Reading is Power!: 2011

Thursday, October 20, 2011

So Far from Home: The Diary of Mary Driscoll, an Irish Mill Girl

So Far From Home: The Diary of Mary Driscoll, an Irish Mill Girl by Barry Deneberg

Published by Scholastic

Lexile Level: 710L

Grade Level: 6

Famine, History, Family, Friends, Labor

So Far From Home is the tale of Mary Driscoll, a girl from Ireland, who moved to America and became a mill girl. Students can read about her life through her diary entries, and it feels like they are reading an actual primary source document. Students will be able to read a fictional first hand account of what it was like to immigrate to America and work in the Lowell Mills. This is a great historical fiction book for student to read when studying immigration to America or Irish/American history.

Teachers, here are some activities and resources for this book:

Key Vocabulary:

Evict, Immigrant, Emigrate, Famine, Corporation, Quarantine, Petition

During Reading Activity:

Have students create a timeline of Mary's life, beginning with her life in Ireland all the way through her life in the United States. This will encourage students to pick out the most important events in the text and sequence the evence to promote comprehension.

Writing Activity:

Students should choose another character from the novel, or from a novel regarding a similar topic (immigration or Irish/American history) and write a diary entry from that character's point of view. This will encourage the students to make connections from one character to another.

Web Resources:

Read this interview with the author to get more insight on the making of the novel!
Read this guide about The Mill Girls before reading this novel so that students have sufficient background knowledge prior to reading.

Denenberg, Barry. So far from home: the diary of Mary Driscoll, an Irish mill girl. New York: Scholastic, 1997. Print.

Before John was a Jass Giant

Before John was a Jazz Giant by Carole Boston Weatherford & Illustrated by Sean Qualls

Published by Henry Holt

Grade Level: 4

Music, Jazz, Saxophone, Childhood

Before John was a Jazz Giant is the story of John Coltrane and his childhood before his days of fame. It explains what influenced him to become a jazz legend. Learn what shaped the musical lifestyle of this jazz superstar! Great read aloud to compliment a history lesson!

Teachers, here are some activities and resources for this book:

Key Vocabulary:

Phonograph, jitterbugs, sermons, hymns, warbling, kinfolk, saxophone, crooning, ukulele, Jazz

Before Reading Activity:

Begin by having students complete a KWL chart about jazz music. Ask them what they know, if they've ever heard jazz music, and what they would like to know. When they finish the book they will be able to fill out the last section of the chart and research any questions that remain.

Writing Activity:

After reading this book and listening to examples of jazz music, have students work in groups to create their very own jazz lyrics!

Web Resources:

Here is a great GUIDE to use before reading this book. It introduces students to the fundamentals of music that they will read about in this book!
Here is the Official John Coltrane website! Learn more about the legendary jazz musician and give your students the opportunity to listen to some of his music.

Weatherford, Carole Boston, and Sean Qualls. Before John was a jazz giant: a song of John Coltrane. New York: Henry Holt, 2008. Print.

The Forbidden Schoolhouse

The Forbidden Schoolhouse by Suzanne Jurmain

Published by Houghton Mifflin

Lexile Level: 920L

Grade Level: 2005

The Forbidden Schoolhouse takes place in Canterbury, CT. It is the story of Prudence Crandall and the difficulties she had when trying to open a schoolhouse for young girls, but turned it into a school for African American girls. The photos and storyline are sure to draw in your young readers, especially the history buffs. This is a great read aloud and if you live in CT, your students should experience this book!

Teachers, here are some activities and resources for this book:

Key Vocabulary:

prosecution, Canterbury, CT, Civil War, abolitionist, Quakers, telegram, Nat Turner, American Colonization Society, authorities, petition, prejudice, William Lloyd Garrison, Booker T. Washington

During Reading Activity:

This is a great historical book. Have students keep a timeline of Prudence Crandall's life throughout the book in order to comprehend the sequence of events in the story.

