />
<br />
<span id="freeText10065255869329384849">Possible research questions:</span><br />
<span id="freeText10065255869329384849">Did the Dust Bowl impact all of America? </span><br />
<span id="freeText10065255869329384849">What are the major differences between those areas impacted by the Dust Bowl and those who weren't impacted?</span><br />
<span id="freeText10065255869329384849"><br /><b>For ELA:</b></span><br />
<span id="freeText10065255869329384849">This book would be a fantastic introduction before teaching <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25346.Out_of_the_Dust?from_search=true" target="_blank">Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse</a>. The background knowledge the students will gain will allow them visualize the events of the novel which is a fantastic novel! </span><br />
<span id="freeText10065255869329384849"><br /></span>
<span id="freeText10065255869329384849"><br /></span>
<span id="freeText10065255869329384849">Happy reading!!</span><br />
<span id="freeText10065255869329384849"><br /></span>
<span id="freeText10065255869329384849"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09473653187232046007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796945395241299526.post-72144024454608707892014-07-21T11:00:00.001-04:002015-12-22T10:13:30.366-05:00Speed Fishin' Review Game <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AE1BB3Brc70/U8xpClP_BuI/AAAAAAAAA2U/nJuGXhCxSiM/s1600/Speed+Fishing+4b.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AE1BB3Brc70/U8xpClP_BuI/AAAAAAAAA2U/nJuGXhCxSiM/s1600/Speed+Fishing+4b.jpg" width="273" /></a><br />
I have been blessed through reading Kim Bearden's amazing book <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19678637-crash-course?ac=1">Crash Course: The Life Lessons My Students Taught Me</a>. Currently on my second read through in a few days, I am continuing to find <br />
<br />
inspiration for my life and my classroom. There will be a post about it very soon... I am still processing!<br />
<br />
One of the many ideas that I have gained from Kim's lessons was one that she used in her classroom- SPEED FISHING! She used it to reach one of her students who was reluctant to participate (read the book... I don't do the story justice!). As I read about this lesson, I thought- "I can totally do that with my Summer School kiddos!" Soooo... I did! <br />
<br />
We are learning about the parts of a sentence- subject and predicate- so I adjusted what Kim did for what we were doing. Here's how it works:<br />
<br />
<h4>
Materials: </h4>
<ul>
<li>Wooden Dowels (as many as you want teams) </li>
<li>String or yarn </li>
<li>Magnets (for your fishing poles) </li>
<li>100 Washers (or however many you want) </li>
<li>Colored paper (for your fish... I would suggest cardstock) </li>
<li>An "ocean" (you can use a plastic swimming pool or do like me and use a plastic table cloth) </li>
</ul>
<br />
<h4>
Lesson Set Up: </h4>
<br />
1. Cut out enough fish for the number of sentences, problems, etc. you will have for your game. <br />
* I also laminated them so that I could reuse them. <br />
<br />
2. Write, tape, glue or otherwise attach your sentences, problems, etc. to your fish. I taped my strips to the fish so that I could easily get them off for the next game! <br />
<br />
3. Attach a washer to the back of each fish. Again, I laminated mine so if you want to do the same that will be your next step! <br />
<br />
4. Tie string to the dowels and attach the magnet to the end of the string. <br />
* I tied it at first, but as the game went on... the magnets went flying! So I ended up temporarily taping the magnets on. I am going to go back and hot glue them later! <br />
<br />
5. Put your answers on paper plates. You will need a set for each team that you have. <br />
<br />
6. Set up your ocean in the middle of your classroom or a designated area. Place your paper plates on opposing ends of your classroom and if you have multiple teams you can set them up in opposite corners. (If you are lucky enough to have a big hallway or gym at your disposal, you can use that as well. If the weather is nice- GO OUTSIDE!!!) <br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>
Lesson Plan: I am going to use what I did for my review game... but change it up for your lesson! </h4>
<br />
1. When your students come into the classroom, have them break into the correct number of groups and disperse in your classroom. <br />
* My paper plates were labeled Simple Subject, Complete Subject, Compound Subject, Simple Predicate, Complete Predicate, and Compound Predicate <br />
<br />
2. Explain the game to your students! <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