Writing Activity:

Write a letter to the mayor from the point of view of one of Prudence Crandall's African American students. Write to him focusing on why you should be able to attend school. This is a great way to incorporate persuasive writing into the reading of this book.

Web Resources:

Visit the website for Prudence Crandall Museum in Canterbury, CT. This is an informative website and includes information on planning field trips to the museum.
Use this Teacher's Guide, which gives background information, a book summary, ways to read the book, before/during/after reading activities, as well as assessments.

Jurmain, Suzanne. The forbidden schoolhouse: the true and dramatic story of Prudence Crandall and her students.. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2005. Print.

Henry's Freedom Box

Henry's Freedom Box by Ellen Levine and Kadir Nelson

Published by Scholastic Press

Lexile Level: AD380L

Grade Level: 4 to 8

Henry's Freedom Box is the story of Henry Brown, who was born into slavery. He was living happily with his wife and three children, when his entire family was sold away from him. This is when he used his imagination to find a way to get freedom.

Teachers, here are some activities and resources for this book:

Key Vocabulary:

master, slave, factory, mistress, slave market, warehouse, oil of vitriol, baggage car

Before Reading Activity:

Have students make predictions about the book. Students can make a KWL chart about information they know about slavery and the underground railroad.

Writing Activity:

Plan a creative writing activity in which students will create their own escape plan. Students can pretend that they are slaves in Virginia and plan out ideas to escape using a graphic organizer to organize their thoughts.

Web Resources:

Follow this link to see an interview with the author, Ellen Levine!
Watch this book trailer made by a student! After seeing this students can create their own!

Levine, Ellen, and Kadir Nelson. Henry's freedom box. New York: Scholastic Press, 2007. Print.

Dark Emperor & Other Poems of the Night

Dark Emperor & Other Poems of the Night by Joyce Sidman

Illustrated by Rick Allen

Published by Houghton Mifflin Hartcourt

Lexile Level: 1020L

Grade Level: 5/6

Nocturnal, Wildlife, Beauty, Enchantment, Mesmerizing, Nature

Dark Emperor & Other Poems of the Night is the compilation of 12 poems about different animals in the night. It provides factual information about nocturnal animals that live in the forest. This is a great book for your nature and poetry buffs and the illustrations will draw in the attention of any student. This would serve as a great read aloud for science studies.

Teachers, here are some activities and resources for this book:

Key Vocabulary:

dappled, nocturnal, nimble, unparalleled, morsels, whorls, nectar, preen, mesmerizing, realm, swivel, pores, warblers, photosynthesis, sprig, pirouette, raucous, trilling, serrated, stridulation, spores, eft, don, vagabond, echolocation

After Reading Activity:

Create a Wordle using important words from the text to increase students' comprehension. Have them choose words that summarize the text and describe each animal or plant.

Writing Activity:

After reading, have students choose an animal (from the book or one that they have prior knowledge of) and create their own poem. Students can use this activity to research an animal, then use this information to write a poem.

Web Resources:

Here is a Book Trailer that would be a great resource to use before reading the book with your students. They will be introduced to some of the animals in the poems as well as the setting and tone of the writings.
Here is a Teacher's Guide, which includes questions, suggestions for read alouds, writing activities, and science activities.

"Come feel the cool and shadowed breeze,

come smell your way among the trees,

come touch rough bark and leathered leaves:

Welcome to the night."

Sidman, J., & Allen, R. (2010). Dark emperor & other poems of the night. Cookery: Houghton Mifflin Books For Children.

14 Cows for America

14 Cows for America by Carmen Agra Deedy

Published by Peachtree Publishers

Lexile Level: AD540L

Grade Level: 2 to 5

Compassion, Ubuntu, Cows, Caring, Ritual, Injustice

14 Cows for America is the tale of Maasai man, Kimeli Naiyomah and his experience with the 9/11 terrorist attack on the United States. It is a heartwarming tale that shows that everyone, no matter how small can make a difference and help. He told his village about the damage and destruction caused and they came together to send 14 cows to America because they symbolized life. This would be a great book to use as a read aloud and in a Social Studies lesson.