On each of the fish in our ocean are examples of Simple Subjects, Complete Subjects, Compound Subjects, Simple Predicates, Complete Predicates, and Compound Predicates. Your team can only sent one fisherman at a time out to the pond to catch a fish- otherwise all the fish will scare off and you won’t catch any. After your fisherman comes back with their fish, as a team you must decide on which plate it goes. Make sure you are careful because some can be tricky. If your fish has what looks like a complete predicate but just one word is highlighted, it will be a simple predicate. Same goes for the subjects. Look also to see how many subjects and predicates there are. After you place the fish on the correct plate, your next fisherman can go fishing. Remember…. You have to FISH, not drag! Each correct fish placement is worth one point. The team with the most points wins a prize! Any questions? When you hear our fishin’ music start, you may begin! </blockquote>
<br />
3. Play music and let the fun begin! Watch the teams and offer guidance at first, but allow them to work as a team to determine the correct answer. You may want to only allow a certain amount of time and add a timer. I didn’t with my first group at first, but when I added the stress of a timer after seeing that time was dwindling down, that created more intensity! So the next group got a timer and a few rounds so that we could review in between. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Here are some pictures of our fun!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zVvOFiNozds/U8x1aNxIZ-I/AAAAAAAAA2g/jTAA3opZstA/s1600/speed+fishing+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="128" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zVvOFiNozds/U8x1aNxIZ-I/AAAAAAAAA2g/jTAA3opZstA/s1600/speed+fishing+collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Let me know how you would change it around and how you would use it in your classroom! I can't wait to hear your ideas!! <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span itemprop="bookFormatType">Hardcover</span>, <span itemprop="numberOfPages">108 pages</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Published
April 8th 2014
by Margaret K. McElderry Books</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1397771240l/17245741.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1397771240l/17245741.jpg" width="212" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span id="freeText11040103748505984874">From the Newbery Award–winning author of <em>Sarah, Plain and Tall</em> comes a story about one brave girl who saves her family from losing everything.<br /><br />Everyone in Lucy’s family sings. Opera. Rap. Lullabies. Everyone, except Lucy. Lucy can’t sing; her voice just won’t come out.<br /><br />Just
like singing, helping Aunt Frankie prepare for flooding season is a
family tradition—even if Frankie doesn’t want the help. And this year,
when the flood arrives, danger finds its way into the heart of Lucy’s
family, and Lucy will need to find her voice to save her brother.</span></span></blockquote>
<br />
<br />
<span id="freeText11040103748505984874"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> From the author of one of my favorite books, <i>Sarah, Plain and Tall</i>, comes another heart melting book. This book is one of those books that I will definitely be a go to book when it comes to dealing with the feelings of not finding your place. Lucy feels like she can't really relate to her family because she doesn't feel as talented as her family members. When the time comes, however, her talents are what she least expects them to be. This is a fantastic book that I can't wait to share with my students!</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09473653187232046007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796945395241299526.post-64403423683527034502014-07-11T07:00:00.000-04:002014-07-11T07:00:00.495-04:00Among the Hidden (Shadow Children #1) by Margaret Peterson Haddix<div class="row">
<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388382796l/227651.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388382796l/227651.jpg" width="215" /></a><span itemprop="bookFormatType">Paperback</span>, <span itemprop="numberOfPages">153 pages</span></div>
Published
June 1st 2006
by Aladdin Paperbacks<br />
<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span id="freeText13974538433185872412">SHADOW CHILDREN Luke
has never been to school. He's never had a birthday party, or gone to a
friend's house for an overnight. In fact, Luke has never had a friend.<br /><br />Luke
is one of the shadow children, a third child forbidden by the
Population Police. He's lived his entire life in hiding, and now, with a
new housing development replacing the woods next to his family's farm,
he is no longer even allowed to go outside.<br /><br />Then, one day Luke
sees a girl's face in the window of a house where he knows two other
children already live. Finally, he's met a shadow child like himself.