Teachers, here are some activities and resources for this book:

Key Vocabulary:

Maasai, tribe, embassy, mournful, Kenya, symbolism

Before Reading Activity:

Students can create a project similar to the one below using wordle.com. This will help them become familiar with main ideas and vocabulary presented in this book.

http://14cowsforamerica.com/order.html

Writing Activity:

14 Cows for America from the perspective of the cows. Encourage students to be creative and use a graphic organize to plot their ideas and organize their thoughts before writing.
Have your students write about the ceremony depicted in

Web Resources:

Have your students watch this book trailer before reading to gain some background knowledge of the book and make predictions about what the book will be about.
This website, created by Peachtree Publishers, allows students to share the inspirational message sent out by this book with others. It shares stories, information about the creators of the novel, the Maasai, cows, and ubuntu
Here is a Teacher's Guide for the book. It contains key vocabulary, main ideas, a history of Maasai culture, before, during and after reading questions, as well as activities for different content areas.

Deedy, C. A., Naiyomah, W. K., & Gonzalez, T. (2009). 14 cows for America. Atlanta: Peachtree Publishers.

Amelia Earhart: This Broad Ocean

Amelia Earhart: This Broad Ocean by Sarah Stewart Taylor and Ben Towle

Published by Hyperion Press

Lexile Level

Grade Level: 5

Courage, Adventure, History, Passion, Change, Danger

Amelia Earhart: This Broad Ocean is the story of a Canadian girl, named Grace and her interest in Amelia Earhart. She is intrigued that Earhart would be traveling across the Atlantic Ocean on a treacherous journey. She gets the opportunity to ask Ameliea Earhart some questions about her life and realizes how smart, brave, and independent she is. This novel explores the life of a woman in the 1920s and the difficulties they had to face because of their gender.

Teachers, here are some activities and resources for this book:

Key Vocabulary:

History of Flight, Historical Fiction, Graphic Novel, Flight, Amelia Earhart

Before Reading Activity:

Prior to reading, students can research life in the 1920s and create a poster, pamphlet, or PowerPoint about what they learned. Have students research topics such as: women's rights, music, art, technology, and transportation. Great way to include a history lesson!

Writing Activity:

Give your students the opportunity to become reporters, just like Grace! Have them research a famous woman from the 1920s (such as Amelia Earhart) and write a newspaper article about them.

Web Resources:

Here is a teacher's reading guide for the novel. It includes a book review, discussion questions, projects for each content area, and information about the creators of the book.
To learn more about Amelia Earhart, visit her website! Learn about her through her biography, quotes, achievements, photos, videos, and fast facts!

Taylor, S. S., & Towle, B. (2010). Amelia Earhart: this broad ocean. New York: Disney/Hyperion Books.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Ballet for Martha: Making Appalachian Spring

Ballet for Martha: Making Appalacian Spring by Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan

Published by Roaring Brook Press

Lexile Level: AD710L

Grade Level: 2 to 6

Ballet, Masterpiece, Collaboration, Determination, Serendipity, Art

This picture book will delight your students and show them what the product of good collaboration is. This is the story of choreographer, Martha Graham, composer, Aaron Copland, and set designer, Isamu Noguchi and how they worked together to compile Appalacian Spring, the famous ballet. Students will be amazed and motivated by the hard work that it took these three people to create such a wonderful masterpiece. Great book to use as a read aloud!

Teachers, here are some suggestions for activities and resources that go along with this novel:

Key Vocabulary:

angular, ballet, choreographer, composure, gesture, collaboration, melody

After Reading Activity:

Students can watch the dance, Appalacian Spring, looks like and connect it to the reading. Talk as a class about collaboration and cooperation. What ways did these people
cooperate to make this artwork? Do you always like to work with other people to get things done? Describe a time when you worked with a team or group. What can be hard about working together? What can be good about working together?

Writing Activity:

Prior to reading, have your students work in small groups in order to create a story or a poem. They will see the difficulties of working in groups as well as the pros of working together. Ask students how collaborating with one another helped them in their writing and creating of their stories or poems.

Web Resources:

Here is a link to the video so that students can see the actual dance that was made!
Visit the author's website to read about the authors, about the book, and find almost a dozen blogs, articles, and activities!

Greenberg, J., Jordan, S., & Floca, B. (2010). Ballet for Martha: making Appalachian Spring. New York: RB/Flash Point.

Coraline

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Published by HarperCollins Children's Books

Lexile Measure: 740L

Grade Level: 4

Supernatural, Fear, Honor, Survival, Family

Teachers, here are some suggestions for activities and resources that go along with this novel:

Key Vocabulary:

apprehensive, distorted, peradventure, petulantly, derelict, plasticine, miser, acrid, vigorously, pell-mell, ululating, momentum, dilapidated

After Reading Activity:

Using this comic strip creator, have students recreate their favorite scene of the story. This will help them sequence events and recall events from the story to aid comprehension.

Writing Activity:

When students have finished reading the novel, play the movie for them and have them keep an organizer of similarities and differences that they see in the novel and movie. Afterwards they can write comparing and contrasting the two.

Web Resources:

Here is a discussion guide to support reading for Coraline. It provides a summary, booktalk, and discussion questions for during the reading.
Use this website so that students can explore Coraline's world!

Gaiman, N., & McKean, D. (2002). Coraline. New York: HarperCollins.

Rules

Rules by Cynthia Lord

Published by Scholastic Press

Lexile Measuer: 780L

Grade: 4 and 5

Friendship, Normalcy, Life, Love, Understanding, Rules, Compassion, Diversity

Teachers, here are some suggestions for activities and resources that go along with this novel:

Key Vocabulary:

communication, conversation,occupational, therapy, connection, interaction, nonverbal, relationship, verbal

Before Reading Activity:

Students can fill out the K and W sections of a KWL chart, inserting what they know about autism and what they would like to know. After reading, they can fill out the L column with what new information they have learned about autism.

During Reading Activity:

Create and update a Voki throughout the reading in order to keep track of the character's relationships and connections to one another.

After Reading, Writing Activity:

Have students describe the top five words or phrases they would want in a “communication book” and explain why they chose these particular words and/or phrases.

Web Resources:

Here is a discussion guide for the novel, Rules. It provides questions for before, during, and after the reading, as well as author information, novels to compare and contrast, and similar websites.
Here is a webquest for the novel. It provides a project for students to complete after reading the novel regarding the rules that Catherine writes.

Lord, C. (2006). Rules. New York: Scholastic Press.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

The Tale of Despereaux

The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
Copyright 2003
Published by Scholastic Inc.
Lexile Measure: 670L
Grade Level: 4-5

Forgiveness, Light, Love, Soup

The Tale of Despereaux ("being the story of a mouse, a princess, some soup, and a spool of thread") is the tale of a brave little mouse out to save the princess from a horrible rat foe, Roscuro. Despereaux sacrifices the reputation of his family and his own safety to complete his destiny and come to the rescue of his true love, like a true knight would. This adventure novel will be sure to hold the attention of all of your students for a read-aloud!

Teachers, here are some suggestions for activities and resources that go along with this novel:

Key Vocabulary:

adieu, chiaroscuro, empathy, furlough, perfidy, portentous, remorse

Before Reading Activity:

Students can research medieval themes such as chivalry, knights, princesses, castles, and dungeons because many of these topics are seen throughout the reading.