Jen is willing to risk everything to come out of the shadows -- does
Luke dare to become involved in her dangerous plan? Can he afford "not"
to?</span> </blockquote>
<br />
<br />
<br />
I have to admit that my student have been begging me to read this series for quite a while now, and I have no clue why I haven't. Set in a time when the government is in ultra control of everyone's life, this novel was almost scary to me because I could totally see something like that happening in some countries. Reading this with a group of students was great because I was able to discuss so much with them and how they would react if the government took such control. The main character Luke finds that he is not alone after thinking that he was the only one in hiding which totally changes his view on how his life is. When Jen shows Luke that his life could be different, he decides to take a chance. This is a great series and I cannot wait to read the rest of the series!! <br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Teaching Ideas:</b><br />
This book would be a great to pair with articles, videos, and other resources about the population laws in China. Erin at <a href="http://imlovinlit.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">I'm Lovin Lit </a>has a great resource at Teachers Pay Teachers for just that! Check it out <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Among-the-Hidden-vs-Real-Life-Common-Core-Activities-586318" target="_blank">here</a>! If you are a language arts teacher and haven't checked out her blog, you NEED to. She is amazing!!<br />
<br />
<br />
Happy reading!<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09473653187232046007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796945395241299526.post-24279419109739195232014-07-09T08:36:00.000-04:002014-07-09T08:36:00.155-04:00Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai<div class="row">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span itemprop="bookFormatType">Hardcover</span>, <span itemprop="numberOfPages">272 pages</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="row">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Published
February 22nd 2011
by HarperCollins </span></div>
<div class="row">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="row">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="row">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span id="freeText16731184205031404683"><em>Inside Out and Back Again</em> is a <em>New York Times</em>
bestseller, a Newbery Honor Book, and a winner of the National Book
Award! </span></span></div>
<div class="row">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span id="freeText16731184205031404683"> </span></span></div>
<div class="row">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1357771743l/8537327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1357771743l/8537327.jpg" width="211" /></a><span id="freeText16731184205031404683">Inspired by the author's childhood experience of fleeing Vietnam
after the Fall of Saigon and immigrating to Alabama, this coming-of-age
debut novel told in verse has been celebrated for its touching
child's-eye view of family and immigration.<br /><br />For all the ten years
of her life, Hà has only known Saigon: the thrills of its markets, the
joy of its traditions, and the warmth of her friends close by. But now
the Vietnam War has reached her home. Hà and her family are forced to
flee as Saigon falls, and they board a ship headed toward hope. In
America, Hà discovers the foreign world of Alabama: the coldness of its
strangers, the dullness of its food . . . and the strength of her very
own family.<br /><br />This moving story of one girl's year of change,
dreams, grief, and healing received four starred reviews, including one
from Kirkus which proclaimed it "enlightening, poignant, and
unexpectedly funny." An author's note explains how and why Thanhha Lai
translated her personal experiences into Hà's story.</span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This book is simply amazing. The story of a young girl's life as she goes through a major change during such a tumultuous time in history is beautifully written and allows readers to see what it was like from a different perspective. Since this was based on the author's life, there is an authenticity on these pages that allows readers to experience the grief, change, fear, and so much more. It was amazing to me how we tend to think that we experience things that are particular to us, but this novel shows how so many things we experience are universal. Simply stated, I loved this book. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Teaching Ideas: </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This book is one that Social Studies teachers should have in their classrooms. When teaching about the Vietnam War, there are many books that teachers can use to discuss the American side of it. This book, however, shows another perspective of the Vietnam War and allows readers to experience that through the eyes of someone who experienced it first hand. This book would be a great mentor text to give to a group of students to read or even as a great read aloud. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Happy reading! </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09473653187232046007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796945395241299526.post-63557893468251652022014-07-08T07:00:00.000-04:002014-07-08T07:00:08.226-04:00Table Top Twitter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I have had the opportunity to see <a href="http://www.heinemann.com/authors/56.aspx" target="_blank">Bob Probst</a> and <a href="http://kylenebeers.com/blog/" target="_blank">Kylene Beers</a> in action a few times and each time has been amazing. Using the <a href="http://www.heinemann.com/products/E04693.aspx" target="_blank">Notice and Note Strategies </a>in my classroom with my students has been amazing this year and I have seen great things come from using them. One of the things that Bob introduced me to this year was Table Top Twitter (he called it the Poster Activity, but I like TTT better... haha). This is such an easy thing to do and something that my students BEGGED me to do after they did it the first time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">This activity allows the students to interact with each other without talking- it all has to be done in writing. They are able to voice their thoughts and opinions (and even get into heated arguments) all while completely silent. The key to this activity is the selection you choose. You can choose a short article, a selection from the textbook, an excerpt from a novel, a poem or any other text to do this activity. The text that you choose must evoke emotion or require your students to think so that the motivation is there for them to write about what they are reading. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>Materials Needed: </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">- Chart paper (or butcher paper)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">- Markers</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">- Text </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">- Time</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>Here's how it works: </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">1. Glue the text selection in the center of a large piece of paper. You can use chart paper or butcher paper, but you must be able to write on it (poster board isn't always ideal for that with pencils). I typically use markers so that it is colorful, but you can choose what works best for your classroom. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">2. When the students come in, have them seperate into small groups (I had no more than 6 in a group and no less than 3). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">3. Explain that they will read the article that is pasted on the poster and respond to it. They can draw arrows to sections, underline, or mark on the text as well. As they are reading, they will respond to what they have read with their thoughts and opinions or even questions that come to mind. Students will also respond to each others comments and questions after they have read the text selection. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">4. Set a timer and remind students that there is no talking- only moving around to read the text and what their peers have written so that they can respond. I usually gave mine about 7 minutes depending on the size of the text. If they were still reading and responding, we kept going. While the students are reading, writing, and responding- YOU ARE TOO. Jump from group to group to see what your students are thinking, redirect if needed, and add your own thoughts. My students would race over after I had left to see what I had to say (like mine was soooooo profound). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">5. When time is up, have a class discussion about what was read. If you have a large class, you may want to limit this to one comment per student. Have them pick out their favorite (either their own or a peers). Most of the "discussion" has already been had, but there may be some comments that need to be expanded on or explained. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>Variations:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">* Have different pieces of text about the same topic at each TTT and when the timer goes off, have the groups silently switch to the new table and complete the activity. You could also allow them to movie around from piece to piece if you don't mind a bit of movement! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">* This could be an easy way to review what you have taught in math to assess their learning. Put one problem on the table and have the students work out the problem together without talking. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">* Instead of a piece of text, you could have one statement that students must respond to using the knowledge of what you have been covering in a unit of study. ("The war of independence waged by the American colonies against Britain
influenced political ideas and revolutions around the globe, as a
fledgling, largely disconnected nation won its freedom from the greatest
military force of its time." <a href="http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution" target="_blank">- from History.com</a>)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">There are a great many ways that this can be adapted to fit your needs, so have fun with it! Let me know what you do in your classroom because I am always looking for new ideas! Here are some of our finished products! </span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09473653187232046007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796945395241299526.post-9622153272706317882014-07-07T07:00:00.000-04:002014-07-07T07:00:05.718-04:00The Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine <div class="row">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span itemprop="bookFormatType">Hardcover</span>, <span itemprop="numberOfPages">298 pages</span></span></div>
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Published
January 5th 2012
by Putnam Juvenile </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span id="freeText2496726939321750882">Two girls separated by race form an unbreakable bond during the tumultuous integration of Little Rock schools in 1958<br /><br />
Twelve-year-old Marlee doesn't have many friends until she meets Liz,
the new girl at school. Liz is bold and brave, and always knows the
right thing to say, especially to Sally, the resident mean girl. Liz
even helps Marlee overcome her greatest fear - speaking, which Marlee
never does outside her family.<br /><br /> But then Liz is gone, replaced by
the rumor that she was a Negro girl passing as white. But Marlee
decides that doesn't matter. Liz is her best friend. And to stay
friends, Marlee and Liz are willing to take on integration and the
dangers their friendship could bring to both their families.</span></span> </blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This is one of the best books that I have read... in a long time. Marlee finds a friend in the most unlikely of place with someone who she is not supposed to have anything to do with. The way Kristin Levine tells the story of these girls brings to light what life was life for the children who experienced racism in the 1950's and 60's. Sadly, we live in a world where that still exists. I loved both Marlee and Liz and their ability to see past what others can't. Their friendship means enough that they take the risks to keep their friendship alive and deal with the ignorance of those who don't want them to be friends. I can't wait to share this book with my students and history teachers. This book will definitely be well loved by all who read it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>Teaching Ideas:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This book is a great read aloud for history teachers as you are teaching the 50's and 60's and the racism and segregation that our country dealt with. There are many questions that are raised from this novel that would make incredible character building lessons during your read aloud as well. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Happy reading!! </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09473653187232046007noreply@blogger.com0