During Reading Activity:

Students can create character maps for each section of the novel. Then at the end they can compare and contrast the characters Despereaux, Chiaroscuro, and Miggery Sow.

After Reading Activity:

When students are finished reading the novel have them watch the movie of The Tale of Despereaux and compare and contrast what they have read to what they see.

Web Resources:

Here are some discussion questions for students to ponder while reading the novel.
Here is a 20 page, field tested teacher's guide with teaching strategies from each section of the book!

"The world is dark,

and light is precious.

Come closer, dear reader.

You must trust me.

I am telling you a story."

DiCamillo, K., & Ering, T. B. (2003). The tale of Despereaux: being the story of a mouse, a princess, some soup, and a spool of thread. Cambridge : Candlewick Press.

Monday, September 26, 2011

Bud, Not Buddy

Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
Copyright 1999
Published by Yearling
Lexile Measure: 950L
Grade: 6

Comedy, Adventure, Depression, Woop, Sloop, Zoop

Bud, Not Buddy is the tale of a boy in search of his father. Bud never met his father, but believes that when his mother died, she left him clues, including flyers advertising Herman E. Calloway and his famous band. He believes that the clues will lead him to his father. Christopher Paul Curtis's book will leave your students laughing and seeing how Bud forms relationships that change his life.

Teachers, here are some suggestions for activities and resources that go along with this novel:

Key Vocabulary:

depression, commence, devastator, Hooverville, locamotive, shantytown, knickers, moldering, exaggerate, snaggletooth, copasetic, prodigy

Before Reading Activity:

Have students research causes of the Great Depression and organizations that helped people who were affected. What organizations today help people in need?

During Reading Activity:

Students can make a scrap book to track all of Bud's adventures.

After Reading Activity:

Have students create a comic strip of their favorite scene of the novel using this Comic Strip Creator.

Web Resources:

check out these discussion questions that go along with the novel!
Look here for a list of activities that go along with the book!

Curtis, C. P. (1999). Bud, not Buddy. New York: Delacorte Press.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Everything for a Dog

Everything for a Dog by Ann M. Martin
Copyright 2009
Published by Feiwal and Friends
Lexile Measure: 890
Grade: 6

Dog, Boy, Tragedy, Friendship, Family

Everything for a Dog is a story of desire and tragedy from multiple perspectives. This is a great book to teach perspective with! The three main characters are Bone (a dog), Charlie, and Henry. Ann M. Martin develops resilient characters who provide insight into into the hardships of each of their lives. The characters' stories intersect and leave the reader yearning for more. This is a great book for your dog-lovers, or anyone that has ever had or wanted a dog!

Teachers, here are some suggestions for activities and resources that go along with this novel:

Key Vocabulary:

ambled, coax, swiveled, tentatively, predator, tantalizing, exuberant

Before Reading Activity:

This book is written through the voices of three narrators, which give multiple perspectives for students to have to follow. This might be their first encounter with different perspectives in one book, so it is important that they are aware of the structure of the text. Explain to students that there can be multiple narrators in a single book. Have each student write a paragraph about recess in their journals, so that they can compare how each of their perspectives of the same event are different.

During Reading:

Create a character web so that students can more easily follow the characters as their lives intersect.

After Reading:

Give students a writing prompt for their journals such as this one: "In the book, all Henry wanted was a dog. Have you ever wanted something so much that you would do anything for it? Write a persuasive letter to a parent or guardian, convincing them to let you have what you want."

Web Resources:

Have students create a Voki! Voki is an online tool that students can use to create an avatar of a character in a book. This gives the students the opportunity to be creative and use their knowledge of the characters to create them themselves!
Create a Story! Use this scholastic tool, from Scholastic's Flashlight Readers, to choose a scene, character, and a story starter. Students can create up to five scenes to complete their stories!

Martin, A. M. (2009). Everything for a dog. New York : Feiwel and Friends.

Monday, September 19, 2011

Number the Stars

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
Copyright 1989
Published by Laurel Leaf
Lexile Measure: 670L
Grade: 5

Courage, Secrets, Family, Friends, War

Number the Stars is the story of Annemarie Johansen, a 10 year old girl living in Copenhagel in 1943. It is a great historical fiction novel to teach children about the Nazi's relocation of the Jews in Copenhagen. It deals with bravery and one's ability to put the welfare of others before themselves. It is a very child appropriate account of the threat that the Nazi's put on the Jewish community in Copenhagen. This would be a great novel for students to read independently and then deal with collaboratively.

Key Vocabulary:

Star of David, swastika, Nazi, rationed, typhus, disdainfully, relocate, sabotage, tentatively, specter, tantalize

Teachers, here are some suggestions for activities and resources that go along with this novel:

Before reading:

Read The Yellow Star: The Legend of King Christian X of Denmark and lead a class discussion about what it means to be a brave citizen.

SL.5.1. Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 5 topics and texts, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.

During reading:

BLOG! Students can use BLOG sites, such as blogspot.com in order to share their feelings about the book. The characters in this novel demonstrate many acts of bravery and loyalty, which will provoke a reaction from students. Have them use technology to share their reactions with their peers and parents!

W.5.6. With some guidance and support from adults, use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing as well as to interact and collaborate with others; demonstrate sufficient command of keyboarding skills to type a minimum of two pages in a single sitting.

After reading:

Students can read Little Red Riding Hood and create a Venn Diagram comparing and contrasting Annemarie to Little Red Riding Hood.

RL.5.3. Compare and contrast two or more characters, settings, or events in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., how characters interact).

Web Resources:

Discussion Questions: This link will provide you with discussion questions for your students to ponder while reading this novel.
Study Guide: This link will provide you with an in depth study guide and activity ideas for before reading, active reading, responding.

Number the stars

Monday, September 5, 2011

The Giver

The Giver by Lois Lowry

Published by Dell Laurel-Leaf

Reading Level: Lexile 760L

Mystery, Intrigue, Knowledge, Secrets, Utopia

The Giver is a science fiction book based on the idea of Communism. It is a novel that will intrigue students and make them think about the society we live in. In the novel, the main character, Jonas, lives in a place where everybody is assigned a job, a family, and no one is burdened with memeories of the past. It seems like this is the best life for everyone until Jonas becomes the Receiver of memories and realizes the secrets of his town, as well as what everybody is missing out on. This is a great book to get children thinking about society and what is best for a community. This would be a great book for independent reading, then a group discussion to go over the differences between society.

Key Vocabulary:

Supplementary, Ironic, Adherence, Aptitude, Transgression, Nurture, Churn, Aprehensive, Palpable

Teachers, here are some activities and resources for this book:

Pre Reading Activity:

Have students create a short story describing their "perfect" society and what would be included in it. Encourage them to write about how history would help the community grow and what aspects of the society we live in now they would keep or change.

During Reading:

Discuss symbols from the novel (such as the apple, colors, hair style for each age, etc.) then have students make up their own symbol for something that they would like to celebrate in their lives. They can create a symbol, draw it, and write a description of it, then explain to the class why they chose it and what it means to them.

Post Reading:

This would be a great time to provide differentiation into the lesson and assign a project that gives students the opportunity to choose how they would like to express themselves. Students can discuss the last chapter of the book and form ideas about the ending. Give students the option to draw or paint the last scene, write another chapter (creating a more clear ending), compile a soundtrack for different parts of the book, or act out important scenes from the novel.

Web Resources:

Teacher Cyberguide: This link will provide you with five activities that encourage students to work with different aspects of the novel, such as their own community, society, and memories.
A Teacher's Resource: This link splits the novel into five sections of reading and provides activities to connect with the novel, to read, to discuss, to practice, and to express themselves.

Lowry, Lois. The giver. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1993. Print.